4A State Championship Preview
No. 1 New Albany (26-1) vs. No. 4 McCutcheon (28-3) Aprrox. 8:15 New Albany The top ranked team in the state comes into this game as an offensive juggernaut behind sophomore Romeo Langford. It’s no surprise to see how great…
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Continue ReadingNo. 1 New Albany (26-1) vs. No. 4 McCutcheon (28-3) Aprrox. 8:15
New Albany
The top ranked team in the state comes into this game as an offensive juggernaut behind sophomore Romeo Langford. It’s no surprise to see how great this team is behind the strong play of Langford. It’s the third best offense in the state at 77.7 points per game and it’s going to need that offense to come through in this game against the McCutcheon zone. This team has been tested to get to the state finals by beating three ranked opponents in its run, and if any doubts Langford at this point, do so at your own risk. It’s a team that has the largest average margin of victory in the state for a reason.
McCutcheon
The Mavs aren’t as high powered offensively as the Bulldogs, but they still know how to pour it in. The team has a lot of talent including Robert Phinisee who is a great sophomore in his own right. The team averages 72.8 points per game offensively and is right behind New Albany as the second largest average margin of victory in the state. It knows how run its patented defensive zone, too, so look to see if the team can create some turnovers and get out in transition in this game for some easy baskets. If nothing else, this is a team that can keep pace offensively.
Impact Players – New Albany
Romeo Langford – 6’4 G/F – Sophomore
He’s legit. He can score basically anyway and isn’t scared of the big stage. He scored 46 in the semistate victory against Southport and is the second leading scorer in the state with 30.3 points per game. There’s a reason people are saying he could be as good as Damon Bailey was as a high school player, and it isn’t hyperbole.
Josh Jefferson – 6’1 G – Senior
He’s a talented guard that isn’t afraid to pull up from long range. While this team’s offense runs through Langford, he is a good leader that averages 12.3 points, 2.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Isaac Hibbard – 6’0’ G – Junior
The second leading scorer on the team at 14.6 points per game, he can shoot from deep with a 41.8 3-point percentage. He’s also able to distribute and get to the basket. He is just another of the good guards on this team.
Impact Players – McCutcheon
Robert Phinisee – 6’0 G – Sophomore
He is a guard that can do everything. He can shoot and is great at getting to the basket and finishing or getting fouled and converting at the foul line. He averages 19.2 points and 6.2 assists per game to lead the attack for the Mavs while shooting 80 percent from the foul line.
Haden Deaton – 6’4 F – Junior
The junior forward is a great stretch wing that can shoot from outside (41 percent from 3) or attack inside. He averages 15 points and five rebounds a game and also has a defensive presence.
Eddy Collins – 5’9 G – Junior
An absolute marksman on the court, the junior averages 46 percent shooting, but 44 percent from deep where he does his damage. He averages 11.4 points a game really helps stretch the floor as a shooter for the rest of his teammates to get inside.
Outlook:
This is going to be an offensive showcase of talent. Then it will also be a battle of perhaps the best sophomore in the country in Langford and likely another top sophomore in the country in Phinisee. Look for both teams to try and push the pace, but so much of this game will come down to what Langford does. If he is on there may be nothing McCutcheon can do to stop him and New Albany, but if he is off, McCutcheon likely has the deeper team with players like Deaton, Collins, Darnell Butler and Charles Phinisee. At this point, though, don’t bet against Langford to do something amazing and for this to be a great game. New Albany 83 – McCutcheon 78