Minnesota State Tournament: Friday Underclassmen Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the stars were young stars on Friday night in the AA/A semi-finals. Get to know those names NOW!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2386616' first='Gavin' last='Bauer'] of JWP (Soph). We have spoken a ton about Gavin lately but the quick rewind…. Skillfully special, good athlete, good shooter, really good defender, and has a chance to be three times first team all state. Today Gavin did a wonderful job limiting [player_tooltip player_id='1628768' first='Connor' last='Duden'] to 15 points while scoring 16 of his own on 13 shots with seven rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Loos of Goodhue (Soph).  Roschen had the big plays down the stretch to clinch the game but Goodhue doesn't make the final without Loos.  His defense started limiting some touches for key Albany chances and offensively he scored 21 points making seven of eleven shot attempts.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2395557' first='Gus' last='McKenna'] of Pequot Lakes (Soph).&nbsp; Gus had a rough shooting game in the semi-final but he made three clutch threes to get his team back into the game in the second half against Minnehaha Academy. The potential at 6'7 facing the basket is there and you can see it when McKenna shoots, and when he attacks bigs.&nbsp; But there is more to Gus than that.&nbsp; We saw him get to the offensive boards totalling nine rebounds overall, Gus blocked three shots and he had two steals.&nbsp; This is an all around competition who knows how to play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2840083' first='Brodie' last='Metzger'] of Hills-Beaver Creek (Soph). <strong>&nbsp;</strong>The Patriots impressed me with their no nonsense simplicity of execution that was consistently performed over and over.&nbsp; HBC was bigger and tougher, and they bullied Henning into defeat. Metzger was one of those basketball bullies totalling a 13 point, 11 rebound double-double that also included four assists.&nbsp; Brodie can shoot it at the arc and he made a three, but his rough and rugged teammates just took things at Henning in the paint and had success.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easton Misegades of Henning (Fr).&nbsp; The young man played only 14 minutes because he is a 5'5 ninth grader that isn't physically ready for this level of state play but that jumper sure is!&nbsp; He made three threes including a clutch late second half to tie the game. All six of his attempts were at the arc.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mekhi Abner of Minnehaha Academy (Fr).  Abner had five rebounds, a basket and a block before fouling out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2419994' first='Carter' last='Cupito'] of Minnehaha Academy (8th). Scored on two threes, had two boards and a steal in 34 minutes of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2862709' first='Karson' last='Metzger'] of Hills-Beaver Creek (Soph).&nbsp; Karson had seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals as another player with skilled size at 6'3 that Henning struggled with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2396393' first='Cody' last='Ryan'] of Goodhue (Soph).&nbsp; The 6'5 big had eight points and six rebounds playing the entire game for his team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2843364' first='Kamar' last='Sandifer-Howze'] (Soph).&nbsp; Made three of four foul shots, grabbed a board, had a steal, and played good defense in ten minutes off the bench.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2435237' first='Mason' last='Thao'] of Minnehaha Academy (Soph). A steal, two baskets and two assists but his final assist was on the game winning basket so you could certainly say that Thao had the game winning play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2406558' first='Nicholas' last='Vanheel'] of Albany (Soph).&nbsp; Scored on all three of his touches for a six point game off the bench.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->