Midwest Melee: Teddy’s Saturday PM Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295522' first='Davee' last='Flowers'] Controls for ICE, but Fall to Lithuanica</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'3” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1295522' first='Davee' last='Flowers'] was the go-to option for ICE. He started the game with a three and showed no fear attacking the hoop. After getting a few buckets, I saw his facilitation come into play with a terrific assist to a cutting teammate. He continued to stay hot scoring the ball with 15 points in the first 10 minutes, including another deep ball. But Lituanica held the early advantage with numerous players getting involved early. Six players scored the first 16 points. Maththew Peczulis showed a solid burst and made great plays offensively in the early stages. Converted and and-one and also knocked down an outside shot. Defensively, Lithuanica held ICE to just 2 points in the final four minutes of the opening half and held a 23-19 advantage at the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davee Fowers continued to control the ICE offense in the second half with a pull-up midrange jumper early on. But like in the first half, Maththew Peczulis controlled the offense. A pull-up three and some free throws would extend the lead further. A three from Gytis Neverauskas extended the lead to double digits. Neverauskas isn't just your typical forward and did bits of everything. Forced difficult shots defensively and added numerous assists in the open floor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105292' first='Ben' last='Schneider'] lead Greater Purpose to Big Win over Crusaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches for [program_tooltip program_id='2076029' first='Wisconsin' last='Crusaders'] have been high on their 16U team. Was personally a big fan watching them last year, and this was my first time catching them this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1289073' first='Keegan' last='Van Kauwenberg'] was hot to start with a pair of threes while also contributing on the boards. Drew Daost also hit a pair of three's and dished out several assists too. On the other side, Greater Purpose was led by solid consistent shooting from Ryan Lifton and [player_tooltip player_id='2105292' first='Ben' last='Schneider']. Two other players I liked were Jayden Rodriguez and Josaiah Calvin. Calvin's point guard abilities are a reminiscence to his older brother Trey, who stars at Wright State. While Jayden Rodriquez has the build and skillset of a shooting guard that can play at a high level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GPA led by 8 at halftime before [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'] helped bring them back with two more three's. [player_tooltip player_id='1289073' first='Keegan' last='Van Kauwenberg'] would eventually hit another deep three to tie it up. But Ben Schnieder really took over this game for greater purpose. His burst to the hoop could not be stopped and was responsible for the majority of their buckets in the second half. The two teams were going back and forth for quite a while. [player_tooltip player_id='1418511' first='Drew' last='Daoust'] hit two inside floaters and [player_tooltip player_id='1385289' first='Josiah' last='Calvin'] created two buckets of his own. [player_tooltip player_id='2105292' first='Ben' last='Schneider'] knocked down two free throws to put the game out of reach. GPA won 74-71.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17U [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] Looks Strong</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a strong showing earlier, All-In faced [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] in 17U Play. The physicality and athleticism on display in this matchup was truly superb with college-level prospects all over the floor. For [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'], [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] looks faster, stronger, and more athletic than before. He also stepped up big in the passing game with numerous assists early on. Picket's ability to attack the hoop and spin past opponents was quite eye-opening.&nbsp; When trailing, picket brought them back in it with an and-once conversion and several other buckets. Another [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] player who's improved his passing is [player_tooltip player_id='1373451' first='Jurrell' last='Baldwin']. He was the tallest player on the floor but displayed guard-like abilities with the ball. He also hit a three in the opening half. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side, [player_tooltip player_id='1965004' first='Sam' last='Lappin'] continued his scoring burst with some tough transition finishes and a corner three. He was the first player in this contest to reach double figures. In addition, [player_tooltip player_id='1432523' first='Connor' last='Woodin'] flexed his range for three triples in the first half. This helped put All-In ahead 36-29 at halftime. Lappin continued to excel in the second half with ten more points and two 3's. [player_tooltip player_id='1541237' first='Jack' last='Dabbs'] also came alive late with ten difficult points inside.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a Lappin Floater to take a 1-point lead, [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] hit a game winning bucket on the other end with just two seconds on the clock. [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] won 58-57. [player_tooltip player_id='1965004' first='Sam' last='Lappin'] Scored 25 for AIA, while [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] had 14 for Rose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025</strong> <strong>WI Playmakers win OT Thriller</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My final game of the night featured [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] against Greater Purpose. The Playmakers were making plays fast and early and started the game on a an 11-1 run. In addition, the first five buckets were scored by five different players. But Greater Purpose would stay in it behind stellar play from [player_tooltip player_id='1598652' first='Anestis' last='Hadjistamoulou']. He displayed tremendous speed getting to the hoop and quickly established himself as the go-to option in this game. But the 3-pt shooting of Zach Orr kept the playmakers ahead going into halftime.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A three and an assist from Hadjistamoulou gave GPA a quick lead in the 2nd half, but Zach Orr would respond for yet another 3-pointer. The second half was truly a back-and-forth effort with the lead exchanging countless times. Both Hadjistamoulou and Orr had 20 points with 5 minutes to go in the&nbsp; contest. The game would eventually go into overtime. Zach Orr opened OT with a huge assist to [player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson']. Two clutch free throws made it a five point game. [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] held on for a 65-62 overtime win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->