2019-2020 High School Season
SAC Tournament - Friday Recap
Category: 2019-2020 High School Season Written by Jeff Schoenle
The first game of Friday saw the reigning SAC Tournament champions Homestead battle Bishop Luers. Luke Goode scored 18 of his game high 24 points in the first half as Homestead lead from wire to wire to advance into the semifinals. (Pictured: Naylon Thompson)
The Spartans began by repeatedly attacking the interior of the Luers defense, with senior forward Alec Grinfelder earning trip after trip to the foul line. The Knights had difficulties keep the ball out of the lane as layups and free throws were the order of the day for Homestead.
Demarcus Hudson scored all eight of his points in the first half for Luers as they trailed by ten at halftime.
Senior forward John Peterson scored six straight for Luers to open the second half, but Grinsfelder was there to answer each time as he scored nine of his 17 points in the third.
The margin was still 10 points heading into the fourth quarter, and Luers would cut the deficit to six points after forcing multiple Homestead turnovers at the beginning of the period. Homestead would settle in and quickly push the lead back into double figures. The Spartans would end the game on a 22-5 run to get the final margin to 23.
Homestead moves on to the second semifinal Saturday afternoon where they will face Snider.
Bishop Luers 11 12 14 9 - 46
Homestead 17 16 14 22 - 69
Naylon Thompson 15 points (6/11 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 blks; Demarcus Hudson 8 points (2/12 FGs, 4/4 FTs); John Peterson 6 points; Nick Thompson 5 points; Jalen Causey 4 points (2/8 FGs); Landon Moore 4 points (2/4 FGs); Christian Fly 4 points
Homestead: Luke Goode 24 points (8/15 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 6/6 FTs), 10 rebs, 2 blks; Alec Grinsfelder 17 points (4/6 FGs, 9/11 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 asts; Zak Krueger 9 points (3/10 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 4 asts; Grant Simmons 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 3Ps), 4 rebs, 2 blks; Jake Archbold 7 points; Preston Barker 5 points
The second game of the day was between the 8th seed Northrop Bruins and top seed and host Wayne. A frantic 4th quarter comeback attempt came up short for the Generals as Northrop made seven of eight at the free throw line in the final 65 seconds to secure the victory.
Sloppy offense kept the first quarter and a half low scoring, but a quick 5-0 burst thanks to a Khamani Smith three point play and a Tenoah Ridley steal and layup jump started a 14-2 run to end the first half for Northrop.
In the second half it was Northrop’s turn to struggle on the offensive end. The Bruins managed just four points in the third quarter, but Wayne could only manage eight points in the period, cutting their deficit to eight entering the fourth.
JaQuan Kizer would give the Generals a chance, scoring eight of his team’s first ten points of the quarter before fouling out. Northrop continued to struggle on offense, as missed free throws and turnovers let several points fall by the wayside.
The Generals would get as close as a single point at 35-34, but the Bruins would correct their mistakes at the line, as Taquay White would make a pair and Qualen Pettus would go five for six in the last minute plus to keep Wayne at bay.
Northrop advances to take on Carroll in the first semifinal on Saturday afternoon.
Northrop 9 16 4 13 - 42
Wayne 9 4 8 13 - 34
Northrop: Qualen Pettus 16 points (5/9 FGs, 6/9 FTs), 7 rebs, 2 blks; Devin Barney 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/6 FTs), 13 rebs; Taquay White 6 points; Tenoah Ridley 6 points; Khamani Smith 3 points (1/5 FGs, 1/1 FTs), 4 rebs; Elijah Fincher 3 points; Jayden Billingsley 1 point
Wayne: JaQuan Kizer 12 points (5/8 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 3 stls; Quincy Miles 12 points (5/6 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 1/3 FTs); Michael Redding 4 points (1/10 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 3 rebs; Jamari Tabb 4 points; Jashan Hargrave 2 points
Snider cranked up the defensive pressure after halftime to pull away from Bishop Dwenger in the last quarterfinal.
The game began with a flurry of three pointers as Hunter Burns and Brenden Lytle hit threes for Dwenger while Snider got threes from Dillon Duff, Michael Eley, and Jon Barnes in the first quarter.
Dwenger would lead by three after a period, but the shooting wouldn’t let up. Barnes would knock down his second three while Lytle would add two more of his own as the score became knotted at 25 going into halftime.
Snider would start to pull away in the third as they turned the screws defensively. Dwenger struggled to make simple passes, and that would allow Snider to get out in transition. The tie score at halftime would become a 10 point lead heading into the fourth.
Dwenger’s turnover issues would continue into the fourth, as consecutive Saints passes were picked off, leading to Snider dunks as the lead grew to as much as 15 points in the final period. In total, Snider forced 19 Dwenger turnovers on the evening.
Snider will face Homestead in the second semifinal on Saturday afternoon.
Dwenger 14 11 8 14 - 47
Snider 11 14 18 16 - 59
Bishop Dwenger: Brenden Lytle 17 points (5/12 FGs, 4/7 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 3 asts, 3 stls; Xavier Nolan 11 points (3/4 FGs, 5/6 FTs); Hunter Burns 7 points (3/6 FGs, 1/2 3Ps); Tobe Eke 6 points; Ben Schreck 2 points; CJ Pieper 2 points; Joe Kelly 2 points
Snider: Dillon Duff 20 points (9/12 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 6 rebs; Michael Eley 14 points (5/11 FGs, 1/6 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 5 rebs, 2 stls; Jon Barnes 11 points; Karson Jenkins 9 points; Jayshawn Underwood 3 points (1/4 FGs, 1/1 FTs); Omare Bates 2 points