Wednesday Night Playoffs

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spectrum Makes Section Final</h2>   <p>Led by Braden Nelson and Jordan Willams, who both scored 21 sports, Spectrum came away with a 63-54 upset win over Sauk Centre. This was after Saturday's upset of at the time 26-1 Mora. Can Spectrum's run continue? Friday will be a lot more difficult as they'll face undefeated Albany after Albany breezed past Holdingford 96-64.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prospects to Watch for Albany vs Spectrum</h2>   <p>Seniors: [player_tooltip player_id='1286547' first='Sam' last='Hondl'], Zeke Austin, [player_tooltip player_id='1579920' first='Ethan' last='Meyer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1579919' first='Elliott' last='Burnett']</p>   <p>Sophomores: [player_tooltip player_id='2527108' first='Jaxson' last='Austin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2025921' first='Lucas' last='Hondl']</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2447744' first='Braden' last='Robert Nelson'] is a six-foot-three-inch 2025 senior guard that is the leading scorer for Spectrum per game at 19.8 points while shooting 37.6% from 3 on 93 attempts. Nelson is also a productive rebounder grabbing 7 boards nightly. Nelson is a secondary ball handler who moves the ball well and shoots it well for Spectrum as their primary scorer.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1819128' first='Bryce' last='Gaustad'] is a six-foot-seven-inch 2027 sophomore forward that is scoring 16.4 points while shooting 34.1% from 3 on 91 attempts while also grabbing 12.4 rebounds per game. Versus Mora Gaustad controlled the middle with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Gaustad showed a bit of facilitator ability with 4 assists. </p>    <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140590' first='Cody' last='Benson'] - Benson is six-foot-two-inch 2027 sophomore who is averaging 13 points per game and is making outstanding 47% of his 3-pointers on 138 attempts. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382257' first='Eli' last='Miller'] is a six-foot 2026 junior point guard that is scoring 10.5 points per game.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2570675' first='Jordan' last='Williams'] - Williams is a six-foot-five-inch 2025 senior who came up big in the last two games for Spectrum scoring 15 versus Mora and 21 versus Sauk Centre. He is scoring 10.2 points per game.</p>   <p>Gaustad will have a tall task Friday with Hondl, the D2 committed forward. Hondl is tall and long and probably the best athlete Gaustad has faced all year. Austin will give Spectrum match-up issues as well with another D2 committed player. Austin plays quickly, likes to use a quick first step to get into the painted area. If Spectrum is able to stop that, you have to be aware of his jump shot, from above the break and the mid-range, especially going to his right.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maple Grove-Champlin Park Was Special</h2>   <p>The Crimson of Maple Grove came away with a 9-point 90-81 victory but the game was close for nearly all 36 minutes. The game was truly a back and forth affair. In a game that played what seemed to be the Rebels favor, fast, the Crimson stayed close even when it looked like Champlin Park was putting distance on the scoreboard.</p>   <p>When up seven with 3:38 left, Maple Grove called time, and responded with a 11-2 run to end the first half and lead 44-42. The second half was Maple Grove getting a slight advantage with huge buckets by 2027 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'], even at times leading by 10, but Champlin Park would roar back. However, each time the Rebels would take the lead, usually a [player_tooltip player_id='1288748' first='Tyler' last='Wagner'] 3-pointer or [player_tooltip player_id='2126450' first='Gavin' last='Walter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1617766' first='Keegan' last='Harney'] would respond.</p>   <p>Harney, the 2025 senior guard who went over the 1,000 point mark, was too tough for the Rebels down the stretch even as the game was a one score game with just under a minute. Maple Grove made their free throws and Champlin couldn't answer and Maple Grove advanced to state.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617766' first='Keegan' last='Harney'] is a six-foot-three-inch guard for Maple Grove that scored 29 points, handed out 7 assists, swiped 5 steals, and grabbed 5 rebounds. 21 of the 29 points came in the second half and it was Harney who went to the line to put the game away late. The uncommitted Harney broke the Maple Grove singled season 3-pointers made record and career record this season.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126467' first='Baboucarr' last='Ann'] is a six-foot-four-inch 2027 guard already with Division 1 offers. The athletic guard has blossomed more with the ball in his hands and he continues to improve. In this game versus Champlin Park he scored 24 points while hitting four 3-pointers, and took the task of guarding the Rebels best player and lead scorer.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1960892' first='Henry' last='Knutson'] is a six-foot-five-inch guard who versus Champlin Park didn't score much, 5 points, but was vital to the team success with 8 assists finding shooters while driving into the lane. Knutson also late in the 2nd half had one of the biggest defensive plays with a massive block on a reverse lay-up</p>    <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1288748' first='Tyler' last='Wagner'] shot 40% on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit last year with [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota']. This season as the #1 option at Champlin Park he proved in volume he could fill up the scoring every night, especially from beyond the 3-pointer arc. Wednesday was no different as he scored 28 points while making seven 3-pointers.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1874925' first='Preston' last='Thielke'] is a six-foot-three-inch 2025 guard that scored 9 points versus Maple Grove. Theilke's most impressive skill isn't scoring but passing and working the defense. Thielke doesn't seem like he has much athleticism but soon you think that he'll blow by you with his dribble and sling a pass to an open shooter. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shakopee Wins 16th Straight to Punch Ticket</h2>   <p>Shakopee started the year 4-4, and finished 19-1 including 16 straight wins with a 62-57 win over Prior Lake Wednesday. The Sabres were led in scoring by 2025 senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1436821' first='Eli' last='Schroeder'] with 10 points but they got points from all eight players in their rotation.</p>   <p>Overall both teams defended extremely well, and made it tough to score throughout. I was very impressed with sophomore 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2126468' first='Blake' last='Betton']. Betton, who missed early season games due to injury suffered playing football, showed he can really be a 3&D type prospect. </p>   <p>Six-foot-ten-inch 2025 center [player_tooltip player_id='2405212' first='Tommy' last='Auge'] had two big blocks inside for the Sabers and really used that size advantage and senior 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1575342' first='Isaac' last='Cordes']' three 3-pointers were huge, especially the third as it gave Shakopee the margin they needed to secure the win. Cordes facilitated with 3 assists as well and I thought his driving and moving the ball was key to keeping everyone involved.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1434127' first='Norbu' last='Jenpa'] was huge for Prior Lake all year and the senior did score 15 points for the Lakers in his final game. Jenpa was held to just two 2nd half points as the Sabres as a group did a wonderful job defending. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2109916' first='Cade' last='Wozney'] scored 13 points for the Lakers as well. Kobby Sam-Brew impressed him a lot throughout with his agility and smoothness on the defensive side of the ball. One possession Sam-Brew trailed a offensive player into the lane and swatted away a lay-up attempt.</p>