Regional Final Weekend

Ended up attending two region finals on Saturday after getting a flat tire Friday night and not being able to attend any games. I got over to Sun Prairie to watch them play Watertown and then drove over to Verona to watch Deforest and Monroe play.

The first game was technically called a D1 regional final but, it was the first game for both of these teams so it could hardly be called a regional final. I didn't stay tell the very end of the game so not sure if Sun Praire received a plaque for their win but, personally I wouldn't feel that I truly earned it being that they only got the one playoff win while other divisions won as many as three games to claim their regional title.

Early on Watertown hung with Sun Prairie matching them basket for basket as Sun Prairie had a 15-14 point lead at one quarter. Watertown did a nice job of not turning the ball over early and really looking to their big man 6'9 senior Joe Sokovich who really showed a nice touch around the rim and had a nice hook shot working for him, he does need to add some size and strength though, as the game wore on Sun Prairie was able to lean on him and push on him all game long and really seemed to be worn down late in the game. Part of his fatigue may of been because he played nearly the entire game and rarely sat. Early on Sun Prairie was ice cold from the outside as Watertown gave them open three time and again but, in the second half Sun Prairie was able to push the tempo and force Watertown into turnovers and when Watertown didn't turn the ball over Sun Prairie was able to push the ball off the rebound and get easy baskets. In the end Sun Praire wound up blowing Watertown out 66-38.

Top Players
Chris Hawkins 6'5 senior Sun Prairie- Really showcased his overall game. Hawkins was able to step out and hit the outside jumper and showed some ability to penetrate to the rim.
Nick Fuller 6'5 sophomore Sun Prairie- Couldn't get the outside shot going but, did a nice job of battling inside and getting out in transition. Had a couple of very nice passes.
Joe Sokovich 6'9 senior Watertown- Said it early just showed a real nice touch around the rim. Thinking he is a scholarship player maybe not D1 but, probably a D2.

Top Scorers
Hawkins 20 Fuller 15
Sokovich 14

Game two headed over to Verona to watch the D2 regional final between Monroe and Deforest.
I hadn't seen Deforest play this year but, they just had defeated Edgewood so they were obviously playing some good basketball. Early one neither team could but a basket as it seemed shot after shot would bounce off the rim. At the end of the first quarter the score was only 4 to 3 with Deforest up. For Deforest 6'1 senior Kenny Derlein finally got things going as he scored all eight of his points in the second quarter to get Deforest the 16-12 halftime lead. In the first half Monroe's two star seniors 6'0 Bryan Tordoff and 6'2 Michael Barrett were nearly non existent. In the second half that changed as Tordoff came out really looking to score. Tordoff took some bad shots but, about half way through the third he really got things going. Monroe continued to give Deforest spot up three pointers and they knocked them down but, Tordoff was always there to answer. Everyone in the gym knew Tordoff was looking to shoot and he was still able to get his shot off. With the game very close in the fourth Barrett finally came alive driving to the hoop. Late in the game it was either Barrett or Tordoff taking every shot while Deforest marched to the free throw line the final three minutes or so. Every time I thought Deforest would but the game away there was Monroe bringing it close. In the end Monroe was down by two and Barrett drove baseline for the last second shot that rimmed in and out and Deforst got the two point win.

Top Players
Bryan Tordoff 6'0 senior Monroe- You can see some times he just says screw it when the offense isn't working and just jacks up the three and when he gets hot he's nearly impossible to stop coming off the screen and when he shoots it the shot is going in.
Michael Barrett 6'3 senior Monroe- Had a tough game but, was able to get to the hoop with ease late in the game and score.
Eric Steward 6'0 senior Deforest- Really think he could of scored more but, was content just running the offense. Was easily the quickest player on the court and that's with a monstrous knee brace on his one leg.
Kyle Renz 6'3 senior Deforest- Was very tough in the post scoring as he got a couple and one baskets. Really made his mark being the clutch free throw shooter late in the game.

Top Scores
M- Tordoff 22 Barrett 13
D- Renz 18 Steward 9 Derlein 8

Was a fun weekend and should be another good one coming up. Hoping to catch the Sun Prairie sectional games as well as the D3 sectional in Middleton on Saturday. I think Waunakee should be able to handle Deforest just like they did in the regular season but, right now Deforest is running on emotion and they are a hot team right now. Sun Praire should defeat Madison East, setting up an epic match up with Madison Memorial for a third time this season.