Five Lessons Learned: Marshall County @ Stratford
On a moonlit Friday night in East Nashville, the hosting Stratford Spartans (4-2) ran an undefeated Marshall County (6-1) team ragged,91-82.
Senior Caleb Fields of Marshall County scored 31 points and 2019 guard Kj Johnson dropped 30 in the second half. Still the smooth-shooting visitors could not surmount a nasty 30-17 Stratford third quarter. What started the third 40-38 Stratford exited the third quarter 70-55.
Stratford starters:
Juwon Carpenter
Keontai Windrow
Ja'Hari Reed
Ivan Buford
Kevonte BoydMarshall County starters:
Caleb Fields
KJ Johnson
Canelius Turner
Keshun Gentry
Marcus Doolson— Prep Hoops Tennessee (@PrepHoopsTN) December 2, 2017
The result mattered moderately in the moment, but what larger lessons can be drawn from the game?
Kevonte Boyd can Shoot
Facing Franklin in Franklin, Boyd did most of his damage on the low block. Essentially he caught nice passes and lifted them over the rim…alot. Friday night against an undefeated Marshall County squad, Boyd scored 13 first half points and the most difficult looked like a challenged 15′ elbow offering. His technique is really impressive from the shoulders up.
Boyd’s shot is a strong weapon against sagging defenses or lazy bigs.
Kevonte Boyd has a really smooth faceup jumper.
Boyd’s shot is a strong weapon against sagging defenses or lazy bigs.
Coach Romie Reed can Gameplan
Stratford played well in the opening quarter by tugging out Lamarcus Dodson (Marshall County) with Kevonte Boyd jumpers. As Marshall County tried to adjust in the second half with either a zone or extending their man-to-man to cover Boyd, Coach Reed and his charges battered the low blocks with slashing and probing guards (Ja’Hari Reed).
These two clear directives really made a difference.
While Coach Reed did utilize his team’s strengths, while exploiting the Marshall County weaknesses, some credit must be given to the guys who made the shots. Kevonte Boyd and Ja’Hari Reed played very well.
Stratford is Streaky
When Stratford tried to play slow and honest they crumbled. The Spartans of Stratford just play a wild, wide-open style of basketball that will make most of their games interesting. They are generally engaged in emotional roller coasters, but the physical and mental toughness is plain.
It seems the creator of positive streaks for Stratford is usually Ja’Hari Reed. He scores in spurts and makes life hell for opposing guards. The wing puts his head down and uses so many sharp, little cuts in tight spaces to wiggle to the basket. Reed jumps pretty well and creates problems by running defenders into each other. When he gets cooking the Spartan meals taste great.
Marshall County are Hopeless Defending Size
As good as the Marshall County backcourt was offensively (68 pts), the frontcourt was that poor defensively. First, Kevonte Boyd torched the Marshall County defenders all game long.
“Their big stepped out and made some shots,” said Marshall County Head Coach Lavon King. “He stepped out and made some three’s and things of that nature. That changed the game a little bit I thought. To have a big that can step out and shoot the three or take everybody off the dribble, that makes a big difference. We didn’t do a good job as far as sliding over to give help. I thought that was one of the things that hurt us also.”
Reed also found his way to the offensive glass over and over. As a team, Stratford really mauled the Tigers on the glass. The third quarter was a pummeling, and mostly the rebounding aggression and persistence spurned the run.
What is most vexing about Marshall County’s interior defense is that it might solve itself. Worse, the team might not have the personnel to solve the glaring problem. And that is a shame for a team with one of the state’s best seniors Fields and junior sharpshooter KJ Johnson.
Caleb Fields is Tough Mark
Caleb Fields (Marshall County) was electric up top. Fields scored eight points right away.
Caleb Fields (Marshall County) is a different kind of quick. 8 of MC's 13 pts early. MC up 13-10 4:50 1Q.
— Prep Hoops Tennessee (@PrepHoopsTN) December 2, 2017
“I think it was real good, but I just think we just came down to quick shots and it got them back in the game,” said Caleb Fields.
Entering the second half, Stratford kind of solved him by essentially playing a box-and-1.
“They ran the 1-2-2 and whoever was on KJ’s side would just deny him,” said Caleb Fields. “They would basically play like the other people couldn’t shoot.”
One lead defender face-guarded Caleb and the others held the sides of the lane and just didn’t let him drive into the paint. It actually worked too, because Caleb scored just 10 points in the second half. KJ exploded as a counterweight, but Caleb’s input suffered.
“Like I told them, this is December the first,” said Head Coach Lavon King. “You know? So we are just trying to build and get better every day.”