Just a Game Holiday Tournament

Didn't have much going on today so decided to take in the Just a Game Holiday Tournament. Game one, was the two teams that lost in Sauk Prairie and Oak Creek. Wasn't a great match up but, game me the chance to see 6'0 junior Harrison Cleary and how he had progressed since I had seen him play as a freshmen. The second game between the winners gave me a chance see Beloit who I figured had some talent and La Crosse Logan who I honestly didn't know much about. Again these weren't the greatest match ups but, they were games that were right in my backyard and a game is a game none the less and nice to see some teams that I wouldn't normally see.

Sauk Prairie 41 Oak Creek 38 

Unfortunately Harrison Cleary didn't play for whatever reason but,m this game still ended up being a pretty decent game anyway. Oak Creek ran an offense very similar to the offense that Roncalli has made famous in the state where everyone has the ability to shoot the three and everyone is constantly moving and down screens are being set all over the court, with some questionable screens. Unfortunately for Oak Creek they don't have the shooters that Roncalli has had. Sauk Prairie on the other hand run the swing offense like a good portion of the teams throughout Wisconsin. One surprise of this game was the play of Seth Kostroski a 5'10 junior for Sauk Prarie. He was able to knock down the three point shot, the mid range shot, and get to the rim and score. Oak Creek got the early lead behind some hot shooting from 5'8 senior Josh Duchniak but, things went very cold in the second quarter as they were only able to score three points in the second quarter and Sauk was able to take a lead and never really look back. Some late heroics from 6'4 sophomore Drew Yetka got Oak Creek back in the game but, a last second shot by Duchniak bounced off the rim.

Top Scorers
Sauk Prairie- Kostroski 21 Jackson Breunig 10 Brandon Spray 5
Oak Creek- Duchniak 16 Yetka 10 Bobby Smith 6

Beloit 53 La Crosse Logan 50 

This was kind of an interesting game as far as perceptions go. Coming into the game I expected Beloit to win. History said that Beloit would be more athletic, had the veteran coach, and play in a tougher conference. After watching warm ups though I switched my mind and thought that Logan would win this one. After watching the game though I guess I should of staid with my original pick. Logan was unable to get the ball inside at all, no one could drive the ball inside, and they just seemed very timid on the offensive end. Beloit on the other end had no fear to take the shot when it was there and moved very well without the ball getting it inside. Logan was the thicker and taller team but, Beloit was able to control the glass on both ends of the court. Beloit was the more aggressive team throughout which helped them in every aspect of the game. In the second half that aggressiveness turned into long rebounds, forced turnovers, and fast break points. Logan's best returning player 6'4 sophomore Trey Davis never could get himself into the flow of the game and some foul trouble forced him to spend much of the second half on the bench. This game also had some late game three point heroics as 6'5 junior Chase Johnson hit three second half threes and an and one three point play, to give Logan a chance. On the final play of the game it appeared Johnson had the open look but, didn't take it and ended up forcing a very deep three.

Top Scorers
Beloit- Kyan Pleasant 23 Dre'mond Long 10 Mario Nixon 7
Logan- Johnson 17 Jensen Hinton 12 Anthony Wright 7

Top Players 
Seth Kostroski 5'10 junior Sauk Prairie- Was probably the most impressive player of the day. As I said earlier he was hitting the three, mid range shot, and could get to the rim and score. Very quick player with the ball in his hand.

Jackson Breunig 6'1 junior Sauk Prairie- Has a very quick first step that allows him to get to the rim and finish. Also plays extremely hard.

Josh Duchniak 5'8 senior Oak Creek- A very streaker shooter, that when he gets hot can make any shot and moves very well without the ball.

Drew Yetka 6'4 sophomore Oak Creek- Big man that moves very well showing athleticism, and can step out and hit the three point shot.

Bobby Smith 6'4 sophomore Oak Creek- Really did a nice job of banging on the inside and stepped back and hit a couple 15 footers.

Kyan Pleasant 6'1 senior Beloit- Quickest player in his game and moved exceptionally well without the ball in his hands that led to wide open layups. Got a handful of offensive rebounds that led to second chance points and was able to hit the threes as well.

Dallen McAtee 5'11 senior Beloit- Really felt that the offensive really ran better when he came off the bench. Really like how he probed the defense to set things up and find the open team mate. Handles the ball really well and seemed to know when to push the offense.

Keyon McEachin 6'1 junior Beloit- Undersized big man, that did a great job of battling with taller players and also playing solid defense on anyone of the court.

Chase Johnson 6'5 junior La Crosse Logan- Big man that can really hit the three and moves very well for a 6'5 kid.

Anthony Wright 5'10 senior La Crosse Logan- Didn't have a great game but, was one of the guys that was able to drive the ball to the hoop and didn't score from the inside but, did get to the foul line where he scored most of his points.

All four of these teams are fairly even and it really came down to who had the better day no matter what the match ups would of been. I would guess all teams that were here will probably finish middle to bottom of their conferences. Probably not last place finishing teams but, not first place teams.