The Badgerland State Tournament took place last weekend and was stacked with some of Wisconsin’s best programs. In this article, we will highlight a key matchup from the event. Wisconsin Lutheran vs Ronald Reagan, two extremely impressive eight grade programs…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThe Badgerland State Tournament took place last weekend and was stacked with some of Wisconsin’s best programs. In this article, we will highlight a key matchup from the event. Wisconsin Lutheran vs Ronald Reagan, two extremely impressive eight grade programs faced off. Here are some of the major takeaways and standouts from the game that earned the title “Game Of The Week” by Prep Hoops Next.
How did the game go?
Both Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings and Ronald Reagan Huskies began the game looking to create mistakes on the defensive end and run in transition. It was clear both teams had the athleticism to play fast and push the tempo – the pace of the game had a high school level feel to it from the jump.
Wisconsin Lutheran’s patience and ball movement against Ronald Reagan’s zone gave them a slight edge throughout the first half of play. However, that did not deter Reagan, as they were still able to make their runs to close the gap multiple times.
The Vikings depth and constant help defense made it difficult for Reagan to find a winning flow – their ability to play at the high level they displayed from the beginning to the end of the game was impressive. Wisconsin Lutheran coasted to a ten point victory largely due to their team-effort throughout. The final score was 66-56.
Who stood out?
Caiden Davis | Ronald Reagan
Davis showed his playmaking ability by setting the table for his teammates throughout the entire matchup. He came up big for his teammates by handling defensive pressure, and beating his man off the dribble to get into the paint. Against a sizable team like Lutheran, Davis was able to grab boards and push the pace for Reagan before the defense could even get set up.
D’Anthony Brown | Wisconsin Lutheran
Brown was a star in his role for the Vikings. His upside is clear! He was altering shots left and right. He was intimidating drives and slowing down the attack of Ronald Reagan. His long strides in transition made for easy baskets. Brown always seemed to be at the right place at the right time for his team, creating multiple advantages to help his team get the W.
Jordan Blockton | Ronald Reagan
Blockton proved to be a gamer and showed up big for Reagan, hitting timely shots in space. In addition, he was able to beat his matchup to easy layups to simmer the runs the Vikings went on in the second half.
Kager Knueppel | Wisconsin Lutheran
Knueppel showed his strength as a defensive anchor in zone and a floor spacer on offense. He put the team on his back and was a major factor in their victory. He did a tremendous job supporting drives when his teammates were beat off the dribble. His readiness to shoot the ball in space created a seamless flow for Lutheran. His ability to shoot it from range opened up multiple opportunities. Knueppel did his damage in transition by filling the lanes and finishing through contact.
Max Jones | Ronald Reagan
Jones competed from start to finish and held his team in the game on multiple occasions. There were very few things that Jones did not do in the matchup. He grabbed boards and handled the ball coast to coast. He got into the paint on a consistent basis. He finished around the rim and did well finding his drifting teammates. He was able to knock down threes in space consistently when defenders were in drop coverage.
