More on Chi-Hi and North

Well, the paper’s on its way to the printer, so there should be a Leader-Telegram tomorrow. Here’s a few extra thoughts from Friday night’s Eau Claire North-Chippewa Falls boys basketball game:

* First off, it was an ugly game. A halftime score of 12-9 pretty much speaks for itself. But, with that said, it also was very entertaining. Two of the league’s best teams with a tournament-like atmosphere will wipe away a few offensive deficiencies.

* Chippewa Falls is legit. They certainly don’t have the bulk inside that North does, but what the Cardinals do have is a lot of tall, long and athletic players who can be relentless on defense. It’s not all that unlike what Eleva-Strum can do to teams.

* Evan Anderson certainly is a work in progress offensively – he was held scoreless Friday – but he is a game-changer on defense. He blocked numerous shots and altered probably half a dozen others. With him down low, kids will drive the lane and either put up an awkward layup attempt or kick the ball out.

“Who sees that at the high school level?” said Cardinals coach Luke Madsen when asked about Anderson’s defensive impact. “I think everybody just needs to take a step back and remember the kid just turned 16. He’s got all these expectations, all these scholarship offers. He’s got a lot to learn but he’s going to be fine. Defensively, he completely changes the game. I thought we still attacked pretty well, but he speeds up your shot. Kids are going in and letting go a little early. He’s going to be a beast for the next few years.”

It might have resulted in a turnover, but it was encouraging to see Anderson commit an offensive foul in the second half. He just needs to get comfortable offensively and get that little nasty streak all good big guys have. Let’s withhold judgement on Anderson for a few years and let him be a 16-year-old kid.

* UW-River Falls coach Jeff Berkhof was in attendance and chatted with Chi-Hi's Josh Prince afterwards. Prince, who could be a real nice Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player, has been on coach Terry Gibbons and UW-Eau Claire's radar big-time. Prince has been spotted at a Blugolds game and Gibbons was an interested onlooker for at least one of Prince's soccer games in the fall.

-Joe Ziemer