WBBY Shootout

Took in the WBBY shootout last week. Traditionally this is one of the best high school basketball events of the season but, this year they didn't seem to get the elite or elite teams. There is probably multiple reasons for this but, I think a big one is that many teams are headed to other states to play in tournaments which causes them to not have open schedules to play in multiple events. Even though some of the top teams weren't there was still a very impressive event as always and still had a handful of very talented teams. Day one I didn't get to the tournament until game four and day two I left a game early so will only give a small recap of the games that I saw.

Day 1
Milwaukee Academy of Science 78 Kettle Moraine Lutheran 74
This game was really about KML's inability to make shots or get offensive rebounds late. MAS basically just ran out all day and hoped their bigs could get the rebounds. The guy that didn't score a ton but, was player of the game was 6'5 juinior Amani Glosson for Academy of Science. Glosson was the guy getting all the rebounds while his smaller guards just leaked out for wide open layups after outlet passes from Glosson. Glosson also had a very nice break away jam. 5'7 MAC freshmen Armani Jones also really impressed me with his shooting ability off the dribble and the ability to finish over bigger defenders. He scored 33 points but, half of those were just kind of cherry picking.

Oshkosh West 87 Brown Deer 70
Third time I've seen Brown Deer play and this was probably their best game but, in the end their poor shot selection and outside shooting did them in. 6'2 senior Brooklyn Jagers played the best I've seen him as he played under control and gave up on that stupid floater in the lane. For West 6'0 junior Karter Thomas paced them. Thomas started very slow but, got going midway through the first half with his outside shot. 6'10 senior Luke Haasl was out for both Shootout games.

Green Bay Southwest 75 Wisconsin Lutheran 64
Southwest isn't the most athletically impressive team but, their one of those solid teams that just get it done. Wisconsin Lutheran just doesn't have a ton of talent right now. Gotta give it up to 6'3 senior Will Pytleski for Soutwest. Pytleski just always seemed to be at the right spot at the right time scoring and also showed the ability to hit the outside shot.

Kettle Moraine 75 New Berlin West 45
Well West really misses Desmond Polk. Just not much talent for them right now. No body really stood out for Kettle Morain by 6'6 junior Nolan Dahmen had a solid game scoring 28 points.

Brookfield Central 78 Martin Luther 68
The game of the day. Martin Luther has three tremendous senior players in 5'10 Trequan Carrington, 6'2 Ace Evans, and 6'5 Xzavier Jones. Carrington might be the best ball handler in the state and has a tremendous shot off the dribble. Evans is an elite athlete with D1 college ability but, needs to work on his outside shot and right hand. Had the dunk of the year in my mind when he threw down an angry dunk on Central's 6'6 big man. Jones could very well be the best player in the state but, did disappear in the second half. 15 feet and in Jones is going to score and man can he jump. In the end Central just wore Martin Luther down. Central's senior guards 6'0 Gage Malensek and 6'3 Cole Nau don't wow you but, they just don't do anything wrong. They also have a pair of talent sophomores 6'1 Ben Nau who can get his shot at any time, has a quick release, and moves well without the ball. They also have sophomore big man 6'6 David Joplin. Outside of getting dunked on Joplin just had a solid game rebounding, playing defense, and doing all the little glue things.

Milwaukee Lutheran 70 Mount Horeb 64
This game was a late game and I found it alittle boring to be honest. Personally thought Mount Horeb should win this one easily but, they kind of struggled. 6'0 Milwaukee Lutheran junior Javeon Tolliver was the difference in this one driving to the rim and finding his team mates.

Day 2
Eau Claire Regis 64 Milwaukee Messmer 55
I really thought Messmer would win this game. This was a case of the more disciplined team won this game. Messmer's inability to hit the outside shot killed them and allowed Regis to take the lead early on. Messmer got the transition game going to take the lead but, then when they game got close they forced some poor shots and allowed Regis to run away with it late. Regis is just a real solid team all around. I really like Messmer senior 6'1 Myreon Gant. Gant is the ultimate point guard that controls everything and does a great job of running the offense. Everything goes through Gant and unfortunately late he took some poor shots and may of cost them the game.

Brookfield Academy 67 Manitowoc Lutheran 46
Unfortunately Lutheran's star 6'0 senior Trey Zastrow was out and that basically ended the game before it starter. I really like Brookfield Academy's team though. BA has two solid big men in 6'6 junior Alex Leach, a beast in the post, and 6'8 sophomore Logan Landers whose a little more versitile and step outside some. BA also has three very good guards in 6'1 junior Aidan Cleary, 5'10 senior Jack Falzon, and 6'3 sophomore Max Kunnert. Cleary gets all the hype and the scoring numbers but, the other two are very good in their own right hitting the outside shots and finishing at the rim in a variety of ways.

Sheboygan Lutheran 81 St Thomas More 62
Thomas More couldn't get anything going and their leading scorer 6'3 senior Noah Glembin really really struggled. Lutheran's leading scorer 6'7 junior Jacob Ognacevic was the difference scoring and just disrupting on the defensive end. 5'11 freshmen Casey Verhagen was very impressive driving to the hoop and finishing.

Appleton Xavier 78 Pius XI 62
Well Pius struggled and Xavier was Xavier pushing the ball in transition and knocking down outside shots. 6'4 senior Nick Otto had a huge game hitting threes and rebounding on the way to 26 points.

Greenbay Southwest 47 Oshkosh West 45
A very physical slow game between two very physical disciplined teams. In the end West had no answer for Pytleski who scored over half his teams points. Thomas never could find his shot for West.

Mineral Point 84 Milwaukee Academy of Science 78
Was a great game and was nice to see Mineral Points stars 6'5 sophomore Braden Dailey and 6'4 junior Isaac Lindsay been more aggressive and impressive then they were in the past. Dailey in particular who was the best player on the court and was super aggressive as he tried to dunk over a defender twice as well as a pair of put back dunks. He missed them all but, it was nice to see Dailey be aggressive. Dailey also hit big shot after big shot. On the other side it was nice to see 6'2 junior Kaleem Taylor get himself going after foul trouble limited him the day before. Taylor has a very nice mid range shot and had a nice little battle between him and Lindsay going back and forth.

Waukesha West 62 Onalaska 58
I didn't know much about either team but, came away very impressed. Waukesha West is a very big team over all and they had six very good players and all six seemed that they could be the leading scorer at any time. Two guys that stuck out were 6'4 senior Rocky Martinex and 6'4 sophomore Cam Palesse. Onalaska was also very impressive. Onalaska have two very nice juniors in 6'4 Carson Arenz and 6'4 Tyrell Suttley. Arenz showed the ability to hit the outside shot or drive to the lane and score. Suttley was just a beast in the post and when he wanted to score he wasn't going to be denied. Super athletic player that can do it all on offense.

Racine Park 67 Mount Horeb 64
Mount Horeb shocked me with the ability to keep this game close. It was the three point shooting of a trio of senior players that kept them in the game in 6'2 Gunnar Nortman, 6'5 Jason Larson, and 6'1 Owen Ziegeler. On the other end 6'9 senior Nobal Days was blocking everything and on the offensive end it was a team effort hitting shots. Late in the game 6'3 senior Larry Canady was the go to guy and showed the ability to hit the mid range shot off the dribble.

Was a great two days of basketball which really tired me out but, hope to be able to get down to it every year at least for the near future.