(Avoca) AHSTW has an opportunity to do what no other boys basketball team in program history has done. The 23-1 Vikings can get to their first ever state tournament with a win over West Harrison on Saturday.
We’ll have the game on KSOM from Thomas Jefferson High School as 5th ranked AHSTW gets together with the 21-3 Hawkeyes. AHSTW head coach GG Harris breaks down West Harrison, “They have a good style of play. They have three really good scorers that can score in various ways. Their role players just continue to get more and more confident as the season goes. Top to bottom a really good team. They are young, but they’ve been playing since they were freshmen so it’s an experience group and they are playing really well right now. They can be streaky and when they are hot they get hot real quick.”
Coach Harris identifies rebounding as one of the keys. “They are beasts on the boards. Whether it’s offensive or defensive glass everyone I’ve talked to and every game I’ve seen of them they are relentless on the rebounds. Rebounding is going to be a huge focus for us and it has been for a lot of teams that have played them, but it hasn’t worked out well for them. We know we have our hands full there.”
The statistics from AHSTW’s “Big Three” have been outstanding. Raydden Grobe is averaging 18 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2 steals per game. Grobe has made 54.2% from the field, 43.3% from 3-point range, and 82% (50/61) at the free-throw line. Brayden Lund is averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Lund is shooting 54.2% from the field, 41.3% from 3-point range, and 70% (49/70) at the free-throw line. Kyle Sternberg’s stat line shows 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Sternberg has made 52% from the field, 41.4% from 3-point range, and 75% (57/76) at the free-throw line. The trio has combined to make 151 3-pointers on the season. “It’s a credit to their individual work, it’s a credit to their teammates, it’s a credit to their parents and the time they put in during the season and the offseason. They are always looking to get better and evolve their game. Raydden is a prime example. He’s always been a really good scorer and has a knack for finding buckets, but he’s still allowed himself to be coached and found ways to get better. Then you have Brayden and Kyle who are juniors and they are always willing to evolve their game and find ways to get better.”
West Harrison has some stars of their own with Mason King, Koleson Evans, and Sage Evans all averaging in double figures. King leads the way at 15.6 points and 4.6 assists a night. He has made 65/144 (45.1%) 3-pointers and 54/66 (81.8%) free-throws. Koleson Evans has averages of 14.4 points and 9.9 rebounds while hitting 80.7% of his free-throws. Sage Evans comes in at 13.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.5 steals per contest. Sage Evans is a 52.6% shooter from the field.
AHSTW is happy to get this far, but they are far from satisfied. Coach Harris says that was evident by the lack of celebration following their win in the District 15 Final against Exira-EHK. “It’s an expectation. We are proud and happy and that was a really big win against a quality opponent, but for our kids, our community, and our parents it’s an expectation to win and advance and to put ourselves in position to go to state.”
The winner advances to a Class 1A State Quarterfinal to be played on Monday, March 7th. While no Avoca based school has ever made the state tourney, Walnut went in 2000 and Shelby made the state tournament three times in the 1950’s.
AHSTW coach GG Harris:
