Maybe I can shed some light on next weekends matchups as I've seen the 2 coming south after a day at Lynnwwod HS. I didn't stay to watch the CPC vs LC game. Left the house early this morn and just got back and didn't want it to be any later so can't speak for the lower seeds matchups going north.
First off, Kings vs Kalama. Teams remind me of one another a lot. Both have good length w/o a real big kid although the Kings post does have some beef. Kalama has a nice athletic 6'6 kid that jumps and rebounds well and can step out and shoot it but likes to stay inside 15 ft and does knock those down. The Vossen kid is a bulldog, plays with an attitude, and can really get it going when he's hot. Bannister can step out and shoot the 3 and has a great pullup inside of 16ft. Shagool is their defensive specialist, but has deep range also. The Wall kid is the most dangerous, was the MVP down here and has all the tools. Great handles, shoots from anywhere and can really get to the hoop L or R. They like to get out in transition and are known for their "runs". As a final comparison, Kings has a lot more depth
but Kalama plays a lot more aggresive brand of ball. It seemed like Kings liked to finese things a lot but Kalama will just flat get up in your face. Also, Kalama brings a lot of experience from last yr in these situations and I think their D, shooting, and ability to score a bunch quickly gives them the edge. Just a side note. Kalama has not played as well the last 3 games as earlier in the season and it makes you wonder if they peaked to early or if the season is getting long as they played in a fall league in Portland.
The Toledo -MB matchup is interesting. MB will not match up well with them in 2 positions. The Rakoz kid is all of 6"7 and long. Unlike some of the other bigs who play block to block, the kid was a 6'4 point guard all the way through his freshman yr in Chehals prior to his families move to Toledo. As a result, Merzoiane will play him at all 5 positions and he plays best when he's moving. He will post him up, or let him create a lot of stuff off the dribble, both for himself and his teamates. He shoots from anywhere and has a very sweet pullup jumper from 3 pt land and in. The Trafelet kid is 6'5 and is of the same mold. Plays best facing up, shoots the 3 or takes you off the dribble, and also has a great jumper. Both kids rebound very well and both will go from a D rebound to right up the court with it. Both these kids are strong and do not play soft at all. Then they have a soph guard who has no fear of anyone or anything and will create a lot of grief out front. He had some turnover issues early but Merzoiane has fixed those. Can shoot the 3 and penetrate, a really strong kid. The other soph guard runs the point most of the time. He has great handles and doesn't get rattled. He has a nice shot from outside the arc and shoots a very good pullup also. The final starter is a real role player. He rebounds very well and runs the point off and on with the other guard. Can shoot it but doesn't look to much. Then they go 2 or 3 deep off the bench and really don't lose a lot depending on the rotation. In comparing them to MB, from what I saw today MB had some very good shooters, one in particular. With the exception of the one, most of the others were catch and shoot types and Toledo plays right up in your mug, physical D and you won't get many opportunities to just catch and shoot. I didn't see a lot of off the dribble stuff. I know the nature of the NW league is rough and tumble but Toledo will be comfortable in that mode. MB rebounded the ball well but won't get many 2nd opportunities as all the Toledo kids are board crashers. As to can they beat Toledo, any team can beat another on any given night given the right circumstances. But if Toledo brings its game, it will be awful tough for MB to get them.
On a final note, both Toledo and Kalama played their last 2 district games in this gym so they will have a slight advantage for gym familiarity and they don't have the long bus rides.
First off, Kings vs Kalama. Teams remind me of one another a lot. Both have good length w/o a real big kid although the Kings post does have some beef. Kalama has a nice athletic 6'6 kid that jumps and rebounds well and can step out and shoot it but likes to stay inside 15 ft and does knock those down. The Vossen kid is a bulldog, plays with an attitude, and can really get it going when he's hot. Bannister can step out and shoot the 3 and has a great pullup inside of 16ft. Shagool is their defensive specialist, but has deep range also. The Wall kid is the most dangerous, was the MVP down here and has all the tools. Great handles, shoots from anywhere and can really get to the hoop L or R. They like to get out in transition and are known for their "runs". As a final comparison, Kings has a lot more depth
but Kalama plays a lot more aggresive brand of ball. It seemed like Kings liked to finese things a lot but Kalama will just flat get up in your face. Also, Kalama brings a lot of experience from last yr in these situations and I think their D, shooting, and ability to score a bunch quickly gives them the edge. Just a side note. Kalama has not played as well the last 3 games as earlier in the season and it makes you wonder if they peaked to early or if the season is getting long as they played in a fall league in Portland.
The Toledo -MB matchup is interesting. MB will not match up well with them in 2 positions. The Rakoz kid is all of 6"7 and long. Unlike some of the other bigs who play block to block, the kid was a 6'4 point guard all the way through his freshman yr in Chehals prior to his families move to Toledo. As a result, Merzoiane will play him at all 5 positions and he plays best when he's moving. He will post him up, or let him create a lot of stuff off the dribble, both for himself and his teamates. He shoots from anywhere and has a very sweet pullup jumper from 3 pt land and in. The Trafelet kid is 6'5 and is of the same mold. Plays best facing up, shoots the 3 or takes you off the dribble, and also has a great jumper. Both kids rebound very well and both will go from a D rebound to right up the court with it. Both these kids are strong and do not play soft at all. Then they have a soph guard who has no fear of anyone or anything and will create a lot of grief out front. He had some turnover issues early but Merzoiane has fixed those. Can shoot the 3 and penetrate, a really strong kid. The other soph guard runs the point most of the time. He has great handles and doesn't get rattled. He has a nice shot from outside the arc and shoots a very good pullup also. The final starter is a real role player. He rebounds very well and runs the point off and on with the other guard. Can shoot it but doesn't look to much. Then they go 2 or 3 deep off the bench and really don't lose a lot depending on the rotation. In comparing them to MB, from what I saw today MB had some very good shooters, one in particular. With the exception of the one, most of the others were catch and shoot types and Toledo plays right up in your mug, physical D and you won't get many opportunities to just catch and shoot. I didn't see a lot of off the dribble stuff. I know the nature of the NW league is rough and tumble but Toledo will be comfortable in that mode. MB rebounded the ball well but won't get many 2nd opportunities as all the Toledo kids are board crashers. As to can they beat Toledo, any team can beat another on any given night given the right circumstances. But if Toledo brings its game, it will be awful tough for MB to get them.
On a final note, both Toledo and Kalama played their last 2 district games in this gym so they will have a slight advantage for gym familiarity and they don't have the long bus rides.