Way-Too-Early Preview: Beulah
The Beulah Miners earned a state tournament berth for the third year in a row this past March and were peaking late in the season. Defense and steady guard play has been a hallmark for the Miners in recent years…
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Continue ReadingThe Beulah Miners earned a state tournament berth for the third year in a row this past March and were peaking late in the season. Defense and steady guard play has been a hallmark for the Miners in recent years and there’s little evidence to suggest that style is going away anytime soon. With four starting perimeter plays set to return, Beulah should head into next year with high expectations again.
Go-To Guy: Trey Brandt
Brandt took his game to an all-state level as a sophomore, averaging 21 points, six rebounds and nearly four assists while carrying the Miners’ offense. He shot better than 50 percent from inside the arc and knocked down 34 percent of his 3-pointers. He’s got the ability to dominate the game from a tempo standpoint, as he’s the definition of steady with the ball. And he can score from anywhere on the floor. He’s a sound decision-maker, not only creating his own shot at a high level, but also making the game easier for his teammates. He’s arguably the best guard in Class B and gives the Miners a legitimate shot in any game.
Breakout Candidate: Trapper Skalsky
Skalsky started and averaged about seven points and five rebounds in a complementary role. He was incredibly efficient, knocking down 34 percent of his 3-pointers and better than 60 percent of his 2-pointers. He’s a strong, explosive kid who moves up the offensive food chain as an upperclassman and with a little more volume, could double his scoring average. With the amount of attention teams are going to pay to Trey Brandt and Dawson Zuroff, he’ll have ample opportunity to shine.
Question: Can the Miners Find an Interior Presence?
While the Miners are returning four starters and what should amount to be the best perimeter quartet in Class B, the lone departing starter leaves a gaping hole in the paint. Jonah Larson was one of the top big guys in the state each of the last two years and without a clear successor inside, that’s where the Miners have some things to figure out. Carson Weigum and Dawson Filebeck are two guys to watch that could step into that spot.
Outlook
At this way too early stage, Beulah has the look of a top 3-5 team in Class B heading into next year. The Miners have an all-stater in Brandt, who in his third year as a starter, is just now entering his upperclass years. They’ve got an excellent trio of returners around him in Zuroff, Skalsky and Nathan Battest and a history of developing strong bigs and an upper echelon defense. Region 7 is never weak and there will certainly be quality teams out that way again this winter, but Beulah looks like the cream of the crop.