Monster Matchup: Mark Freeman versus Tyler Harris
July 22nd, 2017
The featured game of the Bluff City LIVE brought together two of the best AAU programs in the state, @M33MHoops and @TeamThad21. Jointly the programs put together the budding event and hosted countless D1 coaches the last two years.
Glance at the entire squads and then take a look at the wonderful PG clash specifically.
Rosters
M33M 17u (adidas)
PG Mark Freeman
C Rico Quinton
F Tylar Haynes
G Trey Davis
G Damon Stoudamire II
G Malik Riddle
F Garrett Golday
WG Trendon Watford
Team Thad 17u (UA)
PG Tyler Harris
G Damion Baugh
WG Tavin Lovan
PG Roman Rubio
F Rod Brown
G Chris Jones
F Mark Johnson
G Trent Gibson
PF Javian Fleming
A dozen of these players will play college basketball, probably more. Focus for now on the exceptional point guards and how they fared against one another.
Freeman was electric early in the game, scoring eight first half points.
“I get excited at first, but once I get out there it is just a regular game,” said Harris.
He hit two difficult three-pointers and Harris missed a couple shots he usually makes. By the midpoint you could argue they were playing similarly.
Then everything changed.
With 12:21 left in the game it was respectfully close. Team Thad was narrowly ahead 34-30.
The always assertive Rodgerick Brown was dominating the low blocks, drawing foul after foul. He would finish the game with 14 points.
“(My plan early) was to get my teammates involved, so that everything else would come easy,” said Tyler Harris afterwards.
The Thad 5 on the floor were Brown, Harris, Tavin Lovan, Baugh, and Trent Gibson.
M33M countered with Mark Freeman, Malik Riddle, Tylar Haynes, Trendon Watford, and Garrett Golday.
Zone Implementation
With about 12:21 remaining Team Thad trotted out a 3-2 zone, perhaps with the intent of limiting outside shots. M33M’s strengths were slashing and shooting. Three perimeter defenders high narrowed the driving lanes and made Freeman look at more arms upon release.
On the first play Golday hit the zone’s center (FT line), turned and buried a 10′ jumper. Problem solved?
Seconds later Haynes (M33M) hit the deck for a loose ball. The activity level peaked and Tavin Lovan (Thad) followed with his own steal. Unfortunately, Gibson traveled on the fast break.
Team Thad still held a small four-point lead, now 36-32 with 11:49 to play.
Freeman offered a 22′ and missed short. Lovan clawed for every rebound. Riddle missed a 14′ baseline jumper. In Riddle’s defense, he had a poor game, but sustained a confounding left wrist or forearm injury hours earlier.
Freeman could have used his help. Outside of Watford nobody really scored much in the second stanza for M33M.
Supporting Cast
Damion Baugh drove into guts and dropped off Rod Brown. M33M fouled. Rod hit 2-2 free throws.
Christian Jones entered and picked Mark Freeman defensively.
Watford tried high post feed, but Team Thad expertly denied the Golday solution. In response, M33m attempted a double high-post set. Watford missed a challenged layup and, just like they love to do, Thad broke out. End result: Tyler Harris 3-pointer on the counter.
Team Thad started to open up a lead, 41-32.
Attempting to answer Riddle airballed a 3-pointer. Tyler Harris found front rim on 3 attempt, but got his own miss. He followed quickly with a flourish in traffic. The up and re-direct in the lane netted Tead Thad two more points.
Move ahead to 44-34 Riddle suffered a block by Javian Fleming (MS). Fleming’ outlet to Christian Jones ended with a Jones layup.
M33M’s Watford kept searching around the arc to no avail.
Riddle had good defensive feet. He kept in front of Tyler Harris pretty well, Harris broke down Damon Stoudamire. Harris attacked the tin and scored an easy bucket.
With 5:50 left in the contest, Watford hit a free throw.
Tyler Harris attacked from his favored wing. The ball found Gibson in the corner. Splash. Thad pulling away 53-37 steadily became ‘Thad pulled away.’
Freeman finished with 9 points. Harris scored 14 second-half points to finish with 19 points and numerous assists. His speed was destructive and he forced M33M to sprint back on defense or concede the buckets.
“It was a very fun matchup,” said Tyler Harris. “It was very fun we came out on top.”
Both will play D1 basketball, but this matchup produced a clear winner.
Winner: Tyler Harris.
Coaches on hand: Mick Cronin (Cincinnati), Steve Payne (Tennessee Tech), Anthony Stewart (UT Martin), Campbell AC, SIUE AC, Memphis AC Pooh Williamson, etc.
Remember this predates the Tyler Harris Fab48 MVP run. Mark Freeman was deservedly garnering elevated media and fan respect. His May-June play earned him some publicity and new D1 offers.
After the game Tyler answered whether it felt like the game was an opportunity to prove he is still one of the top 1-2 point guards in the 901.
“I feel like I don’t really have to prove anything,” said Tyler Harris. “I feel like everything is already out there.”