10 Best: St. Mary’s vs. SLUH (Coaches vs. Cancer Championship Game)
The championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament between St. Mary’s and SLUH turned out to be a memorable one. St. Mary’s, the newcomer to the tournament, received the No. 1 seed and had a lot to prove while…
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Continue ReadingThe championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament between St. Mary’s and SLUH turned out to be a memorable one. St. Mary’s, the newcomer to the tournament, received the No. 1 seed and had a lot to prove while SLUH was looking for its second tournament championship of the month.
After SLUH raced to an early 15-8 advantage after the first quarter, St. Mary’s fought back to knot the score at 28-28 at halftime. From that point on, these two heavyweight teams slugged it out until the very end when the St. Mary’s came away with a 60-57 overtime victory to remain undefeated at 11-0 on the season.
Now, here’s a look at the best of St. Mary’s-SLUH:
MVP: Yahuza Rasas (St. Mary’s): The 6’6″ 2018 forward was a dominant force on both ends of the court with 20 points, six rebounds and eight blocks. He has developed a very nice turnaround jumper in the lane and he gets his share of offensive put backs. It was a tremendous all-around performance against one of the best teams in the state.
Best Offensive Player: Yuri Collins (St. Mary’s): Normally a pass-first point guard, the 5’10” 2019 stepped up his offensive game and scored 19 points. He had five big points in the overtime session when he scored on a driving layup and then nailed a cold-blooded 3-pointer off the dribble with his team trailing. He is becoming more confident in his offensive game.
Best Defensive Player: Yahuza Rasas (St. Mary’s): Not only did Rasas block eight shots, he also took a couple of key charges down the stretch. His ability to protect the rim enables the Dragons to pressure opposing teams on a full-court basis because he’s in the back lurking.
Best Shooter: Matt Leritz (SLUH): The 6’6″ 2018 forward is a smooth shooter as a Stretch 4 off the catch. He nailed a couple of 3-pointers, including a big trey in overtime to give the Jr. Billikens a brief lead.
Best Bench Player: Miles Jones, Lavelle Harris, Donavanne Austin (St. Mary’s): I call these three kids the “Shock Troops” because they come in together and immediately change the tempo of the game. The 6’4″ Jones is a skilled win who provides instant offense while Harris and Austin are small guards who are tenacious defenders who keep the pressure hot for opposing ball handlers.
Clutch Moment: Matt Leritz (SLUH) – With SLUH trailing by two points with 0.3 seconds left in regulation, Leritz was fouled while driving to the basket. With the entire St. Mary’s student section staring him in the face, the 6’6″ Lertiz calmly swished two free throws to send the game into overtime.
Best Young Prospect (2019, 2020): Yuri Collins (St. Mary’s): The 5’10 2019 point guard scored 19 points and came up with some big buckets in the overtime period. Collins scored on a driving basket, then followed up with a big 3-pointer off the dribble to score the first five points of the overtime period.
Most Versatile Player: Anthony Hughes (SLUH): The 6’4″ 2017 wing has emerged as one of the most improved players in the St. Louis area. He had 12 points and six rebounds. He can initiate the offense from the point, score from the wing on the drive and knock down 3-pointers. He is also an excellent defender with his length and athleticism.