College Level Talent in Cross-River Showdown

<p>Council Bluffs (IA) Abraham Lincoln High School couldn’t have picked a better time to challenge Millard North High School (NE).  Coming off a three game in four day stretch that saw them finish with a second consecutive Omaha Metro Holiday Tournament title with a hard-fought and energy expending 94-91 double-overtime win over Bellevue West Saturday (1/2/21) evening; the Mustangs crossed the Missouri River Tuesday (1/5/21) evening to take on one of the most talented teams in western Iowa. Though the timing was perfect for an out-of-conference "trap" game, Millard North handled the Linx throughout most of the contest; earning as much as an 18 point lead early in the second half. However, Abraham Lincoln did show they belonged on the same floor with a final charge in the waning moments of the contest, trimming the visitors from Omaha’s lead to 81-78 with 20 seconds to go on Noah Sandbothe’s 3pt "basket and foul" play. The Mustangs would ultimately hold on with a lay-in by [player_tooltip player_id="787647" first="Jasen" last="Green"] and two free throws by [player_tooltip player_id="890471" first="Tyler" last="Sandoval"] for a wire-to-wire 85-78 victory.</p> <p>Players of Note:</p> [caption id="attachment_1016550" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Sallis.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1016550" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Sallis-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Photo: Logan Foote <a href="https://loganfoote.smugmug.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Logan Foote Smug Mug</a>[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="773443" first="Hunter" last="Sallis"]  CG  6’5  180lbs Millard North</p> <p>The all-everything, #1 ranked Prep Hoops guard once again paced the state’s best team with an all-around performance. Sallis (#5 pictured) led the Mustangs with 26 points while still keeping his teammates involved with quality penetration and kick-outs to perimeter shooting by [player_tooltip player_id="890479" first="Saint" last="Thomas"], or just as effectively dump-downs for interior finishes by Sandoval and Green. The high major NCAA D1 bound guard did not disappoint in a game that had several D1 players on it.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"]  CG  6’4  175lbs Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln</p> <p>The currently ranked #2 junior in Iowa, according to Prep Hoops, performed at every bit that lofty ranking. Playing on the same stage with several division one prospects, Dix was as good as anyone on the floor.  Dix scored a game-high 32 points and was darn near unstoppable late as he spearheaded a 21-10 run in the game’s final quarter with dead-eye three point shooting as well as attacking the rim and getting fouled several times. The 6’4 guard already has some offers from NCAA D1 programs; and this showing against such quality competition will only enhance his stock.</p> [caption id="attachment_1016549" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Saint-Thomas.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1016549" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Saint-Thomas-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Logan Foote <a href="https://loganfoote.smugmug.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Logan Foote Smug Mug</a>[/caption] <p>[player_tooltip player_id="890479" first="Saint" last="Thomas"]  SF  6’7  205lbs  Millard North</p> <p>Fresh off his record breaking night just three days prior (his 48 points broke the individual game school record), Thomas (#1 pictured) continued his dominant play.  Prep Hoops’ #3 ranked senior in Nebraska, Thomas set the tone early with his much improved and expanding three point shooting.  The 6’7 wing made four 3pt shots in the games’ first 10 minutes of play, helping his squad get a quick separation on the scoreboard with an early 12-2 run. Late in the contest he showed his versatility helping break CBAL’s pressure. Thomas ended the evening with 22 points.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="890471" first="Tyler" last="Sandoval"]  PF  6’8  200lbs  Millard North</p> <p>While [player_tooltip player_id="682266" first="Josh" last="Dix"]’s guard play and 32 points for the hometown Linx helped offset some of Sallis and Thomas’ perimeter scoring; the true x-factor Tuesday night was Sandoval. The 6’8 senior has moved into the vacancy left when last season’s Mustang post [player_tooltip player_id="809768" first="Max" last="Murrell"] moved on to Stanford University very well. The #16 ranked senior according to Prep Hoops big man has raised his level of aggressiveness in his new role, giving Millard North once again a tough outside-inside punch. Finishing with 22 points, Sandoval had a quality "book-ended" evening; hurting the Lynx inside early with strong dunks of dump downs and then closed the show with the aforementioned free throws to end the contest.</p> <p>Final Notes:</p> <p>Senior Noah Sandbothe, a Midland College (NE) commit, added 18 points and #57 ranked Prep Hoops junior [player_tooltip player_id="784974" first="Jamison" last="Gruber"] chipped in 15 points for Abraham Lincoln in the loss. </p>