Trevor Ariza Tip-Off Classic: Four Takeaways
Westchester High in Los Angeles plays host to the Trevor Ariza Tip-Off Classic, a five-day, 16-team bracket style tournament named after one of the Comets all-time greats.
Wednesday at Westchester featured two losers bracket games, in addition to two quarterfinal games featuring good matchups between Harvard-Westlake and Santa Monica and the top-ranked team in the state Bishop Montgomery and Narbonne.
Wednesday Game Results
Washington Prep 59, Venice 38
Hesperia 44, Cleveland 29
Harvard-Westlake 59, Santa Monica 44
Bishop Montgomery 67, Narbonne 26
Four Takeaways
Bishop Montgomery is a machine
The Knights held a full-strength, potential top-five Los Angeles City Section team to nine, yes nine, points in a first half defensive performance that was as impressive as I’ve ever seen. Oh, and they did it without their starting point guard, Gianni Hunt. Bishop has five players who can function in both an individual and team defensive scheme. The Knights rotations are tight, they contest 3-pointers without fouling, are constantly talking on defense and limit teams to one offensive opportunity.
Johnny Juzang is becoming a more efficient scorer
The 6-foot-6 wing has always been a guy who stroke the outside jumper and put the ball on the deck to get to his mid-range jumper or drive to the rack, but he had the tendency to force shots at times as a freshman, as any kid that age would do. Juzang displayed an improved shot selection and patience on that end of the floor yesterday, scoring 24 points to lead his team to a win. Juzang has tightened up his catch-and-shoot 3-point shot which has helped open up the floor for him.
Santa Monica guard Payton Moore continues his dramatic improvements.Payton Moore continues meteoric improvements
The Rice-signee has transformed his game from an undersized small forward to a legitimate combo guard in a matter of a couple years. Moore has drastically improved his ball skills, especially his left hand, and his 3-point stroke is night and day from where it was as a freshman or sophomore. Moore scored 21 points in three quarters yesterday, but sat the fourth with what looked to be cramps.
Mason Hooks looks no worse for the wear
The 6-foot-9, 250 pound center missed much of the spring and summer with an injury, but has bounced-back nicely and continues to round into form. Hooks displayed touch with either hand around the basket yesterday and sets an engulfing high ball screen. The sophomore rolls hard to the basket, uses his body to clear space and works hard on both the offensive and defensive glass.