Stateline Preps: Boys Hoops Power Rankings (Week 3)
Last Friday’s Hononegah-Boylan showdown was one of the best defensive games I’ve seen in a while.
It had a March feel to it with both teams trading punches and every possession taking on a special meaning.
While Hononegah ended up losing, I think the Indians gained some confidence for the future about what kind of team they’d like to be at the end of the season.
But, make no mistake about it, Boylan is a good team — a VERY good team. The Titans have something the Indians don’t — size — and possess one of the best sophomore talents in Illinois in Austin Angel.
Hopefully, Friday’s game will kick off a string of great Stateline games.
Time for the rankings …
(Disclaimer: This is my opinion only, so if you don’t agree with it, feel free to send me a comment on the bottom of the page. Otherwise, it’s not a life-and-death situation.)
1. BELOIT MEMORIAL (4-1): The Purple Knights played only once last week, but it was an impressive 76-64 victory over Madison La Follette. Beloit really needed to get back in the win column after a tough 63-61 loss to state-ranked Madison East the week before. K.J. Evans big effort off the bench (31 points) gave the Knights a spark. NEXT: Waterford Tournament (Dec. 29-30).
2. HONONEGAH (7-1): Hononegah is a young team still learning to finish. That was evident in Friday’s 48-43 loss to Boylan. The Indians controlled the game for the first three quarters until the more experienced Titans took over in the fourth. Hononegah also could use a third scorer. With double digits coming from Stanley Moore and Mario Donaldson on a consistent basis, the Indians could use one more player to score in double figures. Chase Robinson? Jeff Lewis? David Nelson? Lucas Limberg? NEXT: Bloomington-Normal State Farm Classic (Dec. 28-31).
3. BELOIT TURNER (4-1): This is a pretty big jump in the rankings for the Trojans, considering that they were unranked last week. But Turner has been that solid since its loss to Big Foot. The Trojans were feisty defensively in its 61-40 win over Jefferson last Thursday and were just as proficient from the free-throw line in its triumph over Clinton. Turner seems to be a team on the rise. The Trojans have a good shot at that RVC South title. NEXT: Monday at Juda, 7:15 p.m.
4. SOUTH BELOIT (5-2): The SoBos played once last week and topped Clinton, 65-57. Now, it’s time for a long winter hibernation for the SoBos. NEXT: at North Boone, Jan. 7.
5. BIG FOOT (3-3): The Chiefs remain the only undefeated team in the Rock Valley South, tallying a 3-0 record and a one-game lead over teams like Turner, Parkview and Brodhead. Big Foot is doing it with defense. The Chiefs did it again last Thursday in its 47-27 victory over Edgerton. Big Foot held the Crimson Tide to single digits in three of the four quarters. NEXT: Monday vs. Williams Bay, 7:15 p.m.
STAR SYSTEM
(I award stars to the top five players in the past week, checking out who had star performances in Week 3).
1. K.J. EVANS (BELOIT MEMORIAL) — The reasons are unclear as to why Evans was benched for Beloit’s game against Madison La Follette. But there’s no questions Evans’ contribution off the bench for the Knights. He was the best sixth man off any team’s bench last week, scoring 31 points The Beloit senior scored 23 points in the second and third quarters.
2. STANLEY MOORE (HONONEGAH) — If there was one player that grabbed attention last weekend, it was Hononegah’s Moore. He had, perhaps, the best dunk of the year when he tip-dunked Lucas Limberg’s miss, bringing the Hononegah crowd to its feet. He also proved to be one of the few weapons the Indians had against Boylan, scoring 15 points. Now, only if he could have stayed out of foul trouble.
3. D.J. HILL (BELOIT TURNER) — Hill’s stats aren’t flashy (they never will be), but his leadership has been a big part to Turner’s early-season success. The way Hill broke down Jefferson’s defense last week was a thing of beauty. He also proved to be clutch in Turner’s win over Clinton, knocking down all eight of his fourth-quarter free throws.
4. ANDREW MOEN (CLINTON) — Moen stepped up big time for the ill Ross Oldenburg in the Cougars’ 77-74 victory over RVC North rival East Troy. Moen netted 20 points and Clinton earned a huge inter-conference victory over a team that beat Brodhead.
5. JAY NAATZ (PARKVIEW) — Jay Naatz is the reason Nick Melton can drive through the lane. Teams can’t leave the sharpshooter open as evidence in his team-leading 16 points in Parkview’s 51-48 win over Whitewater.
With the holidays coming up and basketball on somewhat of a hiatus, the Power Rankings will return in 2 weeks!
Happy Holidays!
Hononegah's Mario Donaldson and Boylan's Nick Bauch get tied up last Friday.
