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Best of Midwest: Game previews

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity, 01/03/17, 10:45AM CST

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Read about the games for Saturday's Session I

Tickets, Buy Online

Tickets to the upcoming Best of the Midwest Showcases are:

Adult: $8
Students: $6

Players to Watch

Read up on Players to Watch for the Best of the Midwest Showcase, Session I on January 7, including KU and K-State recruits playing in the event!

Players to Watch, January 7

Directions to MNU, Cook Center

The Cook Center is located on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS, just to the east of I-35 and the Santa Fe / 135th Street exit.

Cook Center (MidAmerica Nazarene)
2022 E Sheridan St
Olathe, KS 66062

Best of Midwest Tips Saturday at MNU

The Best of the Midwest Showcase is set for this upcoming Saturday. And the next.
 
After a sellout crowd at Johnson County Community College in 2016, the events popularity grew so much that 810 Varsity had to expand to three events, including splitting the Best of the Midwest Showcase to Session I and Session II.

Each will be an action-packed day, with eight games, Division I recruits and as always close games. 6 of the 7 games last year went to the final possession, including three overtime games.
 

BV North vs Notre Dame de Sion (Girls)

Tipoff: 9 am

Traditional area power Blue Valley North faces Notre Dame de Sion in what will be a solid game to start the event. Ann Fritz stands as one of the area's top girls coaches with over 500 career wins.

 

Liberty vs St. Thomas Aquinas (girls)

Tipoff: 10:30 am
 
The Saints won the Class 5A title in 2016, while Liberty finished third in Class 5. The Saints are off to a solid start at 3-1 behind Allison Thomas and a talented cast, while Liberty sustained a tough loss to Olathe South in the 810 Varsity Tipoff Classic in December, but look to rebound with junior Kayel Newland as one of the area's best.
 

No. 24 Basehor-Linwood vs Hogan Prep

Tipoff: Noon

When the area thinks of perennial mid-class powers, even a very short list would include Basehor-Linwood (Class 4A) and Hogan Prep (Class 3). Since 2009, the two have combined for three state titles and two runner-ups. Each feature talented teams again, as the Bobcats have a solid lineup including Kurtis and Kade Tatkenhorst, and the Rams are headlined by guard Damien Daniels, among others.

 

Hayden vs No. 25 Liberty North

Tipoff: 1:30 pm

Also on the short list of area powers would be Liberty North and Hayden. The Eagles have outgrown the mid-size school label, as the Eagles lost in the Missouri Class 5 quarterfinals last year, but are always well-coached by Chris McCabe.

Hayden is loaded, with one of the region's top players in junior guard Zach Harvey. Just a sophomore, Harvey already has offers from Kansas, K-State, Iowa and others, as well as interest nationally from North Carolina among others. Junior guard Jeff Canfield is also a strong backcourt running mate. The Wildcats are favorites to win Kansas Class 4A-II ... for a few years ahead.

 

Olathe East vs Raymore-Peculiar

Tipoff: 3 pm

It's hard not to think of area Kansas Class 6A powers and not bring up Olathe East in the first minute or two. The Hawks perennially make a trip to the state tourney, as O-East did last year. Both programs are on the rebuild, but should enjoy a nice matchup.

 

No. 11 Blue Valley North vs No. 16 Park Hill South

Tipoff: 5 pm

The gettin' gets good, with Blue Valley North, the No. 2 team in Kansas Class 6A vs Park Hill South - both preseason 810 Varsity Top 25 selections. North figures to be a state title contender, as evidenced by the Mustangs narrow 55-52 loss to No. 1 Blue Valley Northwest. The senior backcourt tandem of Keilon Hunter and Colby Bullock will face a young but very talented Park Hill South backcourt in sophomores Lamel Robinson and Desi Williams. Each program has made an appearance in the state title game within the last three years.

 

No. 3 BV Northwest vs Lee's Summit North

Tipoff: 7 pm

Blue Valley Northwest follows a tough Friday matchup against rival Blue Valley against a talented Lee's Summit North team. The Broncos have had their ups and downs this year but still have potent talent in Daron Davis, a Mizzou commit in football, 6-foot-7 Elijah Farr and senior Cameron Hairston, who racked up 38 points in last year's event.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are loaded with guard Darien Jackson (eight Division I offers, including K-State), guard Jamichael Morgan (Oral Roberts commit) and forward Joe Pleasant (offered by Oral Roberts). The Huskies beat nationally ranked Vashon (No. 14 at the time) in December.

No. 1 Bishop Miege vs Lafayette (St. Joseph)

Tipoff: 8:30 pm

Bishop Miege, No. 1 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, certainly has been the talk of the area high school basketball scene, and for good reason. Jeremiah Robinson, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound sophomore forward, is rated No. 18 overall in the 2019 class by Rivals. Joining him up front is dunk machine Francesco Badocchi, as well as senior Semaj Ray to lead Miege in an apparent quest for another Class 4A state title.

The Stags will face Missouri Class 4 power Lafayette, as the Irish advanced to the state title game in 2014 and 2016.  Lehigh commit Caleb Bennett (14.7 ppg in 2016) recently returned to action last week, joining Diego Bernard (12.7 ppg) in the backcourt and returners from last year's runner-up team.