Lafollette over Waunakee

Went down to Lafollette last night to take in a game of contrasting teams in more ways then one. Madison Lafollette is a D1 school for an all D1 conference of "big city" schools while Waunakee is a smaller D1 playing rural schools that are mostly D2. Lafollette loves to push the tempo and play with a ton of speed while Waunakee prefers the more slower deliberate offense. Waunakee is very much coach controlled at all times while Lafollette is given the freedom to play. Neither way is better and when you have a very skilled point guard you can allow your team a little more freedom. I figured with the contrasting styles the team that controlled the tempo would win this one.

Early on in the game Waunakee controlled the tempo with their patient offense and playing a 2-3 zone defense. This slowed down basketball didn't seem to both Lafollette as the bombed the threes away and they were hitting them. Waunakee did their best early on to match Lafollette three for three but, Waunakee just couldn't hang early on. In the first half Lafollette was led by 6'1 junior Ben Probst who hit four threes in the first half on his way to 16 first half points. I think he hit four I know three for sure. Probst probably forced Waunakee out of their zone. After some early success Lafollette turned up the pressure and forced Waunakee into some costly turnovers and late in the first half Waunkaee had a tough time even getting any shots off.

For whatever reason Lafollette isn't starting 6'1 senior Troy Reeves but, Reeves does come off the bench to be a big scorer. Not an emotional guy but, he is an assassin coming off the bench and comes out looking to shoot. Lafollette continued to give Waunakee trouble with their in your face defense in the second half. The other huge thing was Lafollette's hassling on Waunakee on the glass. The Waunakee defenders would grab the rebound and the the Lafollette player would swipe at the ball knocking it away and give Lafollette second chance buckets. Lafollette basically came out with the intensity and Waunakee didn't meet it. Late in the game though Waunakee just kind of methodically climbed back into the game and Lafollette didn't really try to run the clock as missed shots and turnovers mounted up. In the end though Lafollette's quickness was just too much.

Top Players 
Josh Cash 6'5 senior Waunakee- I've always liked his game last year when he's was coming off the bench shooting threes. This year though he's become the main guy and he's really improved his post game. Unfortunately as his post game has improved his outside game has seemed to of diminished. Did a great job on the glass and being able to drive to the lane from 15 feet and in.
Zach Deering 6'6 senior Waunakee- Came off the bench dropping threes. Didn't need much breathing room but, with his height could get it off.
Ben Probst 6'1 junior Madison Lafollette- Was hitting the three from the get go and really carried the team throughout offensively.
Donneil Gray 5'9 senior Madison Lafollette- Really one of the elite point guards in the state. Off the dribble just impossible to stop whether driving to the lane or knocking down the jumper. Very aggressive defender looking to get steals.
Troy Reeves 6'1 senior Madison Lafollette- Like I said earlier is a huge offensive weapon coming off the bench. Has a very good jumper from mid range and out. Also has the ability to occasionally drive the lane and finish with his athleticism.

Box Score
Lafollette 65- Probst 21 Do Gray 17 Reeves 15 Drekwon Smith 4 Isiah Stewart 4 Da Gray 2 De Gray 2 Dakovin Prather 0 Charlie Kunkel 0
Waunakee 57- Cash 14 Will Knatz 13 Deering 10 Casey Fischer 7 Josh Block 7 Caden Nelson 6 Jacob May 0 Trey Fancher 0 Ryan Johnson 0 Andrew Keller 0

Well unfortunately for Waunakee I just don't think that they have the talent to get past the Big Eight teams in D1 while Lafollette could be a real contender. Lafollette's quickness and defense give them a chance against anyone.