Five Questions: Pearl Cohn-Maplewood
Engaged students, battling cheerleading sections, and unpredictable turnovers, Tuesday night at Pearl Cohn featured a classic high school basketball atmosphere.
Despite coughing up the basketball with just 10 seconds left, William Shaw (Pearl Cohn) buried two pivotal free throws (:06) to oust Maplewood in a scrambled tussle, 69-67. Maplewood’s junior point guard Bobo Hodges earned himself a great chance at the buzzer, Euro-stepping his way to the rim. His finger-roll rolled out and the competitor slouched in agony.
Even though Hodges scored 21 points the last miss haunted his team for hours after the loss. Maplewood played well enough to win, until the final, frenzied minute. After Taurus Nelson forced an over-and-back violation on William Shaw, Nelson was stripped by Shaw on the ensuing inbounds play.
Nelson fouled immediately.
Shaw hit the front end of his one-and-one to cheers. He hit the second. Hodges’ last second miss was painful for the visitors, but the Firebirds spent no energy on pity. The rivalry win was enjoyed by all of the red-clad fans in the historic gym.
What exactly is Pearl Cohn doing with their press?
This one is tough. Pearl Cohn Head Coach Raymond Pratcher played coy after the game, wisely refusing to give away his press frequency or tactics, but the Firebird press comes at opposing guards in waves. It is hard to identify and it can rattle the most composed of guards.
Most of the success Pearl Cohn had with the press came after made baskets or made free throws. With the crowd roaring and the Firebirds excited the press became infused with energy and spirit.
What makes Maplewood a tough team to defeat?
It is very, very difficult to get the ball out of Bobo Hodges’ hands. He has great upper body strength and generally makes wise decisions. Hodges is kind of a classic floor general. Because he endures most of the pressure by himself it allows his Maplewood teammates to spot up or slash the gaps unimpeded.
Robert Wilcox is a really tough matchup for bigs. He has good hops and can dribble well enough to get around bigs who extend. Wilcox gives Maplewood fire and commitment too.
How do you expose Pearl Cohn?
The Firebirds looked really beatable out of the gates. Maplewood continued to drive to the basket and the Pearl Cohn guards didn’t do much to deter the invasion. Two bigs suffered foul trouble in the opening quarter. If a team can hammer the paint and continue to focus on that primarily the Firebirds are going to wilt.
For as good as the team is pressuring fullcourt, the halfcourt defense was spotty and the defensive rebounding was terrible. To put Pearl Cohn in a bind, attack the paint initially and then attack the glass relentlessly.
Are there any college basketball prospects from these two teams?
At first glance both Maplewood and Pearl Cohn are short basketball teams. The frontlines are mostly slightly taller guards, but a deeper evaluation unveils two really intriguing prospects. Bobo Hodges has a chance. The dual-sport athlete will be able to choose football or basketball after high school and judging by his mixture of athleticism and strength he will certainly be able to find something that fits.
According to Maplewood Head Coach Ty Wilson, Hodges is still scraping the basketball rust off. Regardless he is gritty and fearless.
Robert Wilcox III plays more of a bouncy, aggressive forward for Maplewood. He doesn’t really move like a wing, per se, but with his athleticism and ferocious on-court demeanor he could squeeze his way onto an NAIA roster. It will be tough, because he is essentially a 6-foot-1 combo forward.
William Shaw (Pearl Cohn) is bizarrely explosive. His handle can improve and the Class of 2019 guard didn’t show off an outside shot Tuesday night, but all of the physical tools are there. If he keeps adding muscle and continues on his trajectory, Shaw will play at the next level somewhere.
Which Head Coach had a better game?
Tough to say, as the pace and turnovers really created controlled chaos. From the outset Coach Wilson’s team appeared better prepared. They attacked with a purpose and got results. Maplewood seemed a little more stable and focused. But when the game heated up, Maplewood’s players made poor decisions or poor plays. Bobo Hodges did everything right, but make the last shot. RT Wilcox made an amazing layup in transition, but then earned a technical foul for bodying up to KeAnthony Wilson. Taurus Nelson forced a key turnover, but then suffered his own turnover, which led to a necessary foul.
Can you blame the head coach for these very personal player errors? Maybe not, but if they made those plays then you probably credit the coach for implementing a confidence and trust.
If you attribute the chaotic element to Pearl Cohn Head Coach Raymond Pratcher, then he had the better game. Winning is the goal and Coach Pratcher’s team won.
Coach Pratcher gets the edge.