Division II State Semifinals: 10 Who Impressed
We are down to the State Championship round of the Division II playoffs, as Akron St. Vincent St Mary and Wauseon advanced this afternoon.
In the first game, it was a defensive battle where Wauseon prevailed 42-35 over Eastmoor Academy. Wauseon’s collapsing defense forced Eastmoor to try to beat them from the outside, which they had no success in doing.
The second game was even more thrilling than the first. Two senior guards, Jayvon Graves and Torrey Patton, electrified the crowd with their offensive performances. It concluded with a finish off the glass from Graves to give Akron St. Vincent St. Mary a 62-60 win.
This round featured three of the most important individual performances we’ve seen all season. Let’s take a dive into those, plus seven others.
Jayvon Graves (2017), 6’2″ G, Akron St. Vincent St. Mary
There’s nowhere else to start besides Graves: he scored 22 points including the buzzer-beater on a baseline drive. Don’t forget that the possession was completely hectic before Graves rushed to a struggling teammate to get the pass.
The Buffalo commit also showcased elite athleticism on four thunderous dunks. Defensively, he was crucial in the bottom of their 2-3 zone. Graves was able to get his hands on balls up top and before Trotwood players left the ground.
Jon Williams (2017), 6″1″ PG, Akron St. Vincent St. Mary
Leading up to the game-winner by Graves was a forced turnover by Williams. He was trusted to defend Torrey Patton on that final possession. Before Patton was able to make a move, Williams jumped on Patton’s dribble like a fumble recovery.
Williams also had crucial baskets down the stretch, including a tough and-one and a three-pointer. He handled Trotwood’s pressure admirably.
Lunden McDay (2019), 6’2″ G, Akron St. Vincent St. Mary
Graves only scored two points the entire fourth quarter (see above). So how did the Irish stay in it? Guys like Lunden McDay stepped up big time. He finished a ton of contested shots inside to go along with a corner three. He’s a tough kid with defensive tools and a promising offensive future. McDay reportedly has an offer from Buffalo.
Justin Sampson (2017), 6’4″ F, Akron St. Vincent St. Mary
Sampson is another player who carried the scoring load in the final quarter. Sampson was tough, just continually finishing inside with grit. Sampson is more of a football prospect, but his performance can’t be ignored today.
Carter Bzovi (2017), 6’2″ G, Wauseon
In a game where points were earned, seldom given, Bzovi found looks inside with pump-fakes and good timing. He also hit one of the only three-pointers, which came after yet another pump fake. The senior never panicked against Eastmoor Academy’s ball pressure. Defensively, Bzovi shut down passing lanes with his long arms, especially in the first half.
Austin Rotroff (2018), 6’9″ C, Wauseon
Rotroff was a menace on defense — he sent back a ton of shot attempts and controlled the glass. Although Rotroff only managed to score on three dunks, his defense was the clear difference in the game. The big man proved his value as a Division I prospect with his length, fluidity, and instincts.
Torrey Patton (2017), 6’4″ G, Trotwood Madison
Don’t get it twisted, Patton was the best player for all but thirty seconds in the entire Division II Semifinal round. He had 34 total points, scoring mostly on deep threes, lay-ups, and foul shots. The unsigned senior’s half court game is underrated. He just knifes through defenders with subtle moves and finishes from awkward spots. Despite the disheartening loss, Patton was magical in his final act.
Myles Belyeu (2018), 6’2″ G/W, Trotwood Madison
Despite his lack of height, Belyeu is a big guard in a lot of ways. He’s super physical on defense, never gets pushed around. Offensively, he started hitting from the mid-range in the second half. Truthfully his first half left a lot to be desired but the resilience was notable.
Taevion Kinsey (2018), 6’4″ G, Eastmoor Academy
Wauseon’s collapsing defense held Kinsey in check until the fourth quarter. Kinsey, Eastmoor’s primary ball-handler, scored 11 of his 15 total points in the final ten minutes. He’s phenomenal attacking the basket. Kinsey posterized a defender on the fast break. Also, he hung in the air for an impressive shot attempt against Rotroff, which resulted in Rotroff’s fourth personal foul.
Stanley Williams (2018), 6’7″ F/C, Eastmoor Academy
The reason Wauseon’s Rotroff didn’t dominate on offense was because of the strength and effort of Williams. We viewed this as a measuring stick for Williams, and he answered the bell. He battled for boards and shut Rotroff down in the post. Offensively, Williams scored on multiple back-to-the-basket moves against tough defense.