During the early portion of Papillion-LaVista's 2021-22 boys basketball schedule, Monarch senior Kyle Ingwerson hasn't lit the wick from beyond the arc.
Yet!
Throughout his high school career, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward has been dynamite from long range. As a freshman, Ingwerson ripped the cords on 34-percent of his 123 bombs. Two years ago he made 48 of the 124 missiles he launched. Last year? Even better.
Ingwerson, who is averaging 17 points, three assists, 6.5 rebounds and two steals a game this season, found the bottom of the net 56 times after launching 124 toward the rim from behind the 3-point line a year ago, or more than 45 percent of the time. Now, for his career, Dan Moore's shooting star is burying right at 39-percent from downtown.
History for recovering from the cold start is also on his side. Ingwerson knocked down just four of his first 18 long range attempts over the first three games a year ago before making Monarch foes pay the rest of the season. In fact, Ingwerson made just south of 50 percent of the 3-pointers he attempted following the slow start.
After knocking down 45 percent of his 3-point attempts a year ago, Ingwerson takes over the top spot in this week's Top 10 as Nebraska's top returning sharp shooter. However, the competition is pretty stiff this year. The top nine returnees that qualified by making at least 40 3-pointers a year ago, all shot 40-percent or better. All 10 members of this week's Top 10, made 39 percent or better from beyond the arc.
Classes A, B, C1, D1 and D2 are all represented in this week's Top 10. But that does not mean that Class C2 isn't loaded with shooters. In fact, Lutheran High Northeast's Trystan Scott, who made 38.5-percent of his 3-point attempts a year ago to lead Class C2 returnees, sits just outside of this week's Top 10 at No. 12.
As you browse through the Top 10, listed on the line below each player's name are that player's 3-point field goal, total field goal and free throw shooting numbers as well as the total number of points he scored a year ago.
Kyle Ingwerson, Papillion-LaVista
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
1. Kyle Ingwerson, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion) — 45.2 Percent56 3PM-124 3PA | 107 FGM-223 FGA | 35 FTM-46 FTA | 305 Points
2. Jay Dawson, Omaha Central (Omaha) — 43.7 Percent62 3PM-142 3PA | 129 FGM-263 FGA | 37 FTM-55 FTA | 357 Points
3. Alex Draper, Platteview (Springfield) — 42.4 Percent56 3PM-132 3PA | 81 FGM-178 FGA | 17 FTM-24 FTA | 235 Points
4. Quinn Johnson, Loomis — 42.3 Percent93 3PM-220 3PA | 217 FGM-446 FGA | 148 FTM-168 FTA | 675 Points
5. Alex Wilcoxson, Gretna — 41.6 Percent42 3PM-101 3PA | 51 FGM-129 FGA | 12 FTM-16 FTA | 156 Points
6. Tanner Walling, Wayne — 41.5 Percent71 3PM-171 3PA | 116 FGM-267 FGA | 72 FTM-93 FTA | 375 Points
7. Payson Gillespie, Omaha Westside (Omaha) — 41.3 Percent57 3PM-138 3PA | 76 FGM-174 FGA | 36 FTM-44 FTA | 245 Points
8. Mason Crumbliss, Crete — 40.2 Percent45 3PM-112 3PA | 66 FGM-162 FGA | 26 FTM-51 FTA | 203 Points
9. Blake Benson, St. Mary's (O'Neill) — 40.0 Percent50 3PM-125 3PA | 94 FGM-202 FGA | 32 FTM-35 FTA | 270 Points
10. Will Cooper, Millard South (Omaha) — 39.2 Percent47 3PM-120 3PA | 54 FGM-140 FGA | 10 FTM-18 FTA | 165 Points
