Midwest Players Classic

Has been five days since I attended the players classic but, going to do my best to do a recap of the games at the players classic up in La Crosse. For starters the La Crosse Center is a great place to host an even like this and not sure what we can't get tournament games there for sectionals like they do in other places. This year the event didn't have the teams of the past but, this is because they are looking to keep the Showcase more centralized to the La Crosse area and when teams are down in the La Crosse area games may get a little rough.

St Croix Lutheran MN 58 La Crosse Aquinas 21
Aquinas just isn't a very good team this year. Aquinas looked like they had some athletes but, they just couldn't drive the ball to the hoop and couldn't hit any outside shots and took a lot of bad shots. SCL was actually a pretty good team and I was fairly impressed with them. They had a lot of guys between 6'2 to 6'5 that could all do a little bit of everything. Two guys I really liked was juniors Aage Rovney and Ade Lamu. Rovney really drove to the hoop well but, didn't force things and picked his times to drive. Lamu really didn't shoot a ton but, he's a tremendous athlete that probably had 15 rebounds and got the bulk of his points on second chance buckets.

East Ridge MN 66 West Salem 33
This was another game that was over fairly quickly. West Salem plays very hard and is disciplined but, just didn't have the athletes or the size to battle East Ridge West Salem's top scorer, senior Bailey Williams really struggled with East Ridge's length and physicality that East Ridge brought and the refs let them play. West Salem was able to get some rebounds early on to keep things close but, then deep threes and turnovers led to some run out buckets.

Waverly-Shell Rock IW 57 Caledonia MN 54 
This was a battle of top teams ion their division in each of their states. Really was a fun game to watch. Not a fast pace game but, was just a very fundamentally sound game. Both teams really did a nice job of working from the inside out and they didn't take bad shots. Caledonia probably had more athletes and were the better team in my opinion but, Waverly's Jake Velky wouldn't let his team lose and made big shot after big shot. WSR jumped out early play Caledonia climbed back into and took the lead in the second and never looked back until WSR finally got the lead for good when Velky hit a three at the buzzer to win it. Both these teams would be very tough to beat in division three or four in Wisconsin which is where they would fall here I believe. Shell Rock had a pair of kids around 6'10 but, outside of them Caledonia was the bigger team and the two big kids never played together. Depsite the height differences by both teams it was negated by the strength and smart play of both teams.

Rice Lake 62 Rochestor John Marshall MN 51
This game was no where as close as the final score shows. This game was all about the Henry Ellenson show. Ellenson had his normal game. The outside shot wasn't falling for Ellenson but, everything else was and he really had a chance to show off his ball handling skills. The play of the game had to be when Ellenson brought the ball up the court and crossed over and then finished off with a big two handed dunk. For anyone that has never seen Ellenson play I always compare his game to Dirk Nowitzki. Ellenson is 6'10 but, really plays more like a wing and rarely post up. I think his skills will help him more as he moves up in the levels but, right now he's 6'10 and should just park his butt in the post. John Marshall's Michael Hurt held his own very well against Ellenson scoring 21 points and playing a tough man to man against him. Hurt is about 6'6 or 6'7 I'd guess evidently is going to Minnesota which may be a bit of a stretch for him but, I did like his play so who knows.

La Crosse Aquinas girls won big over La Crosse Central. Didn't keep score so no idea what the final was but, it wasn't good. 

La Crosse Central 70 Sioux City North IW 67 
Easily the game of the day with entertainment value and closeness. Central starts four sophomores and I was very impressed with them. Central is a quick long team and I have no idea how they have lost four games this year. This was the coming out party for sophomore Kobe King for Central. King can jump out of the gym, drive to the hoop, and can hit the three. In my mind right now King is the top Sophomore I have seen this year. King had a monster put back dunk to go along with 31 points. This game looked like a run away at one point as they were up by 20 at one point until North's Daniel Tillo started lighting up from down town. Tillo shot a lot in the first half but, they weren't going but, in the second half they started to fall. Some poor free throw shooting by Central gave North an opening and missed a desperation three at the buzzer when they couldn't get the ball in Tillo's hands.

Top Players Didn't have heights for players
Aage Roveny junior St Croix Lutheran- Could really get to the hoop and score and also had the outside jumper in his arsenial as well.

Ade Lamu junior St Croix Lutheran- Guessing he was 6'4 or 6'3 but, dominated the glass on both ends. Most of his points off of transition or offensive rebounds. Athlete describes him perfectly.

Sid Tomes senior East Ridge- 6'4 point guard and he was every bit of a point guard. Could really score but, really looked to set up his team mates. Had a handful of passes that made you want to stand up a cheer.

Seth Green junior East Ridge- Another long athlete. Green did a great job of guarding West Salem's Baily Williams and did a little bit of everything as a glue guy.

Kyle Sorenson senior Caledonia- A perfect high post player at 6'7 passes very well and can hit the mid range shot. Runs the court well as well.

Justin Burg senior Caledonia- Did a very nice job guarding the 6'10 Austin Phyfe and was able to score in the post.

Jake Velky senior Waverly-Shell Rock- Sharpshooter from the outside and had a very nice step back jumper which he used to hit the game winner. Very strong player with the ball in his hands.

Austin Phyfe sophomore Waverly-Shell Rock- Big man with a very nice touch around the rim and has a great game with his back to the basket.

Henry Ellenson senior Rice Lake- Everyone knows about Ellenson already but, just think Dirk Nowitzki. One of the fastest players on the court at 6'10, handles the ball, and does everything. Had six dunks in the game.

Michael Hurt senior John Marshall- Moves really well for a kid his size and showed the ability to hit the three. Would be a good role player at the next level.

Kobe King sophomore La Crosse Central- Already said everything earlier. Might be the best leaper in the state and he's a big time player just waiting to blow up.

Daniel Tillo senior Sioux City North- Sharpshooter and shoot he does. When he's able to step into a three the shot it going to fall.

Top Scorers
Kobe King Central 31
Daniel Tillo Sioux City 29 
Henry Ellenson Rice Lake 25
Michael Hurt John Marshal 21 
Seth Green East Ridge 16
Bobby Remke East Ridge 16 
Jake Velky Waverly-Shell Rock 16 
Ade Lamu St Croix 15