Swingfam Showcase

On Saturday took in the four game showcase of the swingfam. This showcase was to allow players that play for the Swing AAU to showcase their school teams in one setting. I'm not familiar with the Swing AAU team but, I believe each team had at least one player that plays for the AAU team. Also maybe it was a coincidence but, it appeared nearly every team that played ran the swing offense at one time or another. This entire month looks like it will be at the JAG every weekend as each weekend they have a tournament or showcase going on.

Fort Atkinson 56 Waunakee 42
It's hard for me to imagine but, appears that Waunakee is having a down year. Conference wise they seem to be doing pretty decent but, maybe the Badger North is just having a down year overall. Future does look bright for Waunakee as they start a pair of talent freshmen in 6'3 Mith Listau and 6'2 Mason Steffen. Fort Atkinson had more height and more skill in this one but, Waunakee played really hard and scrappy which allowed them to make this game close throughout the first half. In the second half though Fort Atkinson's sharpshooter 6'6 senior Clay Gerds went off. Gerds just couldn't miss and all his three's were falling and had a big and one three as well. Along with Gerds shooting Waunakee wore down inside and led to easy buckets for Fort Atkinson late.

Top Scorers
W- Alex Helt 13 Listau 11 Brett Lenzendorf 6
FA- Gerds 21 Tristan Shoup 12 Brett Behselich 11

West Allis Central 56 Kettle Moraine 39
This was the game that really attracted me to the showcase. I was very impressed with WAC a year ago and knew that 6'0 senior Brandon Key is a fun kid to watch play and Kettle Moraine has a pretty good team. Early on this really looked to be a great game as Kettle Moraine led after one 18-13. Not sure if WAC was just surprised or what but, Kettle Moraine came out looking much quicker then WAC and looking like the much more disciplined team. In the second quarter WAC settled in under the calming influence of Key. WAC outscored Kettle Moraine 21 to 7 in the second quarter and led by nine at half and continued to expand that lead throughout. Kettle Moraine looked great in the first quarter and not sure if it was WAC turning up the pressure slightly or what but, Kettle Moraine just fell apart turning the ball over and taking bad shots. I love watching Key play, he really does control everything for Central on both ends of the court. Other then the occasional one on one from other players Key really is the offense either scoring and setting up his team mates. Key only had 12 points but, I'd like to see how many assists he had this game. Key loves to run the pick'n'roll with fellow senior 6'2 Jerome Cummings, who had 20 points most of which coming from Key passes. When it wasn't Cummings scoring on the inside Key was dishing to open team mates in the corners to knock down the three. Kettle Moraine tried to go to a zone but, Key shredded it and it didn't last long.

Top Scorers
WAC- Cummings 20 Key 12 David Mlachnik 9
KM- Sean Miller 13 Mitch Pfeifer 9 George Schwartz 8

Lake Mills 58 Madison Edgewood 54
I really didn't expect this game to be as close as it was but, with a Chris Zwettler coached team you know their going to come to play. Lake Mills loves, loves to run and it appears that their coach gives them the freedom to do just that. No matter who on the team gets the rebound their going to run and this leads to some easy baskets but, also leads to some very bad and very quick shots. First half 6'0 junior Sam Noyce for Edgewood was getting the open looks and knocking them down but, some foul trouble in the second half really limited him. Lake Mills junior 6'6 Simon Lensmire got a ton of rebounds for Lake Mills and he was the primary guy pushing the tempo which I really wasn't a fan of having your biggest guy going up the court and taking a shot before most of  your team had even crossed half court. This game was a pretty fast paced game before of Lake Mills running and the lack of fouls in the first half. Seemed at times they were just running back and forth taking turns missing shots. In the second half the overall play of the game really picked up. Edgewood figured out that they had a big height advantage looking inside to their big man 6'8 junior Lee Witz. Witz is pretty raw right now, like a lot of big guys in high school but, he showed a very nice tough around the rim and I really liked this kid's game. The big difference in the second half was the hot shooting of Lake Mills sophomore 5'11 Brady Wagner. Wagner is a lefty that has the green light at any time and in the second half he just couldn't miss and really shot his team to the win.

Top Scorers
ME- Witz 17 Noyce 12 Alex Arians 12
LM- Wagner 21 Lensmire 12 Alex Ranney 10

Columbus 52 Baraboo 40
Game was pretty ugly and watching the game felt like the score was a lot worse then what it was. This was the first time I had actually looked at the score and I was surprised it was this close. Baraboo is another Badger North team that is down and Columbus kid of sleep walked through the fourth quarter to allow it to be this close. Baraboo played a ton of guys which is mostly because they don't have any real stars so no reason to play anyone big minutes unless their hot and no one got hot for them. The story of the game was the strong play of Columbus's 5'11 sophomore Noah Coughlin. Coughlin had the majority of the teams baskets in the first half and actually the only player for Columbus to make a two point shot in the first half. Columbus was just a very slow methodical team that just wore Baraboo down defensively. On the other side Baraboo shot horrible and missed bunny after bunny. Baraboo did get a lot of offensive rebounds but, that didn't necessarily lead to baskets though.

Top Scorers
C- Kyle Geiger 18 Coughlin 16 Jacob Ballweg 7
B- Nick Stack 13 Matt Munneke 9 Paddy O'Rourke 7

Top Players 
Alex Helt 6'0 sr Waunakee- One guy that was hitting some shots. Showed the ability to hit the 12 foot jumper on a regular bases.

Clay Gerds 6'6 sr Fort Atkinson- He was on fire from the outside and just couldn't miss from three point range. Didn't really notice him until the game started and he was draining threes.

Jerome Cummings 6'2 sr West Allis Central- Plays off Key extremely well. Really battled on the inside against bigger defenders who may of been more athletic too.

Brandon Key 6'0 sr West Allis Central- Can't really say more then I said already. Completely controlled the game and is always under control. Might have the best ball handling skills I've seen this year.

Mitch Pfeifer 6'3 sr Kettle Moraine- Didn't have a great game but, showed some real athleticism. Can jump out of the gym and is a solid defender.

Lee Witz 6'8 jr Madison Edgewood- Very nice touch around the rim with his back to the basket.

Brady Wagner 5'11 so Lake Mills- Sharpshooter that really got going late in this game. Doesn't need much space and they shot is going up and usually going to fall.

Simon Lensmire 6'6 jr Lake Mills- High energy player that dominated the glass and can really run the court. Showed the ability to step out and hit the three.

Noah Coughlin 5'11 so Columbus- Great point guard that handles the ball well and is always under control. Can really score but, is actually seemed to be a pass first point guard. Mid range jump shot is very very good.

Kyle Geiger 6'2 sr Columbus- Did a very good job of drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. Shot about 90% from the line and played every minute of the game and didn't seem to get tired.

Nick Stack 6'5 jr Baraboo- Really battled on the inside grabbing a ton of rebounds on defense and offensive side.

Waunakee and Edgewood are both down this year but, their both going to bring it every night and make a team beat them and not going to give the game away. Baraboo is very down but, they did just beat Lake Mills so every team better come to play when they play Baraboo. West Allis Central will go as far as Brandon Key will take them, which we be pretty far but, height will be a concern. Kettle Moraine will have better days I believe and will finish top half in a tough conference and has the ability to make a deep playoff run. Fort Atkinson is a very solid team that could very well make a run to state if they can hit the threes. Lastly the Capitol North has to be one of the best mid size conference in the state with Columbus and Lake Mills who could make state runs and throw in Poynette and Watertown Luther Prep, who have lost a combined four teams between those four teams. Lake Mills may be a year away though as they have a very young team with lots of sophomores and juniors.