Will There Be Any Surprises in the Quarterfinals?
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH: Quarterfinals Preview
By Ken Farmer | Bloomington South League Coordinator
7 p.m. - No. 1 Rebels (7-1) vs No. 8 Lightning (3-6)
Rebels:
Points per game - 74.5
Points allowed per game - 61.1
Top scorers - Ryan McGuire (21.1), Cody Heinz (18.4), Ryan Jansen (14.8)
Lightning:
Points per game - 64.4
Points allowed per game - 73.1
Top scorers - Jake Gave (17.1), Mike Healey (11.5), Dillon Carlson (10.3)
Previous matchup: (Week 3) Rebels 61, Lightning 43
The Lightning advance to the quarterfinals with their victory over the Red Devils and now face the top-seeded Rebels. Their 3-point shooting was a major factor in the win, shooting a terrific 10-22 from beyond the arc. Bronson Bartolo and Mike Healey combined for all 10 makes and the majority came from open catch-and-shoot opportunities. The Rebels limited the Lightning to just four 3-pointers made in their previous matchup and their defense on the perimeter will be a priority in the rematch. The Rebels were also able to force 21 turnovers the last time these two met. The Lightning must be ready to face the Rebels’ pressure defense. Ryan McGuire and Cody Heinz are two of the perimeter threats the Lightning must slow down in order to have a chance at winning this game.
7 p.m. - No. 4 Muskies (5-3) vs No. 5 Guerrillas (5-3)
Muskies:
Points per game - 68.3
Points allowed per game - 69.8
Top scorers - Glen Fair (20.6), Sonny Young-Graves (15.0), Kyle Radde (14.6)
Guerrillas:
Points per game - 79.1
Points allowed per game - 67.8
Top scorers - Dajon McKnight (18.8), Chris Maher (16.3), Bryant Marmol (14.8)
Previous matchup: (Week 3) Guerrillas 82, Muskies 64
Both the Muskies and Guerrillas finished their seasons on a disappointing note by losing their final two games of the regular season. Both teams have offenses driven by their perimeter shooting -- the Guerrillas are first in 3-point makes (12.3) and the Muskies are fourth (10.4) in that category. The Guerrillas are the top scoring team in the league and have a number of options on the offensive end. Dajon McKnight leads the team in scoring, but it was Mike Bundy, who scored 21 points, that was the main threat the last time these two teams met. All six players scored in double-figures, showing the balance this team possesses. However, this game was won on the defensive end as they held the Muskies to 35 percent shooting. The Muskies can’t have a cold night (8-35 from deep) and must also do a better job in the turnover department, where they had 14 in total in the previous matchup. Glen Fair had a big night with 21 points and look for him to be a focal point in the offense.
8 p.m. - No. 2 Aardvarks (6-2) vs No. 7 Player’s Club (4-5)
Aardvarks:
Points per game - 78.9
Points allowed per game - 70.6
Top scorers - Adam Hoven (18.3), Thomas Hoistad (18.3), Chris Kampmeyer (16.5)
Player’s Club:
Points per game - 71.8
Points allowed per game - 74.3
Top scorers - Steven Kelsey (19.9), Tony DeBoer (17.9), Peyton Dixon (10.4)
Previous matchup: (Week 8) Aardvarks 104, Player’s Club 85
Points were plentiful the last time these teams met and more points are on the forecast in the quarterfinals. The Player’s Club defeat the Free Agents in order to advance to this round and did so on the back of their three-point shooting. They made 14 3-pointers in total and have had four straight weeks in which they’ve made at least 10 3-pointers. Peyton Dixon led the team with four makes from deep and finished with 14 points while Steven Kelsey ended up with 19 points. They made 18 3s the last time they faced the Aardvarks and their ability to hit 3s will be a big factor in their chances of winning. However, they’ll have to improve their play on the other end of the court. The Aardvarks, who are second in points per game, shot 57 percent from the field in that game and had dominating performances from Adam Hoven (37 points) and Chris Kampmeyer (25 points). They also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and the Player’s Club cannot give this team second chance points in the rematch.
8 p.m. - No. 3 THEM (5-3) vs No. 6 Loons (4-4)
THEM:
Points per game - 70.0
Points allowed per game - 65.9
Top scorers - Devin Stensrude (28.3), Nirav Sura (12.8), Sam Hanson (12.3)
Loons:
Points per game - 68.0
Points allowed per game - 61.8
Top scorers - Tom Anderson (17.4), Walt Richard (15.0), Aaron Lukitsch (14.3)
Previous matchup: (Week 8) THEM 68, Loons 58
The Loons and THEM met just a week ago -- a matchup THEM won thanks to their second half performance. They turned it on on the offensive end, scoring 42 points after putting up just 26 before the break. Devin Stensrude leads the league in scoring and dropped 24 points in the initial matchup. Jacob Barton also had a big game with 17 points, including three makes from beyond the arc. They only had four turnovers the entire game which shows their emphasis of making the most of every possession. The Loons, possessing the second best defense in the league, will have to do a better job of containing Stensrude. JB Korte was the leader on the offensive end for the Loons with 15 points, including four 3s. Walt Richard added 12 points on 71 percent shooting and has been a consistent presence on the offensive end. The Loons have done a great job this season on the offensive glass and THEM must close out defensive possessions on the glass.