10 Best: Ladue vs. Farmington
The Jerry Boeckman Memorial Tournament at Vianney got underway on Monday with a tightly-contested game between Ladue and Farmington.
The lead changed hands several times throughout the game before Ladue came away with a 48-44 victory in the season opener for both teams.
Here is a look at the 10 Best:
MVP: Jaylen Boyd and Evan Schneider (Ladue): This pair of 2020s really stood out in the Rams’ victory last night. Boyd, a slick 5’11” point guard, had 12 points and seven assists while the 6’6″ Schneider battled his way to 12 points and eight rebounds against Farmington’s big front line. Very impressed with the poise and toughness of these two youngsters.
Best Offensive Player: Brendon Hardy (Farmington): The 6’3″ 2018 guard led all scorers with 16 points. He knocked down a couple of 3-pointers, but he did most of his work on the drive as he scored several tough buckets in the lane.
Best Shooter: Brendon Hardy (Farmington): Although he didn’t get a chance to shoot a bunch of 3-pointers, Hardy displayed his range by knocking down a couple from long distance.
Best Defense: (Ladue’s Zone): Although Farmington’s Hardy was the game’s leading scorer, I was impressed with Ladue’s attention to detail in locating him and limiting his clean looks from 3-point range. Brendon is a dangerous sniper if left open, but the Rams closed out on him well and made him score off the dribble.
Best Rebounder: Tycen Gray (Farmington): The 6’4″ 2019 is a beast around that basket with his strong body and physical style. When he goes into full pursuit of a rebound, nobody is safe. Not even his own teammates.
Best Post Player: Cole Laurence (Farmington): The 6’7″ 2019 post player came off the bench to score 11 points. He displayed a nice touch from the high post, plus some good footwork and moves around the basket. He’s still a little banged up from playing football, but he showed what he can do as a young post.
Best Young Prospect: Jaylen Boyd (Ladue): The young man plays with a lot of poise and moxie at the point guard position. He’s quick and shifty and knows how to change speeds and keep defenders off balance. He also has good court vision and can finish around the rim. Jaylen also picked a couple of pockets on defense.
Game Changing Sequence: Bryce Bussard (Ladue): The 6’1″ 2019 guard provided the key plays that turned the game in Ladue’s favor. With the Rams trailing 31-30 in the fourth quarter, Bussard knocked down a 3-pointer to give his team the lead to stay. On the ensuring possession, he stole the ball and gave a nice pass to a teammate for a bucket and a four-point lead. Ladue never trailed again.
Mr. Solid: Trent Stiebler (Ladue): The 6’3″ 2018 wing scored 10 points and did a little bit of everything to help his team win. He made a 3-pointers, rebounded, kept the ball moving and knocked down three free throws down the stretch. He is a talented glue guy that is essential to a team’s success.