PART 2: Previewing and predicting the final seven games of the Hy-Vee Shootout

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

On Sunday night, I previewed the first seven boys basketball games of the 2011 Hy-Vee Shootout. I also offered predictions.

With the Shootout opening tomorrow night, here's the final seven boys basketball games and my predictions on them.

Again, all games will be aired on Metro Sports, which is channel 30 on Time Warner Cable.

10:30 a.m. Lee's Summit vs. Blue Valley West: Interesting matchup here. Both teams have two leaders in terms of scoring. Drew Lock and Tyler Smith, who both shoot 45 percent from three, lead the way for Lee's Summit. Both average around 16 points a game. Blue Valley is led by Collin Wiles and Joey Lillis, a 6'7" forward. Lee's Summit has suffered some close losses to competitive teams. Blue Valley West is currently undefeated. If you're looking for a common thing, how about this. Blue Valley West defeated Olathe North by 24 points, while Lee's Summit won by just five. PREDICTION: Blue Valley West

12 p.m. Liberty vs. Aquinas: Liberty is led by Max Francisco and Kyle Rutliff, who were named to all tournament teams in the loaded Kickapoo Tournament. Liberty played competitively with strong teams in Missouri. St. Thomas Aquinas enters the game having just lost to Blue Valley North. They have four players who average at least eight points a game, but give me the team on the Missouri side for this one. PREDICTION: Liberty

1:30 p.m. Rock-Bridge vs. Basehor-Linwood: This is game number three I'm fired up about out of the four I mentioned earlier. This game, featuring two teams who proudly wear the green and gold, could be an offensive show. Basehor is led by the powerful front liine of Colin Murphy, Ryan Murphy and Ben Johnson. Rock-Bridge features future Missouri Tiger Travis Jorgenson. They have a 6'6" forward who's performed well. This one might get fun, but again, I'm sticking with Missouri on this one. Basehor, if they win, would be making a huge statement on how good they are. Rock-Bridge is a favorite to win their class state title in Missouri, so they'll be no pushover. If Basehor wins this game, they'll leap into my Top 5. PREDICTION: Rock-Bridge

4:30 p.m. Grandview vs. Blue Valley Northwest: The #2 ranked team in the 810 Varsity poll returns to action against a wildly inconsistent team from Grandview. Expect a great guard match up between Blue Valley Northwest's Clayton Custer and Grandview's Khalil Davis. However, I expect Blue Valley Northwest to roll. PREDICTION: Blue Valley Northwest

6:00 p.m. Raytown South vs. Wichita Heights: Heights brings in an incredible winning streak into the game. And oh yeah - future Kansas Jayhawk Perry Ellis. Ellis returns to Kansas City in a game that almost paired up Ellis and once future Missouri Tiger Ishmail Wainright. Wainright's transfer eliminates that juicy match up and probably eliminates Raytown South from winning the game. Ellis enters the game averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Terrence Moore averages 16 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds a game. He has a 7-to-1 assist/turnover ratio. Ellis' supporting crew is better than that of Earl Peterson's and thus I'll go with Heights. PREDICTION: Wichita Heights

7:30 p.m. Rockhurst vs. Olathe Northwest: Game number four on my list of "must-sees" this week. Rockhurst, who lost this week to Lee's Summit West, looks to avoid their second straight loss. They go against Olathe Northwest in a game featuring Willie Cauley, who will play college basketball at the University of Kentucky. Pat Jones will lead his players into battle for Rockhurst, but I expect Cauley and Shavon Shields to squeak one out. It will be close, but Olathe Northwest means business this year and Cauley will be too tough inside. PREDICTION: Olathe Northwest in what might be the most competitive game

9:00 p.m. Hogan Prep vs. St. James Academy: Two teams that have been a little disappointing this year for various seasons. First, it's been the Clint McCullough Show for St. James this year. He doesn't have a reliable co-star yet and they suffered a 20-point loss to Ottawa and a few losses at home. Hogan Prep has been a little disappointing simply because of the talent they have. They lost to Sumner Academy after falling behind and not performing well. They lost to Nixa after building a double-digit lead. They barely beat a rebuilding Raytown South team. I think they put it together one night and roll the Thunder. PREDICTION: Hogan Prep

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COMMENTARY: Basehor has early look of a champion

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Before I get the emails and text messages, let me preemptively state what I know people will respond to the following column with, particularly fans who root for teams with blue and silver jerseys and cardinal red jerseys.

Yes, I know Piper has a new head coach.

Yes, I know Piper's entire starting five is new from last year.

Yes, I know Piper is rebuilding and a blowout loss to Basehor-Linwood was pretty much expected to happen.

Since that's now out of the way, let me state the point of this column.

If they bring their A-game throughout this season and especially into March, the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats will be celebrating their second 4A state title in the last four years.

Why do I think this?

For one, Basehor brought their B- game and still defeated Piper on the road by 36. As dumb as this sounds, I think Basehor has a lot of room to improve on.

Despite the big win, their guard play was still a little shaky, though I think they are improved in this area from last year. Ben Johnson scored just two points and was really a non-factor offensively in the game. As the junior improves this season, I doubt you'll see two points from Johnson again this year.

Basehor turned the ball over some and had a few defensive breakdowns that probably need to be fixed.

The point is if tonight was their "B-" game as I think it was, their A game could be flat out scary. Or heck, their "B+ game" may be enough to win the title.

It all starts with their front-line of Colin Murphy, Ryan Murphy and Johnson.

The Murphy Twins made it look unbelievably easy against Piper. Again, I know that's against Piper.

They displayed excellent control with the ball and here's the underrated thing about their games - they all can bring the ball up the court like guards. Their ball control is solid for guys that big. You're not going to see a ton of 6'6" kids dribble the ball up like they do.

Basehor has three guys that can do that.

Once they are in the half court, Basehor's offense displays great chemistry and resembles a college offense at times.

The ball is constantly moving. The players are moving. I did not count one stupid shot taken by the Bobcats - and shot selection is one of my biggest pet peeves as a fan of basketball.

All of Basehor's shots were either open or they were understandable for the player to take. They are the opposite of Hogan Prep.

Defensively, both the Murphy Twins and Johnson look so much better than they were the last time I seen them when they were eliminated by Sumner Academy in the 2011 sub-state final at Piper High School.

The guards displayed some great anticipation on the defensive side the ball.

Speaking of Basehor's guards, senior Brad Waterman, junior Tanner Garver and sophomore Chase Younger all made some nice plays tonight.

I think it will be an up-and-down year for the guards, but an important thing is I think Basehor's batch of guards this season has a higher ceiling. In other words, they have higher potential to blossom into good players once March comes around.

On one final note, let me say how impressed I am with Basehor-Linwood Bobcats head coach Mike McBride.

Even in the blowout victory and even when the game was pretty much over after 10 minutes, he never stopped coaching.

When McBride emptied his bench in the fourth period, the reserves kept up the pace of Basehor's offense.

Don't be fooled by that running clock total of four points. They got good looks and could have put up 12-14 points with a non-running clock. The reserves did not miss a beat and good coaching is probably the reason why.

I also noticed how focused Basehor's players were in the huddles during the game. Even in a 30-point blowout, the players were looking at McBride and not into their own world. I see that a little too much in high school basketball, but it's clear McBride has a presence with his players.

They've beaten their two Kaw Valley League road opponents by a combined 71 points to begin the year. Basehor should receive a test soon, as they play Topeka-Hayden in a possible preview of a sub-state championship game in 4A.

It may be early, but Basehor looks special early on.

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