Sectional Recap

I'm been a little delayed on this so I will have to do a quick recap of the three sectional games I saw this weekend. Took in one sectional final Thursday in Middleton and then a pair of finals Saturday.

Madison East 76 Waunakee 71
East was just flat out quicker and more athletic then Waunakee in this one. Waunakee's two stars Mitch Listau and Mason Steffen held their own just fine but, the other guys were just over matched in this one. 6'6 senior Nate Carter had a handful of big blocks for Waunakee but, late in the game East went to a five out and just let their guards go one on one with the big man. Steffen was huge in the first half as the style of play in this game really worked to his advantage as he was able to play with the freedom to drive the lane and score. On the other side Listau struggled to score in the first half but, in the second half he got things going starting out with getting to the free throw line where he doesn't miss.

For East it really was a team effort as five guys scored in double digits headlined by Earl Lewis who dropped 19. It seemed everyone was hitting their shots from the outside. Star Keshawn Justice didn't have the greatest game but, everyone else picked him up. Big props to Anthony Washington who had a monster dunk having driven past Waunakee big man Carter. Washington nearly brought the rim down and got the crowd pumped up. In the end the East team was too much for Listau and Steffen.

Pardeeville 62 Mineral Point 61
I was lucky to get into this game. The game was sold out and thankfully I found someone I knew with an extra ticket and ended up standing the whole game without a program so I had a hard time following the game. In the first half it was all the two young stars of Mineral Point in freshmen Brayden Dailey and sophomore Isaac Lindsey. Dailey and Lindsey scored all but, two points in the first half and they were hitting everything from the outside. With 3:30 left in the game Mineral Point was up 13 and then everything collapsed. Both Lindsey and Dailey decided to force some wild shots and as a team they struggled from the line and allowed Pardeeville to get back in the game. In the end Pardeeville hit a free throw with 0.7 seconds left after Mineral Point had to tie it up.

For Pardeeville Nicholas Henke was huge scoring particularly hitting a pair of huge threes late and he was the go to scorer all game long but, it was really Jonathan Kamrath that was the key. Kamrath was the one moving the ball to set up team mates and just seemed to always do the little things leading to baskets.

Sun Prairie 82 Madison East 58
This one made sure to get their super early to assure a seat and it was packed. It was an entertaining game but, unfortunately this game was over early. Sun Prairie lived up to the hype and what I thought they could be all year long. Jalen Johnson is the real deal and will be the best player in the state next year and may well be the best right now. Marlon Ruffin is an elite athlete and is a big time scorer that can get his at any time. East just didn't have the talented to match Sun Prairie and those outside shots just weren't falling for them tonight. This team could very well be a state champion but, it will be a great game if they meet Oshkosh North in the final.