Walter Hardy Tournament Re Cap Burgundy Divison
12-27-17 & 12-28-17. Paint Branch HS. 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD. 20866
This was the 1st Walter Hardy Holiday Hoopfest Memorial Tournament. In years past the Coach Hardy (right) was a longtime Paint Branch Head Basketball Coach for 17 years. He was named All Net Coach of the Year in 2000 after the Panthers won the 2000 MD 3A State Title, until he left to become Athletic Director at nearby John F Kennedy HS for 2 years. This May Coach Hardy was hired to become AD at Montgomery County Sherwood HS where he began his duties on July 1. Tragically Coach Walter passed away suddenly this September . He was beloved in Montgomery County, at Paint Branch & he was very close to current Head Coach Chris Bohlen. This was the 5th year of the Walter Hardy Holiday Classic & it was a great one. Coach Bohlen who has courageously battled a recent illness did a superb job in managing the Tournament. He was the pre game & game announcer, awarded the trophies, & performed so many duties behind the scenes devoting countless hours. The Walter Hardy Tournament was very well played in a fantastic family atmosphere with great games, & great sportsmanship in the beautiful Paint Branch Gymnasium. The players & coaches for both teams were fantastic & we are looking forward to next years Walter Hardy Holiday Hoopfest Tournament at Paint Branch HS.
The 2 day tournament featured 8 teams which are: Prince Georges County representatives Bowie HS & Potomac HS, from Howard County River Hill, & Host Montgomery County Gaithersburg, John F Kennedy, Paint Branch, Richard Montgomery, Sherwood. The 8 teams were divided into 2 divisions. The Burgundy & Gold. This article covers the Burgundy Division with Potomac, Richard Montgomery, River Hill & Sherwood. The next article will cover the Gold Division.
GAME # 1.
River Hill Hawks 62 Richard Montgomery Rockets 56
Game #1 of the Walter Hardy Memorial Classic featured 6-0 River Hill HS from nearby Columbia, MD in Howard County & Richard Montgomery HS from Rockville, MD & Montgomery County. Both teams are 4A members in their respective counties. After the win River Hill upped their record to 7-0 while Richard Montgomery fell to 3-3.
6’2″ CG Daryn Alexander led all scores with 21 points for Richard Montgomery. Senior guards 6’2″ Jaden Martin (left)& 5’7″ Jacob Krause (right)scored 19 & 14 points respectively for the River Hill. Last season Jaden was awarded 1st Team All County after averaging a team high 14.5 ppg & 5.7 rpg. 2018 guards, 6’3″ Luke Champion added 12 points while 5’10” Josh Mann scored 8. 6’6″ senior Dylan Daniels scored 2 points, but was a force on defense & the glass. Last season Dylan scored a 7.6 ppg clip & he has some excellent upside I will write Recruiting Reports for Jaden & Dylan, & update Jacobs Recruiting Report in the near future. All 3 River Hill players are excellent college prospects. I will recap the RM Rocket players in Day 2 below. Despite the loss RM is a very dangerous in MOCO 4A.
GAME #2.
Potomac Wolverines 71 Sherwood Warriors 46
Potomac led from the get go & cruised to their 25 point win improving the Wolverines record to 5-0. 5’10” 20198 PG Jason Newman (right)lit up the scoreboard with 34 points. Jason is a tremendous under the radar PG prospect who dished out 8 assists. I will break down his game & write his Recruiting Report this week for Jason 6’2″ 2020 Wing Corey Dyches grabbed 13 rebounds, 6’4″ wide body Kevin Mallet added 10 boards, 6’1″ 2018 wing Tra’Quez Greer added 4 points, 4 boards & 3 assists. 6’4″ 2018 wing Emanuel Doby played a superb all around game, scoring 5 points, gathering 6 rebounds & dishing out 5 assists.This week I will write Recruiting Reports for Tra’Quez & Manny each of whom are excellent collegiate scholarship prospects.Potomac is a very cohesive & exceptional team. Coach Renard Johnson & his staff do a tremendous job coaching Potomac off & on the court.(see photo left)
Sherwood entered the game without 4 of ts top 7 players, but Potomac still posed a very difficult match up for the Warriors. 6’3″ 2018 guards Donovan Lacey & Brad Riley were missed. However, 2018 CG Davis Long scored 27 points & showed why he is a top 5 MOCO player this season. Davis plays with an elite IQ & superb all around game. He is one of the best snipers in the DC DMV & another hidden gem. Head Coach John Gilchrist has done a great job at Sherwood & I will be scouting Sherwood this month. The Warriors fell to 3-3 after their loss Below is my Recruiting Report for Davis Recruiting Report
Day 2 Games:
Richard Montgomery Rockets 68 Sherwood Warriors 56
In the consolation game Richard Montgomery used a balanced attack to defeat Sherwood. 6’2″ 2018 CG Daryn Alexander (right) led 4 Rockets in double figures with 16 points. 6’2″ 2018 F Willem Brown added 166’3″ 2018 F Xavier Harris scored 14 & u & coming 6’5″ 2019 G/F , Djordje Orcev added 10 points.
6’9″ 2019 stretch 4 Miles Gally scored 7 points, but is battling an injured finger that is in a soft cast.
Davis Long ( left)led Sherwood with 16 points while 6’3″ senior Josh Salzer scored 9 & 6’5″ senior Jackson Sherrard added 8 points. Sherwood is scheduled to play pre season CO MOCO 4A favorite Springbrook @ home on 1-2-18. Richard Montgomery plays their next game on the road against Magruder on 1-21-8 & Gaithersburg on 1-6-18 & return home on 1-11-18 vs 7-1 Clarksburg in a key MOCO 4A clash.
Championship Burgundy Division Game
Potomac Wolverines 69 River Hill Hawks 38
The Burgundy division championship was a battle of 2 unbeatens with Potomac @ 5-0 vs River Hill @ 7-0. Once again Potomac jumped on their opponent & bulit a double digit lead from the outset & cruised to 31 point win
6’2″ 2020 G Corey Dyches led the Wolverines with 19 points & 12 boards. Corey is proving that he is a top 2020 player fr DC/MD & averages over 12 ppg & 10 rebounds per game. 2018 PG Jason Newman (left) was awarded MVP & scored 10 points & handed out 10 assists. 2018 6’4″ Wing Emannuel Doby (right) scored 13 & added 6 assists. Emmanuel was named to the 3 man All Burgundy Tournament Team along with Jason Newman (left) & River Hill G Jaden Martin as seen in the cover photo. Potomac improved to 6-0*& plays @ Surratsville on 1-2-18.
I am impressed with senior River Hill trio of 6’2″ G Jaden Martin, 5’7″ PG Jacob Krause & 6’6″ Forward Dylan Daniels each of whom will play in college. River Hill fell to 7-1 & will play Oakland Mills @ home on 1-3-18 in a key Howard County 4A match-up.
Moving forward I expect both Potomac HS & River Hill HS to remain as favorites in PG County 3A & Howard County 3 A. I will attending games for both schools this January.