Prep Hoops 10 Best: #30 Mills Godwin vs. #10 John Marshall
The first Tuesday after Holiday Tournament time, two of RVA’s best teams met up for a non conference matchup, one that in November no one would expect to be as competitive as it was. After winning the Lake Braddock Christmas…
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Continue ReadingThe first Tuesday after Holiday Tournament time, two of RVA’s best teams met up for a non conference matchup, one that in November no one would expect to be as competitive as it was. After winning the Lake Braddock Christmas tournament last week, 5A Mills Godwin, sitting at 9-1 debuted at #30 in the VA Power Poll. While Godwin has had a decent program in the past, I doubt you would find anyone in the state that would say they would be one of the best teams in VA despite playing in the toughest region in the VHSL. Traveling to MG was John Marshall, who just returned from the Tournament of Champions in Georgia. The Justices seemed to be feeling a little sluggish from the trip, as they trailed early and couldn’t buy a bucket in the first quarter. However, some good passing and hot shooting from the bench got them back into it, and the score was tied at 28 a piece heading into overtime. The second half was intensely competitive, as both teams traded blows and took turns with momentum which lasted for a few minutes before the other team made a run. In the end, Mills Godwin just didn’t have enough in the tank, and fell 53-48 after squandering a few late game opportunities to pull it out. Here’s some more takeaways with the first RVA 10 Best breakdown of 2017.
MVP | Isaiah Anderson | John Marshall ’17
It was a balanced effort from the John Marshall crew, the sometimes forgotten big man of Isaiah Anderson was key to JM pulling off the win against a tough Godwin team that didn’t back down one bit. Anderson was scrappy from the beginning, blocking shots, rebounding and finishing in the paint on high-low touches against the zone. He also passed it well from the high post, and was there to make big plays when they needed it the most. He finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in their win.
Play of the Game
It seems like 2019 DeMarr McRae always brings an energetic throw down when they need it, and while he missed a back-scratch dunk to end the game, he had two big finishes in the second half. The best of which was on a put back below where he crashed from the opposite side. You can see the clip courtesy of Channel 8’s Mitch Carr on Twitter (@mitchcarrtv).
Best Offensive Performer | Isaiah Anderson | John Marshall ’17
The Justices didn’t shoot it particularly well, but Anderson took advantage by cleaning up the mess. In his double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, five of his rebounds were on the offensive end, as he kept plays alive throughout the game and particularly in big situations. With momentum swinging Godwin’s way midway in the fourth quarter, Anderson got a defensive rebound and ran the floor where he got a big tip-in, plus the foul to get the momentum back on Marshall’s side.
Best Defensive Performer | DeMarr McRae | John Marshall ’19
While his athletic finishes have been must see highlights so far this season, McRae’s bread-and-butter is on the defensive end where he typically is tasked with guarding the other team’s best player. His athleticism is a big part to his success, but it’s also the toughness and competitiveness in him, that he takes pride in stopping the best players. This game it was Dillon Thomas, the Mills Godwin star and go-to player down the stretch that he held to 12 points on the game. If he can keep his competitive juices in check, all while staying out of foul trouble and not losing his temper, McRae will always be a good option to guard the best scorer on the other team.
Best Guy off the Bench | Zion Davis | John Marshall ’18
Godwin’s hot start in the first quarter had as much to do with JM shooting woes against their zone, but the 6’3” Davis came off the bench and changed that quickly. In the second quarter, he hit three shots in the span of a little over two minutes, a time in which John Marshall went on an 11-2 run to get back into before halftime. While JM has a number of shooters in their starting five, he brings instant offense off the bench, and at times he’ll have to be their secondary ball handler as well.
Best Intangibles | Dillon Thomas | Mills Godwin ’17
There’s a toughness about this kid that you simply can’t teach, and his understanding and feel for the game is that of a true point guard even though he isn’t one. The 6’3” Thomas, who has recently committed to Roanoke College in the ODAC, was face guarded throughout the game, typically by McRae who’s one of the toughest defenders in the Richmond area, but that didn’t stop him from competing. Instead of sitting in the corner as a decoy, Thomas continually moved without the ball making his defenders work to guard him. He made plays with the ball in his hands, and was active defensively finishing with three steals. He finished with 12 points and four rebounds.
Best Under the Radar Performer | Tim Fisher | Mills Godwin ’17
The combo forward was effective in spurts for Godwin, and while it may surprise people that he had success against such a massive John Marshall front line, but Fisher has done it time and time again against good competition. The 6’5” power forward found success in face up situations, and he showed good feel in the post knowing where to seal and how to use his body to finish around the basket against bigger posts. He finished with a game high 14 points, and chipped in six rebounds as well.
Best Underclassman | Isaiah Todd | John Marshall ’20
Todd has struggled at times this season, and with his tremendous skill set and size for his age it’s hard to remember that he’s just a freshman and is prone to struggle at times. While he’s been through somewhat of a shooting slump lately, you still see the flashes that make him one of the best young players in the country. He finished with nine points and five rebounds last night, and almost all of them were tough buckets. He had multiple fadeaways from the high post, where he used his length to shoot over smaller defenders, a move that many seniors can’t make consistently. Once he realizes he can get easy ones and can shake the pressure of being such a highly touted freshman, Todd will be a key piece come March for JM.
Best Catch-and-Shoot Player | Greg Jones | John Marshall ’17
Usually this distinction is for a smaller guard of some sorts, but the 6’6” JMU commit has been one of the best shooters in the state so far this season. He only finished with 10 points, well short of his 21 per game average this season, but he was 2-for-3 from deep despite a concerted effort by Mills Godwin to get out on him on the perimeter. With many teams deciding to zone this athletic Justice group, he’ll need to continue to knock down shots to keep teams honest moving forward.
Best Story Line to Watch Moving Forward
At 9-2 and debuting at #30 in the Power Poll this week, Mills Godwin could be the biggest surprise in not just the Richmond area, but all of VA for that matter. A well disciplined team that starts five seniors, they’re coming off of a big week as they won the Lake Braddock Christmas Tournament, beating some good talent in the NOVA area. The biggest obstacle for Mills Godwin is the fact that they play in the toughest region in the VHSL, the 5A South that features the likes of LC Bird, Hampton, Green Run, Salem and Bethel, among other talented teams. While they have impressed throughout the season with some big wins, Godwin’s toughness and willingness to compete against one of the best public school teams in the state shows that they won’t be an easy out for anyone this season. As they wear and tear of the season comes to an end, it will be interesting to see how competitive the Eagles can be come March.