What We Learned: St. Vincent-St. Mary at Moeller
The Dec. 8 St. Vincent-St. Mary at Moeller game was hyped as the possible game of the year in Ohio. Both teams are coming off State Championships. And even though the Irish were just now moving up to Division I,…
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Continue ReadingThe Dec. 8 St. Vincent-St. Mary at Moeller game was hyped as the possible game of the year in Ohio. Both teams are coming off State Championships. And even though the Irish were just now moving up to Division I, we thought all their returning talent positioned them as the top challenger for the Crusaders.
Then, the game was played.
Moeller jumped out to a 17-2 lead, which quickly turned into 28-9 at the end of the first quarter. The home team never looked back and won 99-62, cementing their reputation as the early season favorites to win the State Championship once again.
The dominance was, honestly, shocking.
Of course, STVM could’ve played a better game and they surely have that in them, but the story is about how scary Moeller looks right now. They scored 99 points, which is their highest in a game since who-knows-when because the GCL-South website only goes back to 2005 — so it’s their best in at least 15 years. On top of that, Moeller shot 65.5 percent on field goals, 64.7 percent from three on 17 attempts.
Their team offense was the main takeaway, but still only part of the story. We learned a lot more, too:
Deuce is healthy
West Virginia signee Miles “Deuce” McBride looks to be at full-strength after sitting out all but two games last season with a severe foot injury. With his legs under him, McBride is poised for not only a State run, but also a potential Mr. Basketball one too. He scored 20 points last night, mostly making contested jumpers off the dribble. His lift and high shooting release combined with the separation he creates on step-backs makes him indefensible in the mid-range. McBride added a step-back triple before the first quarter buzzer and an athletic and-one as he scooped across the lane.
It’s whatever he wants right now. On the early season, McBride is averaging 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He either tied or eclipsed season highs in all of those categories against STVM, proving capable of flipping a switch in big games.
Pfriem has taken a step forward
Even though McBride is the one with the D-I tag, Alec Pfriem has been the most productive Crusader so far this season. He kept it up last night: 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists. Pfriem, a Bellarmine signee, went coast-to-coast several times and took advantage of poor transition defense from the Irish. Pfriem, though, deserves credit for being poised in the paint once again. While he settled in the mid-range for floaters on Friday against Hughes, Pfriem followed it up by attacking the rim and getting to the line Saturday.
STVM needs to find an assertive figure
The Irish remain one of the deepest and most talented teams in Ohio. They will, still, compete for a Regional Championship this season. This isn’t the end for this team — let’s not fool ourselves.
But this game was an inflection point, particularly the first quarter. On the road, down by double-digits just a couple minutes into the game, yet nobody successfully got them back on track. While some guys ended the game with respectable stat-lines, STVM didn’t have that guy who stabilized them by hitting a few big shots early. That could be an issue come tournament time, too.
Max Land is thriving in his role
In the grassroots seasons, Land has played several positions and roles depending on which team he was on. Given his elite explosiveness and athleticism, there’s always been a picture in everyone’s head about what he could become to a team. So, it’s good to see him accepting and dominating in his role with Moeller — where he’s asked to defend the two through four, crash the glass on both ends, shut down passing lanes, push in transition, and get to the free throw line. Land did all of that, plus adding a spot-up 3-pointer when left open, yesterday. His elevation on an alley-oop finish in the fourth quarter was jaw-dropping, even if we’ve seen him get up like that before.
Moeller’s sophomore center rotation is already a weapon, so imagine what it could become
Right now, sophomore 6’8” center Logan Duncomb starts the game for Moeller. He played 13 minutes both games this weekend and made use of his natural size advantages by finishing strong at the rim. Yesterday especially, he impressively gained position inside on post-ups by out-muscling an athletic 6’4” defender. Duncomb made the post entry passes super simple for his teammates, then finished with touch or power. He played very well.
Sophomore stock-riser Alex Williams played 16 minutes both nights this weekend, yesterday scoring 14 points in a variety of ways. He can actually shoot the deep ball very well, only taking them when he’s left open. Williams also has good feet and power inside, showing the ability to move taller defender on spin moves and step-throughs. He’s a more natural fit for the Moeller offense, which worked best this weekend with skill and speed on the floor.
Marcus Johnson is important for the Irish
Junior 6’5” forward/center Marcus Johnson was the lone bright spot for the Irish in the first half. He came off the bench and gave them an immediate spark in the second quarter on a couple post finishes. The only issue: he also tallied three fouls quickly and had to be taken out, which sunk them again. As a prospect, Johnson is a big-bodied kid who isn’t going to beat you athletically. But, he has a smooth ground game with nimble feet. He can hit tough shots, including fall-aways and hook shots with either hand. Rebounds with size. We like him as a NAIA or D-III guy.
Division III prospects to watch
Chris Painter, a 5’11” senior guard, showed flashes in the second half. We wish it had come earlier, but Painter’s ability to shoot off motion remains impressive. He is super fast end to end while also moving well laterally. We think he could play at a D-II or NAIA school as a spark plug off the bench, or become a three- or four-year starter at the D-III level.
Michael Shipp may not have done too much for Moeller on Saturday. But, the 6’3” guard/wing impressed us this weekend with his outside shooting ability, off-ball movement, and IQ. He’s a reliable offensive player with good size on the wing.
Moeller is dominate
We touched on it at the top of the story, but it really all boils down to this: Moeller looked untouchable this weekend. It’s still early, but their offensive efficiency and totals are off the charts as it stands. Through three games, they’re averaging 91 points, which is over 15 points higher than any three-game stretch from last season. At the moment, Moeller is shooting 61.7 percent from the field and 51.2 percent from beyond the arch.
Their personnel and preparation on the defensive end remains elite. Although there’s not a Jaxson Hayes on the back-end, Moeller’s collective speed means they can switch most screens and stay in the hip-pocket of every ball-handler.
Quick starts were also the key this weekend as they jumped out on Hughes and STVM early. Surviving the first quarter will be key for opponents.