NHR State Tournament: Saturday Impact Performances
Day two of NHR State Tournament action in Burnsville saw a mix of all three divisions, with a number of impact performances on display across the 17u, 16u, and 15u age groups.
Highlighted below are 10 of the best performances from Saturday.
- In their early morning win over Heat Menco, guard Luke Malamisuro of Cambridge-Isanti/Crossfire Peterson played a very solid game on the perimeter. The 5’10” guard makes good decisions and takes care of the ball, is sound on the defensive end, and makes the most of chances that come his way. He had 11 points in their win, scoring at the line, at the rim, and once from three.
- 6’3” forward Kevin Larson of Forest Lake/Heat Tenzin contributed a solid effort in their 20-point win over MN Nice this afternoon. There is nothing flashy with Larson, but the results speak for themselves. He always finds a body to block out and secures rebounds with two hands, finishes strong with a soft touch at the rim, and plays solid team defense. He finished with 12 points in their victory.
- One of the most well-rounded performances this morning came from Jackson Schlaack of Northfield/WOTN Berg 17u. He challenged and blocked multiple attempts near the hoop, rebounded everything in sight, and chipped in 10 points in their victory over MN Nice. He’ll be a part of a very formidable frontcourt next season in Northfield.
- Josh Streit of Eden Valley-Watkins/Crossfire Bertsch 15u paced a very balanced attack in a lopsided victory this afternoon with 13 points. Standing all of 6’3” (or taller), he capitalized on a number of second chance opportunities and scores on the break. His ability to alter shots and deflect passes on the defensive end kick-started the Crossfire this afternoon.
- A physical guard from Heat Menco 17u, 6’2” Ryan Miller of Woodbury is a defensive force on the perimeter. He has good lateral quickness and the ability to body up the offensive player without fouling. On the offensive end he is just as effective, capitalizing on a number of slashes to the basket as well as knocking down a pair of threes on his way to 14 points against Crossfire Peterson.
- In a tightly contested game against Heat Menco, Joe Stokman (2019) took advantages of his opportunities. He showcased a pretty release from range, with all four of his makes this morning coming from beyond the arc for 13 points. At 6’3”, the Maple Lake product has good size at the off-guard position that can frustrate defenders. In addition, his size, paired with good lift on his jumper make it very tough to contest.
- WOTN Berg got the 17u action started this morning with a 52-38 victory over MN Nice. The catalyst in their victory was PG Nick Mullins of Prior Lake. He is a feisty on-ball defender that anticipates and moves his feet well. On offense, he was able to continuously penetrate the MN Nice defense to either draw a foul, finish, or kick out to a teammate. He finished with 13 points this morning.
- The 6’5” forward from Maple Grove/Heat Menco 17u, Ryan McGinnis, was a matchup nightmare in their narrow defeat to Crossfire Peterson. The rangy forward was able to step out on the perimeter and cash in three times from deep as well as finish with a soft touch near the basket for a total of 15 points this morning.
- Anthony Sazama, a 6’0” guard from Waconia/MN Swish (2020) was a sniper from long-range this afternoon. With a sound, efficient stroke from deep, Sazama poured in five triples on his way to 21 points in their victory over SE MN Lightning. In somewhat of a defensive battle, Sazama was the catalyst on offense and a reliable wing defender.
- The best performance of the day came from the 15u Division, with 6’7” forward Will Tschetter of Stewartville/Heat Tauer pouring in 38 points in their victory. Tschetter is nimble and athletic with a sturdy frame and he was able to take advantage of it in numerous ways. He finished above the rim with four dunks, knocked down free throws, hit from mid-range, and even knocked down a three. Tschetter is a physical defender in the post and also rebounds the ball exceptionally well.