WBBY Shootout

This past Wednesday I checked out the first day of the WBBY Shootout. It was a long day of pretty good basketball. It has been a few days since the tournament so I'll do my best to give a recap of what I saw.


Milwaukee Marquette 63 Plymouth 45

This was kind of an ugly out of control game. Plymouth just looked absolutely terrible at times as they routinely turned the ball over and took bad shots. Marquette's stingy zone defense was the real reason for this and led to numerous fast break buckets.

Mukwonago 58 Oconomowoc 43

Oconomowoc just couldn't get anything going in this game as they missed shot after shot and settled for the outside shot way too often. Mukwonago looked like a football team on the court as they have some very solid players on their team. Muk looked to get the ball to the inside every single time down the court and used their interior strength to their advantage. Game would of been even worse but, Muk pulled their starters but, had to bring them back in when Oconomowoc left their starters in and got the game inside single digits.

Oak Creek 56 Saint Thomas More 51

Was kind of a slow boring game between two undersized teams. The difference in this one was Thomas More's inability to penetrate against the Oak Creek zone defense. Thomas More seemed happy to just sit outside and shoot threes and missed them throughout much of the game until they were able to up their defensive pressure and get back into the game. For Oak Creek 6'4 senior Terrance Garner was huge as he was able to knock down the three and get in the paint and score.

Wisconsin Lutheran 65 Wauwatosa West 49

I loved watching Lutheran play as they were extremely unselfish and didn't have a go to player just everyone did their part and had no problem making the extra pass. They subbed in five in, five out for much of the game. Have incredible depth as a team. Tosa West seems to have a very strong sophomore class but, didn't stick to their offense and ended up trying to make something out of nothing. Was an uptempo game which took their big man 6'8 junior Ricky Landers right out of the game.

Onalaska 56 Wauwatosa East 44

Another game where a zone defense took one team right out of their offense. Tosa East just looked out of sink and couldn't do anything against the 2-3 zone. 6'4 senior Matt Thomas on Onalaska was off again in this one but, got more help this game unlike the game against Milwaukee Hamilton. Thomas still had his usual big scoring game though.

Aquinas 50 Dominican 47

This game was billed as the premier match up with Aquinas's 6'3 senior Bronson Koenig going against Dominican's 6'3 senior Duane Wilson. Koenig heading to Madison and Wilson to Marquette. First half went to Koenig and second half went to Wilson. The difference was Dominican was able to get their big man 6'9 sophomore Diamond Stone involved in the first half and in the second they stopped going to him. Aquinas was able to have a strong second option in 6'6 senior Michael Conway who knocked down three pointers, mid range jumpers, and had a powerful dunk.

East Troy 52 Milwaukee Riverside 50

For the first three quarters Riverside was faster and quicker then East Troy and then in the fourth quarter they just kind of relaxed and let East Troy back in the game and some clutch three point shooting late sealed the deal. Was a very nice match up watching East Troy's 6'9 twins against the 6'8 and 6'9 big men of Riverside.

Arrowhead 68 Bay Port 43

Arrowhead was another very deep team that subbed in a lot and at times it felt like Bay Port was playing one on five as the only guy that could really do anything was 6'4 senior Steven Minzlaff who scored over half the teams points. Arrowhead really pushed the tempo and penetrate hard in their dribble drive offense and kicked the ball out to their three point shooters.

Top Players
Bronson Koenig 6'3 senior Aquinas- Really is a treat to watch a guy that truly makes his team mates better. Probably the top true point guard in the state as he zips in the quick no look passes. Has the ability to pull up for the mid range or long jump shot or get to the rim and score.

Michael Conway 6'6 senior Aquinas- Hit three three point shots in the game, had a nice step back jumper, and the power dunk. He's the guy that makes this team good and he doesn't have to count on Koenig to set him up.

Ricky Finco 5'9 sophomore Arrowhead- Really didn't have a true star but, he was the teams leading scorer with 13 but, he couldn't miss from down town and hit three threes in the second quarter to ignite his team.

Steven Minzlaff 6'4 senior Bay Port- Really more of a guard but, because of his teams lack of size has to play underneath. Does a great job of guarding the big men and basically does it all on the offensive end. Posts up, shoots the three, and brings the ball up the court.

Duane Wilson 6'3 senior Dominican- Probably the top overall athlete in the state. Jumps out of the gym and even though Koenig did a nice job on him I'm not sure if anyone can stay in front of him. Can really finish at the rim in a variety of ways.

Diamone Stone 6'9 sophomore Dominican- Just a beast of a man and has a nice soft touch. Just pounded the offensive glass, hit a mid range jumper, and players really well off of Wilson. Think if they would of went to him more they may of won their game.

Nate Dodge 6'3 senior East Troy- Unquestioned leader of this team. Plays underneath in the zone defense and racks up the rebounds, ran the point at times, and knocks down threes with anyone in the state.

Brett and Alex Prahl 6'9 seniors East Troy- I'm sure they get this a lot but, it really is hard to tell the difference between the two even with the numbers 50 and 52 on their backs. Both move extremely well for players their size and run the court. Showed the ability to D up the bigger players for Riverside as well as guard the perimeter in the zone.

Nick Klar 6'4 junior Marquette- Hit some big threes in the game and benefited from running the floor and finding his corner spot where he was extremely hot.

Ravonn Posey 6'8 senior Riverside- A very very big man that has a nice touch around the rim. Doesn't get off the floor much but, was able to use his size and score against the big men of East Troy.

Nathan Tanguay 6'4 senior Mukwonago- I didn't expect it from this kid but, he can really score in the paint with a wide variety of post moves and can step out and hit the three point shot as well.

Terrence Garner 6'4 senior Oak Creek- Just a real smooth player that can really stroke it from the outside and can also go inside and score as well.

Alex Medenwaldt 5'11 junior Oak Creek- Kid that moves extremely well without the ball and can get his feet extremely quickly and knock down the open shot.

Matt Thomas 6'4 senior Onalaska- Really nothing more I can say about Thomas. Moves very well without the ball and is a great shooter. Can also score posting up.

Daymeann Stewart 5'10 junior Saint Thomas More- Didn't have a great game but, was able to his points late and get his team back into the game. Has a very quick release getting off his shot from downtown and has quick hands and can really finish at the rim.

Steffan Brown 6'0 sophomore Wauwatosa West- Really liked his game as he really looks like a confident point guard and seems like he can get his shot at any time. His team really looked to him late in the game.

Deiondre Cunningham 6'0 senior Wisconsin Lutheran- Just seemed like big time scorer. Could hit the three point shot and was able to drive to the rim and score too.

Well there is my quick synopsis of a great day of basketball and hopefully I'll be able to make it down to Milwaukee to catch another Shootout next year.