2020-21 Wisconsin COVID Opener

Back to back nights of online season openers and stories.  Last night it was Iowa.  Tonight its the delayed opening night in Wisconsin.  My online choice has a little local interest in addition to a star team.  Brookfield Central is the preseason #1 in Wisconsin's Division 1.  They host Germantown in a Greater Metro conference game to open the season.  Brookfield Central features Texas commit David Joplin on the wing.  He played with D1 Minnesota during the summer.  Guard Ben Nau is the 1st commit for the St. Thomas Tommies. 

The kids playing in masks but I really didn't see much of a difference in the play by using them.  The game was close for 9 minutes.  Then Brookfield Central knocked down 4 straight shots to start a 27-5 run that covered the last 9 minutes of the 1st half.  Only 2 buckets in the last 18 trips of the half for Germantown.  42-19 Brookfield Central at the break with Nau and Joplin both in double figures.  

A 9-0 run by Germantown would cut the lead to 18 with 9 minutes left in the game but that was as close as it would get in the 2nd half.  Brookfield Central rolls to a 80-52 win.  David Joplin 24 points and 8 rebounds on my sheet and did plenty of damage from deep.  Ben Nau also getting his with 22 points.  Guard Andrew Rohde adds 17 for Brookfield Central.  Andrew Case leads Germantown with 13 points.  Brookfield Central sweeps the 4 Factors which isn't a surprise in a blowout. 

Now to the stories.  Wisconsin often starts their season a week ahead of Minnesota.  That means as part of Thanksgiving travels, I've been able to sneak in some fun openers over the last decade.  I've been to small schools which is always a thrill.  I've been to Thanksgiving events in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Dells.

I saw UW grad Brevin Pritzl in his senior year home opener (and ran into the Augustana guys from Sioux Falls in the process).  Also in the Green Bay area, I took in Sam Dekker's senior year opener.  He didn't make a shot all night against the defending section champs.  Still ended up with 47 points that night.  By the way, if you haven't seen the last minute of his high school career where he stole a state championship, go look it up.  Its amazing.  Also got to see Tyler Herro who's been great for the Miami Heat.  He scored 43 points but turned it over 10 times in a loss to a top ranked small school team. 

That opener is a chance to see a top flight Wisconsin player before the Minnesota season starts.  Over the years that hasn't disappointed.  Even online tonight, knowing the game wasn't top flight, the stars did perform.  Now I might have to go back and watch stars Patrick Baldwin and Leon Bond go at it in another game from the same conference.