East Troy Tournament: Golda Meir, East Troy log wins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br><strong>Milwaukee Golda Meir 80, Lake Country Classical 57</strong><br>Any chance Lake Country Classical had of hanging with Golda Meir for a full 36 minuets evaporated midway through the first half when senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2958853' first='John' last='Walker'] (6-3) was lost for the game with an injury. Without Walker, Lake Country Classical simply had a hard time handling Golda Meir's full-court pressure defense. Whether they were turning the ball over or just having a very difficult time getting into its half-court offense, the Sentinels played hard and until the end, but simply couldn't keep pace with potent Golda Meir. Ultra-athletic senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2496089' first='Kaleb' last='Colbert'] (6-0) had 33 points and five dunks for Golda Meir while smooth-shooting senior [player_tooltip player_id='2958856' first='Ryan' last='Low'] (6-3) had 31 points and eight three-point baskets for Lake Country Classic. <br><br><strong>East Troy 91, Milwaukee School of Languages 53</strong><br>It was a 13-point game at halftime, and then East Troy kicked its game into another gear during the second half en route to its convincing non-league win on its home court. Balanced scoring was evident for the Trojans as coach Noah Phillips had four players score in double figures. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3019783' first='Jaylen' last='Hoffman'] (6-1) led the way for East Troy as he swished six three-point baskets and scored 23 points. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2438999' first='Cameron' last='Polvi'] (6-0) chipped in 19 while [player_tooltip player_id='2834838' first='Conner' last='Sickler'] (6-7) and [player_tooltip player_id='2919477' first='Mason' last='Phillips'] (6-0) each had 10. School of Languages, which played without standout sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2371441' first='Taylor' last='Williamson'] (5-8), was led by promising junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3148719' first='Jezmir' last='Alim-Hassan'] (6-3), who did a bit of everything for coach John Allen's team and finished with a game-high 31 points. <br><br><em>Note: The games played Friday originally had been planned to be the semifinals of the East Troy Tournament. However, because of the inclement weather, Saturday's games have been cancelled</em>.<br><br><strong>PLAYERS OF THE GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2496089"],"_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-692a8609b5b57"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Colbert swished the first three-point shot of the game, hit another four triples before intermission and finished with 33 points in helping Golda Meir past Lake Country Classical. In addition to his five three-point baskets, Colbert had five dunks in the contest. His explosiveness around the basket is as impressive as his ability to score from deep and off the bounce. A solid student who is being recruited by schools at the NCAA Division II and III levels, Colbert is the son of Golda Meir coach Emmitt Colbert. His leadership, toughness, physicality and ability to make big plays should help Golda Meir all season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2438999"],"_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-692a8609b5bba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Although on the small side, Polvi's game played large in East Troy's win over Milwaukee School of Languages. Quick with the ball and tough to defend because of his effective stop-and-go moves, Polvi scored 19 points for East Troy while also setting up his teammates with his strong court vision. Polvi was able to use his quickness and ball handling to get into the lane to score and create for others. He also knocked down some mid-range jump shots and hit a three-point basket for the Trojans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMERGING PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2958856"],"_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-692a8609b5c08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Low is living proof that good players can be found almost everywhere. Playing for one of the newest schools in the WIAA -- Lake Country Classical, a charter school near Oconomowoc -- Low knocked down eight three-point baskets and scored 31 points for the Sentinels despite being a marked man by the Golda Meir defense, particularly in the second half when Low had to take on ball-handling duties after point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2958853' first='John' last='Walker'] was lost to an injury. The son of Lake Country Classical coach Andy Low, [player_tooltip player_id='2958856' first='Ryan' last='Low'] has very good size, an accurate jump shot from well beyond the three-point arc, and a strong feel for the game. He is open to in his recruitment with both Hope and Taylor possibilities for the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2793304"],"_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-692a8609b5c52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A