Lambert Holiday Classic Day 1 Top Performers (Part 1)
Spencer Rodgers (Mountain View)-
Rodgers and his Mountain View team brought some excitement to the last game of the night, and the Troy signee was great in particular. He started the game hot with 3 3’s in the first quarter and kept it up the rest of the game. Rodgers finished with 29 points on 6 made 3’s but did more than just shoot. He showed athleticism at the basket, grabbed defensive rebounds, and dished out some assists. It was a nice overall performance for the future Trojan.
Blaine McDonough (Walton)-
McDonough may have had the best individual showing of any player at Lambert on Thursday. He already had a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds at halftime, overpowering his opponents inside whenever he wanted. McDonough is a strong, physical forward who is very tough to stop if he gets the ball at the elbow or closer. His ultra-aggressive approach resulted in 40 points and 15 rebounds on the night. Walton would not have been in the game without McDonough.
Mitch Ganote (Lambert)-
Ganote was my favorite player to watch on Thursday, and for good reason. The junior point guard plays with an endless motor and does everything for his Lambert team. After a recent triple-double, Ganote has not slowed down, putting up 27 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals against Walton. This production seemed to be routine for Ganote; things come easy to him and he was cool under pressure at the free throw line down the stretch. He is tough, efficient, and makes great decisions for the Longhorns.
Mandarius Dickerson (Collins Hill)-
The Eagles got a big lead against Johns Creek early in the game, and Dickerson was one of the main reasons. There weren’t many guys who played with more energy and intensity than Dickerson on Thursday. He was hot from the outside, hitting 3 3’s, but also did a lot of other things. His activity in the Collins Hill press resulted in 4 steals for him, and created easy baskets. Dickerson’s perimeter shooting and finishing ability in transition got him 23 points to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists for the game. This was a well-rounded game for the senior guard.
Jordan McIlwain (Lambert)-
There may have not been a more confident shooter than McIlwain on Thursday. Once the game started against Walton, it was easy to see why he has such confidence. McIlwain stepped up offensively throughout the game, finishing with 6 made 3’s. He does not hesitate on the catch but is also effective shooting off the dribble and knew when to find his teammates. McIlwain put together a nice outing of 28 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals that helped Lambert a lot in their 2 OT win.