Game Report: North Linn vs. Hillcrest Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SOLON -- [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] did [player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] things, and the North Linn Lynx got some strong production from the rest of the roster as well, cruising past Hillcrest Academy on Tuesday night to advance to Saturday's substate final where they'll face Burlington, Notre Dame. That game will be played at City High, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 pm, and the winner will advance to the Class 1A state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lynx led 18-7 after the first quarter, took a 35-22 lead into the break, and were never really in danger against a good Hillcrest team, controlling the tempo and playing highly efficient basketball. They shot 58.7% from the floor, dished out 22 assists on 27 made field goals, and came away with 8 steals in the dominant win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Team</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>1Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>2Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>3Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>4Q</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Hillcrest Academy</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">7</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">15</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">10</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">11</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">43</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>North Linn</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">18</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">17</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">16</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">14</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">65</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hillcrest Academy: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2511490' first='Seth' last='Ours'] 11<br><strong>North Linn: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1484418' first='Mason' last='Bechen'] 24, [player_tooltip player_id='2398044' first='Cole' last='Griffith'] 14, Drew Ries 11, Cael Benesh 7, Hayden Schmidt 4, Nolan Woods 3, Jackson Nielsen 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1484418"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c6ea3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In all honesty, this game was pretty much over as soon as Bechen didn't suffer an ankle injury during pre-game warmups. The most dynamic player in 1A basketball, he was his usual self in this one, scoring 24 points on 9-13 shooting with 4 rebounds and 7 assists. A strong, physical guard who can get to his spots whenever he wants to off the dribble, he's excellent around the rim and in the mid-range, and is in complete control of the game when he has the ball in his hands. Bechen moved into second place on North Linn's all-time scoring list with his 24 points, passing Austin Hilmer and Ryan Miller. Bechen now has 1,774 career points, trailing only the legendary Jake Hilmer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2398044"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c6f05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The lead guard for the Lynx, Griffith has put together a really nice senior season playing for his dad, and he continued that strong play with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win on 6-10 shooting (2-2 3P). He handles it well, keeps his head up and looking for teammates, and knocks down open shots off the catch. He has gained confidence in his ability to create his own shot, taking his defender off the dribble and getting to the rim or to his spots in the mid-range routinely. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Drew Ries","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Linn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c6fd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ries is an undersized forward at 5-11 who does a majority of his work around the rim, but it's his non-stop motor that makes him such a strong player on both ends of the floor. He plays hard on every possession, crashes the glass hard on both ends, and has improved as a ball-handler and playmaker, taking a slower-footed defender off the dribble to get into the paint on a few occasions for either scores or dishes. He finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cael Benesh","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Linn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c705c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A solid all-around player on both ends of the floor, Benesh knows his role and plays it well for the Lynx, finishing with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He sees the floor really well and is a skilled passer who loves to get his teammates involved, and he takes advantage of his opportunities when they present themselves. He flies all over the place defensively and has good hands and lateral movement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2511490"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c70a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In Ours' final high school game, he led Hillcrest with 11 points on 4-9 shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers in the loss. He's a good shooter from 3-point range, with a quick release and good rotation on his shot. He moves well without the ball in his hands, finding open spaces in the defense to get to his shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mason Bender","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hillcrest Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c7121"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bender was extremely active on the glass, especially on the offensive end, pulling down 5 offensive rebounds to go with his 8 points. He has good touch around the rim and has a really good second jump that he uses to compete on the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2519950"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67bf21f9c7164"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Ravens' lead guard sees the floor well and likes to get his teammates involved. He puts constant pressure on the defense with his ability to attack off the dribble and get into the teeth of the defense, getting them to collapse, and then finding open teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->