10 Best: Des Moines North (87) at Des Moines Roosevelt (56)
Des Moines — For the first four minutes of this game, Roosevelt controlled tempo. But then North’s array of weapons got going, primarily sophomore point guard Tyreke Locure, and it was a rout from then on. The Roughriders (9-8) led 13-7…
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Continue ReadingDes Moines — For the first four minutes of this game, Roosevelt controlled tempo. But then North’s array of weapons got going, primarily sophomore point guard Tyreke Locure, and it was a rout from then on.
The Roughriders (9-8) led 13-7 midway through the first quarter, and then a 16-0 run for the Polar Bears (12-5) hit the ‘Riders like a bag of bricks; not only had the Polar Bears taken the lead, but they led by ten early in the second quarter.
By halftime it was 42-24 Polar Bears, and it was over.
Locure was not good to start the game, but when the North guys got going midway through the first quarter, he was the catalyst. The 5-foot-9 point guard finished the game with an absurd stat-line of 32 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals.
Jal Bijiek was menacing defensively, swatting 9 blocks. He added 10 points, all in the first half.
Roosevelt got a very unexpected 35 points from its burly big-man Shamaree Tomkins. The 6-foot middle linebacker was averaging 8.5 points per game coming into the contest.
Team Scoring
North 12 30 21 24 — 87
Roosevelt 13 11 12 20 — 56
Individual Scoring
North (87)… Tyreke Locure 32, Lino Malual 15, Jal Bijiek 10, Dariq Myles 10, Jahion McCaleb 9, Gatdoar Bijiek 6, Zach Horton 5.
Roosevelt (56)…Shamaree Tomkins 35, Cade Moritz 10, Ethan Shafer 9, Landon Ingle 2.
MVP: Tyreke Locure (North)
Just wow on this one. We won’t lie, Locure was pretty bad in the first few minutes, which had us scratching our head. But as effortlessly as one could make it look, he turned it on in a hurry, and then things got out of hand for the ‘Riders. at 5-foot-9, Locure has an uncanny ability to completely take over a game (32 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 steals). The sophomore should see a slew of Division I offers come in this spring and summer.
Play of the Game: Jahion McCaleb 3
What seemed like a simple 3-ball was actually the shot that ignited the Polar Bears’ 16-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters. We know this because that’s what Locure told us after the game: “When Jahion knocked down that first 3-pointer it just gave us all the energy, everybody started coming together, everybody started playing,” Locure said.
Best Offensive Performance: Shamaree Tomkins (Roosevelt)
It’s not often that the winning team has a kid go off for 32 points and it’s still not the best offensive performance. Locure’s 32 were impressive, and at times electric; but Tomkins’ 35 was more efficient. It seemed like everything the 6-foot post was hurling up would go in, and though he may never have an individual performance quite like this again, I’m sure he’d trade the career-high for a win.
Best Defensive Performance: Jal Bijiek (North)
Again Locure is robbed of what would have, nine times out of ten, been his. Locure’s seven steals were marvelous, but his lengthy 6-foot-7 teammate swatted nine shots on the night — that’s one of the highest totals in the state this season. Most of those those blocks were on Tomkins’ shots, so, in theory, Bijiek stopped the ‘Riders junior from a possible 50 point night.
Best Shooter: Jahion McCaleb
He dropped a game-high three 3s, including the aforementioned triple that got the Polar Bears going in the latter half of the first quarter. He only shot five shots all night, all from deep — 60 percent from beyond the arc is a good night. Better yet, he looks dang good doing it, smooth stroke with great form.
Best Intangibles: Tyreke Locure
Considering Locure has the best intangibles — mostly in the form of instincts — that we’ve seen in three years of doing this, that made this choice pretty easy. His seven steals are a direct reflection of his ability to read his defender and jump passing lanes. It’s a treat to watch.
Best Underclassmen: Tyreke Locure
Unfortunately for the rest of the CIML, Locure is not only one of the ten best players in Iowa, but he’s just a sophomore.
Best Quote: Jal Bijiek
“When we’re rolling we’re one of the best (teams in the state), and we just have to make sure that we’re always focused on the details and come out playing our hardest. And if we do that nobody can beat us. And that’s how we feel, and that’s we go into every game and we love it.”
Best Quote II: Tyreke Locure (It’s safe to say that North is a confident bunch)
“We want to do something this year, we want to get our seniors to Wells (Fargo Arena), Coach Ryan to Wells. Everyone has just been buying into the system lately, every practice, every shoot around everybody is about team and everybody is going hard, from the players to the coaches to the managers. We want to go far this year.”
Story to Watch: North Substate
It’s tough to believe, but we’re already to that point of he season where we can start to look ahead to the post-season. For the Polar Bears, it’s likely they will face a very (very) good Waukee squad in a substrate final. Both teams are certainly deserving of the state tournament bid, but only one will make it. If you’re asking us, it’s a coin flip.