Ten Best: McCutcheon at Kokomo
McCutcheon at Kokomo proved to be an early battle but McCutcheon’s scoring was just too much for Kokomo in the second half. The game was played in the Old Memorial Gym last night. In the early-going, both teams found themselves…
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Continue ReadingMcCutcheon at Kokomo proved to be an early battle but McCutcheon’s scoring was just too much for Kokomo in the second half. The game was played in the Old Memorial Gym last night. In the early-going, both teams found themselves in foul trouble and had to sit some of their key guys. Phinisee however was aggressive and got to the basket at will in the first half. Kokomo was trapping all ball screens to try and get the ball out of his hands. McCutcheon took a 26 – 24 lead into the half.
McCutcheon finally got back to full strength to start the second half with all its weapons back on the floor. They broke open this game in the 3rd quarter scoring 34 points to take a 60 – 45 lead into the 4th. Deaton, Collins, and Phinisee did it all for McCutcheon last night and Kokomo got good minutes from Wheeler, Barnard, and Nix. In the end, McCutcheon’s offense was too loaded for Kokomo to make it close. Final score: 77 – 53 McCutcheon over Kokomo.
MVP: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Phinisee had the biggest impact on the game from start to finish. He carried them when they were short-handed and his aggressiveness early on set the tone for the game. He finished with 22 points (4-9 2 FG, 2-4 3 FG, and 8-9 FTs), 4 rebounds (2 defensive and 2 offensive), 6 assists, and 3 steals. He shot eight of his nine free-throws in the first half. Phinisee also finished the game with 0 turnovers and did all of this in just over 20 minutes of action. He is a game changer with the mentality to take-over the game in crucial situations like he did tonight at the start of the 3rd quarter.
Best Offensive Performance: Haden Deaton (McCutcheon)
Haden Deaton got it going in the second half finishing with 25 points (6-8 2FG, 2-7 3FG, and 7-12 FTs), 3 defensive rebounds, and 1 assist. Deaton went into the break at the half with 6 points and wasn’t too involved on the offensive side of the floor but got himself into the action early and often in the 3rd quarter. At one point, he had rattled off 9 straight points for the Mavericks leading to a timeout by Kokomo. Deaton finished well around the rim although he didn’t shoot it great from deep or the line. Deaton should be one of McCutcheon’s top scorers all season long.
Best Defensive Performance: Eddy Collins (McCutcheon)
Eddy was great on the defensive end of the floor last night apart from some cheap, early fouls. Collins finished the game with a game high 4 steals, all of which lead to easy transition opportunities for the Mavericks. Collins was tenacious on the defensive end making the Kokomo guards uncomfortable all game. His quick feet and good hands allow him to stay in front of anyone and the zone that McCutcheon plays also allows him to use his quickness to be effective. Collins works on both ends of the floor and it paid off for him last night in the win.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Eddy Collins (McCutcheon)
Not only was Eddy Collins great on the defensive end of the floor, he was also a threat on the offensive end as well. Collins finished the game with 17 points (4-5 2FG, 2-3 3FG, and 3-3 FTs), 4 assists, and 4 steals. He was an efficient scorer last night and was always looking for his shot. He finished the game at 75% from the floor and scored 17 points on 8 shots. If McCutcheon can get this kind of a performance from Collins consistently, they will be hard to stop on the offensive end of the floor. Collins was the third leading scorer for the game and the third leading scorer for McCutcheon (Deaton and Phinisee).
Best Player Off-The-Bench: Dominick Nix (Kokomo)
Dominick Nix came off the bench for the WildKats last night but finished the game with starters minutes and starters points. Nix lead the WildKats last night with 14 points (6-8 2FG and 2-2 FTs). He also grabbed 4 rebounds (1 defensive and 3 defensive) and dished out a pair of assists. Nix was also energy for Kokomo off the bench. His length and athleticism bothered some of McCutcheon’s shots around the rim and he was efficient on the offensive end. If Nix can continue to play at this level, he should see himself slide into the starting rotation before long.
Best Leader: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Not only was Phinisee the MVP of the matchup with Kokomo, the 6’1” junior was also the best leader on the floor. Phinisee is good at keeping his composure even at crucial moments of the game and that kind of leadership rubs off on the rest of the team. Phinisee is never one to get angry with himself or his teammates and has that next play mentality that this sport requires. He is always encouraging those around him and making them all better players. He gets them into huddles and is an extension of their coach on the floor.
Best Intangibles: Keenen Wheeler (Kokomo)
Wheeler was tough last night. He was tasked with guarding Phinisee of McCutcheon and took the challenge personally. He was the first on the floor for loose balls and continually encouraged his teammates. He made a few plays that got the fans excited and made the game interesting. Wheeler finished with 9 points (3-5 2FG and 3-4 FTs), 4 rebounds (2 defensive and 2 offensive), 3 assists, and 2 steals. He played the second most minutes for the WildKats (29+) and was still playing his hardest until the final buzzer. Wheeler is the starting PG for Kokomo and uses that opportunity to lead his team vocally. He will need to work on his distribution of the ball a little bit as they brought another guard in the game to help handle the press and zone but his hustle and willingness to do the little things will help Kokomo this season.
Best Rebounder: Anthony Barnard (Kokomo)
Anthony Barnard found himself side-lined the majority of the first half of the contest due to foul trouble but came out ready to play in the second half. He finished the game with a game high 6 rebounds (4 defensive and 2 offensive) and put in 11 points (2-4 2 FG, 2-4 3FG, and 1-1 FTs). His length and athleticism allowed him to rebound the ball at the highest point over anyone else around him. The 6’6” junior used his IQ and thin frame to be in the right position at the right time to rebound the ball. He was aggressive on both ends of the floor attacking the glass. His energy was great last night.
Best Shooter: Ty Sparling (Kokomo)
Although he only got 4 shots off last night, Sparling has a nice-looking jump shot. He finished the game with 8 points (1-1 2FG and 2-3 3FG). One of his threes came on a face up, jab step on the first possession of the game but he never really saw an opening again. McCutcheon hounded him on the defensive end and tried to make him uncomfortable. From the shots that he did get up, they all looked good and the one rattled in and out. Sparling will be a scoring threat for Kokomo all season long as the senior has proven himself during his time there. He will also be able to take advantage of his 6’5” frame to get some shots off over the defense.
Biggest Takeaway: McCutcheon’s Fire Power
The final score reflects the second half, not necessarily the entire game. McCutcheon was missing Tyson, Dunbar, and Collins for most of the first half due to fouls and only scored 26 points in the first half. When they were back at full strength and clicking on all cylinders in the 3rd quarter, they managed to put up 34 points in 8 minutes. Teams must be careful and not allow McCutcheon to get on a run because they can put points up in a hurry. Kokomo will need to have good minutes from Sparling and Barnard to be successful this year. Kokomo has the mindset of a winning team, they just need to put a full 32 minutes together.