transfer student from Kenosha Reuther, Retic took a bit to get going in Golda Meir's win over Lake Country Classical. But once he settled in, Retic became a force near the basket with his athletic moves to the rim. He also was able to knock down a three-point jumper for Golda Meir on the way to scoring 17 points before fouling out late in the game. Retic will need to get stronger in order to better absorb bumps in the lane, but once he adds some more muscle and weight to his long frame, he will become an even bigger force for the Owls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3148719"],"_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-692a8609b5c9b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Forced to handle the ball more than usual since starting lead guard for Milwaukee School of Languages, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2371441' first='Taylor' last='Williamson'], was on the sidelines in street clothes, Alim-Hassan rose to the occasion for coach John Allen's squad. He finished with 31 points and handled the ball for much of the game. He was able to get around defenders with his length and quick burst and finished well over taller defenders in the lane. Alim-Hassan opened with three three-point baskets, but after drilling perimeter jumpers early, he opted to drive the ball the rest of the way with good results. He made 10-of-13 foul shots en route to his 31 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2834838"],"_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-692a8609b5ce4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Encountering foul trouble early in the game, Sickler shrugged off the infraction blues to score 10 points, including a two-handed flush off a nice steal in the second half. Sickler has excellent size, good bounce and plays with aggressiveness on the glass and on defense. He is a player on the rise in the 2027 class as he has grown some over the past two seasons and continues to advance his game with his strong work ethic. Sickler and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019780' first='Ethan' last='Callahan'] (6-7) give East Troy coach Noah Phillips a solid twin tower tandem, one that figures to give Rock Valley Conference opponents fits in 2025-26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3019783"],"_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-692a8609b5d35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lock-and-loaded on almost every possession, Hoffman put his stellar long-distance shooter to use on Friday as he had six triples and a team-best 23 points for East Troy in its win over Milwaukee School of Languages. Hoffman catches the ball outside the arc, and his quick release allows him to get off shots against taller defenders. In addition to his strong perimeter play, Hoffman also did a nice job of scoring or getting fouled on drives to the hoop. His ability to make shots will be a big play for East Troy all winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FROM THE COACHES<br><br>Lake Country Classical Coach Andy Low:</strong><br>"When John (Walker) went down with his injury, Ryan (Low) was crying in the locker room at halftime. Those two are very close and have been playing together for a very long time. Ryan had never played point guard before, but he put in his best effort running our team despite being dog tired. I'm not sure how he got some of his shots to fall, but he did."<br><br><strong>Milwaukee Golda Meir Coach Emmitt Colbert:</strong><br>"Right now, we are trying to put the pieces together to find some additional scoring outside of Kaleb (Colbert). Tonight, in the second half, both Chris (Retic) and Daniel (Spears) got it going. We needed to finish a little better in the lane as we missed a bunch of bunnies tonight. But we are 2-0 heading into games with Milwaukee North and Martin Luther next week, and Kaleb's experience and leadership have been huge for us thus far."<br><br><strong>BOXSCORES<br><br>Golda Meir (41-39 = 80)</strong><br>Colbert 33, L. Hayes 2, Retic 17, G. Smith 7, Spears 17, Biddle 0, Holmstrom 0, Piechocki 0, H Smith 0, Stephens 0, Wilson 0, Young-Padilla 2. Three-point field goals: Colbert 5, Spears 4, Retic 1. FT: 6-10. Fouled out: None. Record: 2-0.<br><strong>Lake Country Classical (28-29 = 57)</strong><br>Meinhardt 7, Horn 2, Low 31, Welch 7, Walker 8, Schultz 2. Three-point field goals: Low 8, Meinhardt 1, Walker 1. FT: 5-14. Fouled out: None. Record: 1-1.<br><br><strong>Milwaukee School of Languages (31-22 = 53)</strong><br>Krause 2, Alim-Hassan 31, Mitchell 4, Stovall 2, Hunt 0, Thompson 1, Sims 10, Walker 0, Scott 0, Love 3, Daniels 0. Three-point field goals: Alim-Hassan 3, Sims 2. FT: 16-25. Fouled out: Stovall, Mitchell. Record: 0-1.<br><strong>East Troy (44-47 = 91)</strong><br>Beaver 6, Polvi 19, Hoffman 23, Sickler 10, B. Phillips 4, Pettijohn 3, Odell 0, M. Phillips 10, Chapman 0, Golabowski 5, Callahan 8, Swendrowski 3. Three-point field goals: Hoffman 6, M. Phillips 2, Polvi 1, Swendrowski 1, Golabowski 1. FT: 15-29. Fouled out: None. Record: 1-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->