Game Report: Oshkosh North vs. Seymour

<p>I was able to attend a significant non-conference basketball game in the valley between the previously undefeated Seymour, and surging Oshkosh North. The first half remained relatively close, but the length, and Oshkosh North's 1-3-1 pressure defense pushed the game out of reach for Seymour in the second half. Both teams are playing their best basketball heading into the playoffs next week. Let's breakdown the players that stood out and what we can take away for both teams as they progress into the final week of the regular season. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday Night Standouts</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ott was head and shoulders the best player on the floor on Tuesday night. The 6-foot-7 senior, who is headed to Minnesota State University next season, dominated the game in all aspects. Defensively, Ott plays the top of the treacherous 1-3-1 defense. With his long frame and strength Bryce is able to generate a plethora of deflections and steals to create easy run out points for Oshkosh North. In the half court, Ott is a pure scorer at all three levels. Bryce canned four threes on the day, hit several turn around mid post fadeways, and hammered two powerful dunks down. Ott finished the game with 28 points and several offensive rebounds. Teams that make deep runs in the tournament need a dominant player that can get a bucket at anytime, and [player_tooltip player_id='1973116' first='Bryce' last='Ott'] is that guy for Oshkosh North.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Brady was one of the younger intriguing prospects on the floor on Tuesday night in Oshkosh. Anderson is extremely quick with the ball in his hands and does an excellent job staying under control on downhill drives. The 6-foot-2 sophomore prospect has a longer frame and is able to stop on a dime on the bounce and utilize an advanced stride stop to hit from the midrange. Anderson is a confident three point shooter and can get his shot up quickly on hard closeouts. Brady hit two threes in the first half and finished the game with 12 points. Anderson, who competes with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'], is averaging just under 10ppg can be considered a stock riser this spring and summer. He should be a staple for Head Coach Brad Weber, the next two years at Oshkosh North. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Marks has been outstanding every game I have seen him this season play live. Seymour struggled a bit with Oshkosh North's pressure in the second half, but Marks helped keep the Thunder in the game with his solid play in the first half. Kyler stepped out and drilled two threes, and had several opportunities to score in the paint versus the North defense. The unsigned senior had 16 in the first half and finished the game with 18. Kyler is extremely efficient at the rim and is a glass cleaner providing a great interior 1-2 punch with his teammate ,Issac Feske, for Seymour. Marks might have the quickest post spin move I have seen live this season and he utilizes this effective move often to score right at the rim. Some smaller d3s and NAIAs are interested in Marks joining their teams next season, who is the front runner for Bay Conference Player of the Year.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='3522788' first='Owen' last='Weber'] was a scoring microwave in the first half for the Spartans on Tuesday night. The 6-foot-7 senior hit four first half threes to lead North in scoring in the first half. Weber's length and ability to get his shot up quickly allows him to score easily in transition and in the half court. His shot is very difficult to guard due to this combination. Weber can also work defenders off the bounce finishing around and over the top of smaller opposing players. I was very impressed with his ability to score the basketball on Tuesday night. Weber poured in 22 points and competed with a high level of energy that helped his team extend the lead against a very talented and balanced Seymour team. Owen, who is headed to St. Norbert's for golf next school year, is one of the many scoring weapons that makes Oshkosh North a dangerous sleeper headed into the postseason. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Takeaways</h2>   <p>Oshkosh North (16-7) are winners in seven out of their last eight contests and are one of the most dangerous lower seeded teams in the tournament in division one. North matches up with another red hot team in Bay Port and will have to travel to the Pirates next Friday for a regional matchup. The Spartans still have a bit of work to do as they host Kaukauna on Thursday night in Oshkosh, and will try to spoil the Ghosts' quest to win at least a share of the prestigious FVA conference title. Oshkosh North is so dangerous defensively with their ability to heat up teams with man and zone pressure. Head Coach Brad Weber employs a deadly 1-3-1 zone that gave Seymour trouble all night and forced many live ball turnovers. [player_tooltip player_id='1973116' first='Bryce' last='Ott'] obviously leads the scoring attack for Oshkosh North but they are pretty balanced outside of his consistent scoring. [player_tooltip player_id='2824968' first='Tylan' last='Lister'], [player_tooltip player_id='2784342' first='Jackson' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='3500977' first='Brady' last='Anderson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='3522788' first='Owen' last='Weber'] all have had "their nights" where they can push 20+ in the scoring column individually. North, when not running out in transition, runs great horns sets, staggers, flares, and utilize modern drive and kick concepts to score at will in the half court. Brad Weber's squad is peaking at the right time, and cannot be overlooked next week when the WIAA tournament tips off.</p>   <p>Seymour (23-1) has nothing to hang their heads about as they lost to an extremely talented and streaking basketball team in Oshkosh Tuesday night. The Thunder were recently awarded a #2 seed, despite having an undefeated record going into seeding, in the division three playoffs. Seymour is battle tested playing in a talented Bay Conference that featured five teams that won 14 or more games this season. This game provided another opportunity to see a team with length, something they will see, when they more than likely matchup with the Freedom Irish in a few weeks in a sectional semifinal. Seymour relies a lot on their senior leaders [player_tooltip player_id='2500851' first='Xavier' last='Salzman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2391083' first='Kyler' last='Marks'], [player_tooltip player_id='3022122' first='Sam' last='Geyso'] and Carson Johnson to lead them through adversity but unfortunately ran into a buzz saw with Oshkosh North on Tuesday night. Seymour can beat anyone with their ability to score inside with Marks and Issac Feske, while hitting shots from the perimeter. All of Seymour's mainstays in their lineup shoot 36 % or better from downtown, a stat that is quite impressive at the high school level. Look for Bobby Kuchta's squad to bounce back next week when they host the winner of Menominee Nation/ Sturgeon Bay in the regional semifinals.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Box Score</h2>   <p><strong>Oshkosh North</strong> <strong>87: </strong>O Weber 22, J Anderson 9, Lister 1, B Ott 28, Lederhaus 2, B Anderson 12, Artega 2, J Weber 5, Larson- Poeschl 4</p>   <p><strong>Seymour 65: </strong>X Salzman 2, Cornell 7, G Salzman 5, Geyso 4, Vandenhuevel 3, Johnson 5, Marks 19, Krause 8, Feske 8, Danforth 4</p>

I was able to attend a significant non-conference basketball game in the valley between the previously undefeated Seymour, and surging Oshkosh North. The first half remained relatively close, but the length, and Oshkosh North's 1-3-1 pressure defense pushed the game out of reach for Seymour in the second half. Both teams are playing their best basketball heading into the playoffs next week. Let's breakdown the players that stood out and what we can take away for both teams as they progress into the final week of the regular season.