Kuemper Catholic Wins Battle of Top-Ranked Teams

In a battle between a pair of newly anointed top-ranked teams, Class 2A #1 Kuemper Catholic outlasted 3A #1 Storm Lake, coming away with an incredibly impressive 85-79 road win on Monday night.    Schon was awesome throughout the game on Monday night, (unofficially) scoring 17 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out a pair of assists. A highly skilled combo guard who can facilitate or create his own shot, he has great footwork and is able to create subtle separation to get his shot off against bigger, longer defenders. He's a tough, contested shot maker who can fill it up from all three levels. He finishes at a high level around the rim through contact and is a heady, active defender with great hands.     Another really talented combo guard for the Knights in the 2027 class, Glynn is a tough-as-nails guard who never shies away from contact around the rim, will stick his nose in among the trees on the glass, and is just oozing with confidence as a shotmaker and playmaker. He finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the big win for the Knights.     Badding has stepped into more of a playmaking role as a senior, especially following the injury to his cousin [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'], and he has thrived. A high IQ, physical guard who sees the floor incredibly well, Badding has an innate feel for the game and seems to see the game a play or two ahead of most of the other players on the floor. Like Schon and Glynn, despite being a guard, he isn't afraid to mix it up in the paint and on the glass, pulling down 6 rebounds to go with 15 points and a handful of helpers.     In a game featuring a nationally ranked prospect heading to play college ball at Creighton, an argument could certainly be made that Clair was the best player on the floor on Monday night. The 6-6 big man displayed soft hands, elite footwork, and deft touch around the rim with either hand. As if his work around the rim wasn't enough, he also stepped out and knocked down a pair of 3s off the catch, showing pure form and a quick release. If the 3-ball is a consistent part of his game, he's going to have a really, really nice career at the Division II or NAIA level. Clair finished with a game-high 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, showing good vision and feel operating out of the high post as a passer.     A confident shooter with a lightning quick release off the catch, Boyd knocked down four 3-pointers in the loss, finishing with 16 points for the Tornadoes. He moves really well without the ball in his hands, finding open spaces in the defense to get his shot off, and he also showed that he can be a reliable playmaker and shot creator for his teammates when he's in control of the ball.     One of a number of eye-popping athletes that Storm Lake can throw at you, Yanga does a tremendous job utilizing his length and athleticism, especially on the defensive end where he's a menace as a shot blocker. He blocked three shots and altered several others against the Knights, and it wasn't just at the rim. He flies all over the floor on the defensive end, using his speed and length to cover a ton of ground and contest shots on the perimeter. He can turn defense into offense in the blink of an eye as well, routinely getting out in transition and finishing above the rim with authority. He had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks (unofficially) in the loss.     [player_tooltip player_id='1765515' first='Jaidyn' last='Coon'] is one of the most impressive combinations of athleticism, size, and talent that has come through this state in quite some time. There's a reason he was coveted by Division I programs throughout the Midwest before deciding to head to Creighton. His level of explosiveness and athleticism is rare, as is his ability to score from all three levels. Despite being faced with a number of different defensive looks, he still finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. And because he can be so good, and because I know this level is in there, I wanted to see him be even more assertive, especially in the fourth quarter. He has a gear that few in the state possess, and I don't want this to sound like a criticism because he's fantastic, but I think there is even more to unlock here. The sky is the limit for this young man.

In a battle between a pair of newly anointed top-ranked teams, Class 2A #1 Kuemper Catholic outlasted 3A #1 Storm Lake, coming away with an incredibly impressive 85-79 road win on Monday night.