Ten Best: Holland Springfield vs Toledo St. Francis
After losing to Holland Springfield (2-9) three times in the past two seasons, Toledo St. Francis (11-1) triumphed on their home court by a score of 81-46 on Tuesday night. The matchup featured two programs trending in opposite directions, as…
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Continue ReadingAfter losing to Holland Springfield (2-9) three times in the past two seasons, Toledo St. Francis (11-1) triumphed on their home court by a score of 81-46 on Tuesday night.
The matchup featured two programs trending in opposite directions, as Toledo St. Francis has shocked everyone by reaching #5 in the latest Division I state poll. Meanwhile, Holland Springfield is struggling this season despite posting winning records in recent years.
Throughout the game, Holland Springfield’s young roster lacked continuity. Their youth especially showed itself in the third quarter, when Toledo St. Francis pressured full court.
Though the Knights sealed this non-conference game with a 26-9 third quarter, they had control throughout. By the halfway point of the first quarter Toledo St. Francis was already out to a 17-7 lead, and from that point forward they maintained a double-digit cushion.
MVP: Kenny Coleman-Graham (Toledo St. Francis)
The 5’10” senior is the head of the snake for the Knights offensive attack. Whenever Holland Springfield wasn’t clinging to Coleman-Graham, the point guard scored on all three levels. Defensively, a couple blindside steals led to easy transition baskets.
Best offensive performance: Kenny Coleman-Graham (Toledo St. Francis)
Coleman-Graham scored an efficient 17 points in just under two quarters of action. The senior didn’t force any shots and set up some easy looks for his teammates. As a lead guard, his ball security stood out. Despite the effort from Holland Springfield to harass him, Coleman-Graham never turned it over.
Best defensive performance: Denzel Prince (Holland Springfield)
Prince, a 6’1” sophomore, was tasked with guarding Coleman-Graham for the majority of his minutes. Prince moved his feet exceptionally, forcing Coleman-Graham into tough shots around the basket. Prince has solid length relative to his height.
Best prospect: John Burnham (Toledo St. Francis)
Tuesday wasn’t Burnham’s best night, as he only tallied two points. However, the 6’6” senior’s versatile offensive game is promising. Defenders must guard Burnham all over the court, as his three-point shot and post moves are equally threatening. Burnham can play three positions on both sides of the court.
Burnham received his first offer two days ago from Tiffin University.
Best under-the-radar performance: Tayler McNeal (Toledo St. Francis)
McNeal hardly has the ball in his hands, but is ready to shoot if you give him any space. In that dominate third quarter, McNeal covered the floor nicely in their full-court pressure. The 6’1” junior is simply reliable.
Player with best intangibles: Drew Swerlein (Toledo St. Francis)
Swerlein’s 12 points in the first quarter is the primary reason Toledo St. Francis was able to bury their opponent early. Even though he was hot to start, it all came within the structure of the offense. The 6’1” junior remained enthusiastic while the end of the bench played in the fourth quarter.
Best underclassman: Jackson Harris (Toledo St. Francis)
At 6’6”, the sophomore forward was the most physically imposing presence in the game. Harris cleaned up the boards while showing a nice shooting touch, both around the basket and from the arch. As he continues to develop his body, Harris could shape up to be a nice Division II or III prospect. He finished with 15 points.
Other: Holland Springfield’s young core
The sophomore trio of Terrell Bryant, Denzel Prince, and Michael Key, are not experiencing too much success right now, but they could develop into a tough group over the next few seasons. Holland Springfield will likely return to being competitive in the Northern Lakes League as they build chemistry and trust.
Best part of the environment: Toledo St. Francis’ grey court
A brand new hardwood always looks fresh, but Toledo St. Francis went the extra mile by premiering a grey court this season. Sometimes a colored court looks gaudy, however this one is not distracting whatsoever.
Best storyline going forward: Just how good is Toledo St. Francis? Thus far, they have blown out a few quality opponents (Sylvania Northview, Toledo Bowsher) to go along with gutsy close victories (Lima Senior, Whitmer). However, their one loss came against Toledo St. John’s, a team who’s not only their rival but someone they’ll have to beat in order to win Districts. So, I guess the real storyline is, are they good enough to beat St. John’s?