Section 2AA Semi-Finals: Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops was in Mankato for the Section 2AA Semi-finals. What did we think of the players in the two games? We break it down for you now! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell'] of Waseca (Sr). [player_tooltip player_id='2121332' first='Deron' last='Russell']'s 51 points on 17 of 27 shooting with 12 of 12 foul shooting was one of the single best playoff performances I've ever seen. Russell is the state's leading scorer and he is doing it against defenses game planning against him, and he is doing it with outstanding separation ability into the lift and make. Russell's touch, skill, size and agility make him one of the elite guards in the state. You can make a very strong argument that Deron is one of the best two or three senior guards in the state. And yes that means he is just as good if not better than two or three guys signed with D1 teams. Russell will play college football and with the opportunity there for college and professional levels that makes sense but Deron is a D1 level basketball player too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2118474' first='Ethan' last='Martin'] of Belle Plaine (Sr). The word I would use for Ethan is steady. The players from Blue Earth that Ethan had to deal with.... one was taller, another was more explosive, and another more shifty with the ball, but Ethan out-played them all because Martin is steadier, stronger and a more consistent basketball player. Martin scored 28 points and his balanced finishes in addition to his craft ability to get to space is why he is more productive and his teams win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2391636' first='Sully' last='Dahlberg'] of Blue Earth (Jr). Sully is certainly a player to watch this 17u season. There is a lot to like here potentially because Sully is a 6'4/6'5 agile player with skill that can play either forward spot. His agility and skill allow him to be a small forward offensively, and that agility and length will allow him to defend a college level three. But at the smaller school level his size will be needed to play some four and Dahlberg is a competitive player that can play there too. He scored 22 points for Blue Earth last night and I thought his ability to attack off the ball screen really stood out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logan Anderson of Belle Plaine (Jr). Anderson first caught our attention playing with [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] last spring/summer as he's a skilled player with 6'4 length. Belle Plaine is playing for the section title this week in large part because of their depth, and Anderson has been a big part of that depth. He's scoring 13 a game and last night gave the Tigers 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2423114' first='Lincoln' last='Busse'] of Glencoe-Silver Lake (Jr). What can Lincoln be in the next 12 months? Based on his ability to score that ball as a 6'1 guard Lincoln reminds me of a [player_tooltip player_id='1560797' first='Jaxon' last='Boschee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3459192' first='Mason' last='Witt'] type that can score with range, score at the arc, but put the ball down and creatively score going to the rim as well. In fact, I think Busse might go to the rim to score better than some of those players mentioned and he has a chance to improve his shooting from the arc (which is solid already) to be at the level of those players. Busse scored 31 points on 12 of 23 shooting with eight boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560769' first='Ethan' last='Sonju'] of Glencoe-Silver Lake (Sr). Sonju is a different type of player that I will miss covering. He has a taller player at 6'2/6'3 than I think some understand and in that [player_tooltip player_id='1560739' first='Max' last='Iversen'] type frame. Sonju has some of the best range on his jumper in the state and I think he is a better playmaker for others than people realize. Scored 28 points last night on 11 of 24 shooting with four threes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Hiller of Waseca (Sr). Hiller is a future UWEC defensive back and you see where his toughness and quickness will really help his team on the football field. On the court last night, Waseca didn't just beat GSL because of Russell's 51 points, they also got outstanding team basketball efforts from the rest of their line-up including Wyatt Hager, Cyrett Long, and of course Ethan. Hiller had 12 points making six of eight shots around the basket plus he grabbed six boards with three assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->