Game Report: Verona 75, Madison East 54

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br>Madison East simply could not find many openings or good looks at the basket Wednesday evening while playing against the Verona defense in the first half and, as a result, entered the locker room at intermission in a 33-17 hole. It only got deeper from there as the visiting Wildcats built a lead of more than 30 points before settling for a 75-54 win. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2505503' first='Will' last='Stremlow'] scored 25 points and got to his right and the hoop at will in the second half as Verona snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 14-4 under coach Curtrel Robinson. Quick sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2618890' first='Terrin' last='Jackson'] added 12 for the Wildcats while [player_tooltip player_id='2682935' first='Max' last='Crimmings'] came off the bench to score 11. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2454321' first='DJ' last='Nash'] led Madison East with 24 points and scored 13 of his points from the foul line. Madison East fell to 5-13 under second-year coach Ryan Sheehy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2505503"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d4b5209823"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stremlow is a powerful player with the ball in his hands. And when he gets to his right hand, he can do major damage on an opponent. After a relatively quiet first half, Stremlow was nearly unstoppable in the second 18 minutes, scoring the majority of his game-high 25 points after intermission in the Wildcats' win over Madison East. Stremlow competes with an edge and has great confidence in his offensive abilities. Stremlow, a scholarship candidate from the state's 2027 class, also is a good passer and strong defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMERGING PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2618890"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d4b520989a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson isn't a big point guard in terms of his height, but he plays a large role in the success of the Verona basketball team. The quick, smart and skilled backcourt ace doesn't turn the ball over, gets the Wildcats into their offense and showed in the win over Madison East that he can find the basket. He scored 12 points and drilled two three-point baskets as Verona improved to 14-4. Starting as a sophomore point guard for one of the best teams in the Big Eight Conference is no small accomplishment, and Jackson has grown into that role exceptionally well for Verona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2454321"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d4b52098ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nash fills out the stat sheet well for Madison East as he is a capable scorer (24 ppg), rebounder (7 rpg), passer (5 apg) and defender (4 spg). He definitely was the focus of the Verona defense on Wednesday, but he still managed to score 24 points. Many of those points came late and from the foul line as he made 13 of 17 tries from the foul stripe. The athletic Nash is one of the elite defenders in the Big Eight and figures to improve his ability to score through contact once he adds some weight and strength to his long frame. Nash is a player who can play at the next level as he rounds out his game and continues to make progress with his perimeter shot and physical strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BIG PICTURE</strong><br><br>Verona trails Madison Memorial and Middleton by two games in the Big Eight Conference standings and has league outings with Janesville Parker and Middleton in the next week. The Wildcats are 14-4 overall and 11-3 in the conference. Catching both Memorial and Middleton is probably unlikely this late in the season, but the Wildcats figure to be a tough out in the WIAA playoffs, especially when star senior [player_tooltip player_id='2401404' first='Owen' last='Ayite-Atayi'] gets back on the floor from an injury.<br><br>Madison East, which battled Madison La Follette tooth and nail last week before sustaining an 85-83 loss, dropped its fourth game in a row and slipped to 5-13. The Purgolders lack of size and depth are major weaknesses for a team that boasts plenty of speed and some strong guard play. Madison East gets back in action Saturday when it hosts league-leading Middleton.<br><br><strong>BOXSCORE<br><br>Verona (33-42 = 75)</strong><br>Connor 5, Stremlow 25, Andres 5, Jackson 12, Boado 8, Crimmings 11, Lambe 0, Moe 4, Bubbers 0, Alexander 0, Lee 0, Phillips 5. Three-point field goals: Jackson 2, Boado 1, Phillips 1, Connor 1, Andres 1. FT: 7-15. Fouled out: None. Record: 14-4 overall, 11-3 in Big Eight Conference.<br><strong>Madison East (17-37 = 54)</strong><br>Nash 24, Hassell 5, Chester 7, Presley 6, Ellis-Wilkinson 6, Miota 3, Vance 3, Ceesay 0. Three-point field goals: Nash 1, Presley 1, Miota 1, Vance 1. FT: 18-26. Fouled out: None. Record: 5-13 overall, 4-9 in Big Eight Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->