Opening week of the 2024-25 season has completed. 3 days of games in the books. A few teams have played twice while most will open this week with the first big game night of the season being on Tuesday. Here's what stuck out to me during the half-dozen games I watched this week.
2027 stars
I got to see Jack Thelen (St. Michael-Albertville) twice and Mustafa Mohamed (South St. Paul) play this week. Thelen's size is definitely a factor keeping opponents away from the rim. He had a handful of blocks in their 2 wins and much more influence beyond that. Inside he finishes with nice touch as he scored 27 points this week. Very effective going over the right shoulder. Mohamed didn't see a ton of time in the Packers blowout win over Columbia Heights. Handled the ball a lot more than expected including some possessions bringing the ball up. I also got to see Wisconsin's top soph Dooney Johnson. He had foul trouble all night but still put up 24 points in Milwaukee Juneau's loss to Madison Memorial. Smooth game though but overall seemed quiet. Rough week for Juneau as they also lost 3 games in a top holiday tourney in Illinois to be 0-4 1 week into the season.
Outstate guard play
Jack Battaglia (Cloquet) and Jaxon Boschee (Bemidji) both put on a show this week. Boschee 24 points and 5 3s in a flammable 1st half against STMA. Battaglia 27 points (21 1st half) in Cloquet's win. Both showed they can handle it and really shoot it. Cloquet with a 11-0 run in the last 4 minutes to win their section 7AAA matchup 95-88 against Chisago Lakes. Chisago Lakes 7 misses and a turnover during that stretch. Battaglia kept them tied in the 1st half to get them there.
Adjustment of the week
I mentioned Jaxon Boschee's first half but the second half was notable too as he was held to only 7 points. Great adjustment by the STMA staff to face guard Boschee and use a bigger defender on him. Jordan Holm and Gavin Edlund doing great work there. Boschee had 9 FG in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, he had only 2. 1 on a broken play and the other a give away layup at the end. Everything was else was strongly challenged.
Eye Opener of the week
Monticello took down Delano 72-53. Keep in mind Delano was ranked in both the MN Basketball News and MBCA coaches polls this week. Yes, I know about polls, don't get me started on them. Max Iversen and Jake Schultz with 48 total points is no surprise. Only 2 field goals and 5 points from the rest of the Delano roster though is an eye opener. Will be interesting to see how new coach Bridge Tusler and the new system address that. Its not a deep roster as they only played 7. Guards Brayden Dollard and Carson Deibele combine for 40 points and 7 triples for Monticello to go with a strong 18 point outing from Jackson Soroko on the front line. The Magic definitely looking like a contender in the Mississippi 8.
