Ten Best: Fort Wayne Concordia at Fort Wayne Carroll
Game Recap: Fort Wayne Concordia at Fort Wayne Carroll
Final Score: FW Carroll 73 – FW Concordia 35
Fort Wayne Carroll came out of the gates strong. They jumped out to an early lead behind great play from Arius Jones and Ejah David. The Chargers looked like they were going to run away with this one after this first quarter. They carried a 12-5 lead into the second quarter and Concordia didn’t look comfortable on offense. The second quarter was a little different. Concordia started finding some holes in the Carroll switching defense and attacked the offensive glass with some success. Cleevas Craig tore up the bench players for Carroll on the offensive boards and Concordia fought themselves back into the game. They trailed 21-25 at the half but had swung the momentum in their favor.
This is when the game really blew up. David Ejah, who had a great first quarter but didn’t play much in the second quarter, came out and dominated the game in the third. His full offensive repertoire was on display all night. Some of the bench guys stepped up for the Chargers and knocked down some open jumpers to help stretch the lead. Carroll scored 28 third quarter points to take a 53-25 lead into the final frame.
Concordia had no answer offensively in the second half. Their guards were flustered by the Carroll defense and they struggled to finish possessions with rebounds. Carroll continued to dominate the game winning the fourth quarter 20-10 and leaving last night with a 73-35 victory over the visiting Cadets.
MVP: David Ejah (Carroll)
David Ejah was fantastic last night in his constrained minutes. He didn’t see much time in the second or fourth quarters due to the lead that the starting group had created. Ejah finished with a game high 20 points (5-5 2FG, 3-4 3FG, and 1-1 FT, 89% FG), 3 rebounds (2 offensive and 1 defensive), 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. David couldn’t be stopped last night. His game included slashing to the basket off the ball screen, finishing strong inside with a two-handed flush, and knocking down the long ball. He looked comfortable in all aspects and used his length extremely well on the defensive end to cause 4 deflections. David is a prospect that is quickly improving and using his 6’5” frame with length to develop into an elite player in the Fort Wayne area. This is a kid that coaches shouldn’t overlook.
Best Offensive Performance: David Ejah (Carroll)
David Ejah had it going early and often. He had a quick 7 points in the first quarter and did it efficiently. It’s not often that a 20 points performance in high school come off nine shot attempts or 89% field goal percentage. He has added the long ball to his offensive game but is not relying on it. He looked comfortable handling the ball and made a few moves that showed he had been working on it in the off season. Ejah is quickly improving and isn’t missing a beat in the development process. He has the full package on offense and will only continue to get better. He will be a nightmare matchup for a lot of teams this season in Fort Wayne.
Best Defensive Performance: Arius Jones (Carroll)
Arius Jones has always been known for his defensive impact and he continued to show why last night. At 6’4” as a guard, his length is tough for smaller guards to see around. He’s a great athlete and uses his positioning extremely well to get opposing offenses out of rhythm. Jones finished with 5 points (2-3 2FG, 0-1 3FG, and 1-1 FT), 7 rebounds (4 defensive and 3 offensive), a game high 6 assists, and a game high 4 steals. Jones is the point man for the Carroll defense. He is the senior leader that leads by example with his hustle and willingness to get on the floor to secure possessions.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Reece Swoverland (Carroll)
Reece Swoverland did his work off the bench but the senior lefty had it going as soon as he hit the floor. Swoverland finished with a quiet 13 points (1-2 2FG, 3-3 3FG, and 1-1 FT), 1 defensive rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Reece is one of the more experienced players on this team along with Perlich and Jones. He stepped into a few corner long balls and knocked them down with confidence. He’s a good athlete on the wing for the Chargers and proved that he can be a reliable addition to this team coming off the bench this season.
Best Player Off the Bench: Landen Jordan (Concordia)
Landen Jordan slid his way into this category because of his immediate impact on the game. He didn’t find his way into the scoring column but in the short six to seven minutes of run that the freshman received, he made his presence known. Landen finished with 4 defensive rebounds, a game high 3 blocks, and 1 assist. The freshman stands at 6’7” and brings length and agility to the interior for the Cadets. Look for him to have a bigger impact as the season rolls on and he develops and matures as a player.
Best Passer: Arius Jones (Carroll)
Arius Jones can do a little bit of everything. He is excellent when he stays aggressive on offense and looks to get to the rim. With his athleticism, length, and basketball IQ, he’s the best when he gets to the back line of the defense. Jones finished with a game high 6 assists and helped pace the Chargers to their breakout second half. Hockey assists don’t make the stat sheet but he knows when to make what pass. He and David Ejah have developed good chemistry early this season and he had a couple no-look dimes to Ejah.
Best Intangibles: Riley Perlich (Carroll)
Riley Perlich is the player that coaches know exactly what they’re going to get from him night after night. He doesn’t play outside of his skill set and is always making the right play. Perlich finished with 9 points (3-4 2FG and 1-1 3FG), 7 rebounds (6 defensive and 1 offensive), and 2 assists. He does all of the little things that help make this Carroll team as good as they are. He brings toughness to their defense, experience to a young roster, and level-headed play to a team that will find themselves in some tight situations throughout the year.
Best Rebounder: Cleevas Craig (Concordia)
Cleevas Craig put together a solid under-the-radar performance for Concordia last night in a tough matchup. The big man carved out space down low on both backboards and was efficient when he did get the opportunity to get a shot up. Craig finished with 8 points (3-4 2FG and 2-4 FT) and a game high 11 rebounds (7 offensive and 4 defensive). Cleevas is long at the forward position and will be the guy that holds it down on the inside for this team this season.
Best Underclassmen: Richie Gross (Carroll)
Richie Gross comes off the bench for the Chargers but he is a solid player as a sophomore. At 6’1”, he is another one of Carroll’s guards that defends extremely well on the perimeter. He prides himself in being able to shut down his man on defense but he also made a few moves to the basket last night that made the crowd roar. Gross finished with 6 points (3-4 2FG and 0-1 FT), 2 defensive rebounds, and 1 assist. Look for him to work himself into more minutes as the season wears on.
Biggest Takeaway: Carroll’s Explosive Second Half
When Carroll had their starters in the game, there was no slowing them down. They dominated in the first quarter and the third quarter when their starting lineups played the majority of the minutes. Carroll does have some great play coming off their bench but their starting core has been really impressive this season. As a team, the Chargers scored 25 points in the first half, 28 points in the third quarter, and 20 points in the fourth quarter. It was an offensive clinic in the second half as they all stepped up and knocked down shots. This could be a team that surprises some people come March.