Hard Work Finals 17U: Minnesota Fury Wins 3rd Straight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We wrap up the Hard Work Finals with our MVP, the title game summary, the top stock raiser and notes on five top performers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fury Wins 3rd Straight</strong>. The Fury wasn't just going for a title this weekend, Pete Zurn's team was going for a three year sweep! It took overtime to get there against a line--up of Sanford Sports Academy scholarship talent, but the Fury got it done 67-65.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Fury was down 17-2 early after [player_tooltip player_id='1288700' first='Porter' last='Ihnen'] scored on three jumpers. As quickly as SSA got going, you just had that feeling that the talent of the Fury was going to make a comeback. And in the middle of the first half that happened. Sanford Sports Academy had a 34-30 lead at the break but [player_tooltip player_id='1287439' first='Max' last='Woods'] was attacking them relentlessly and his game high 12 points at the break was a taste of things to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woods had a second half run of high speed, blazing rim attacks along with a couple jumpers (two bank shots went in!) and [player_tooltip player_id='1284153' first='Jay' last='Neubert'] hit three clutch threes giving Fury the lead. Ihnen and [player_tooltip player_id='1270335' first='Jacoby' last='Mehrman'] countered with basket attacks leading to foul shots and at the end of regulation the game was tied. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In overtime the game winning score was a [player_tooltip player_id='1287441' first='Brandon' last='Hrncir'] putback and after Mehrman missed at the buzzer the other way, Fury earned the 17u title of the Hard Work Region. A trophy to place next to their 16s and 15s Hard Work Academy trophy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1287439' first='Max' last='Woods'] (MVP)</strong>. Woods scored 29 points on 10 of 20 shooting from the field and 6 of 7 foul shooting (and hit three threes) plus he dished out seven threes and seven boards in a fantastic performance. SSA is a talented team but they just didn't have the type of athlete at guard to move with Woods. Max was on a downhill run for much of the game and SSA could not stop him. Woods also had 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting with seven assists in the semi-final in a win over [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Stock Riser</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1288700' first='Porter' last='Ihnen'] of Sanford Sports Academy. Simply put, Porter is a better player and prospect than I thought in the spring. The ability was clear in the spring, but the production the last four weeks from Porter has been outstanding. His ability to make jumpers with feet set, to finish on the move, to hit that lefty pull-up, to push with the ball, to play multiple spots, it's all something that has caught my eye. In my eyes he has gone from a player that was a nice get for USD, to a player I think could be considered a steal for USD. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Five More Top Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284127' first='Dominic' last='Fairbanks'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last='']. Fairbanks is one of the game changing shooters/scorers in Minnesota. And we've seen him do this against top Class A teams and now top 17u teams in the region. He gave [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''] a chance against the Fury with his six threes made and 24 points scored. He's a game changer when he gets hot and few can hit the grove live Dom can. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1287441' first='Brandon' last='Hrncir'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']. The other consistent Fury player at a higher level today was Brandon, the 6'7 four man from Farmington. Brandon had 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting against [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''] and then had another ten points on 5 of 7 shooting in the title game including the game winner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jesse Van Kalsbeek of Sanford Sports Academy. I have not watched Jesse enough to know where i think he should land at the next level but I can surely tell you that some college staff is really going to like him. He's on the floor at key times because he plays hard and uses his 6'6 frame well to defend, to board, to score actively, and to outwork his guy. This is a player that's going to work, and be a positive every possession, and that's all you can ask from a player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284201' first='Owen' last='Waldoch'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']. I have so much respect for the energy and effort that Owen brings to every game. Owen's path to getting a D2 opportunity was to be a high rate worker along with the skills he has and he's taken on that role for a winner. In the semi-final Owen had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and gave everything he had. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288787' first='Brody' last='Wishart'] of Real Phenom. Brody had another quality shooting game today knocking out five threes in the semi-final. Brody is agile enough for a scholarship player and has a good frame. What we need to see from him improved skills and consistency and a game like today hitting five threes is a nice step in the right direction. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->