10 Best: Paul VI vs. Gonzaga
FAIRFAX, VA — Paul VI defeated previously undefeated and top ranked Gonzaga by a final score of 67-53 at home last night. Here are the 10 best from this hard fought WCAC duel.
MVP | BRANDON SLATER | PVI ’18
We don’t consider Brandon Slater the MVP of this game because solely because he scored the most points (18), but also for the intangibles that he brings to the table. One thing we have noticed about Slater over the years is that he always finds a way to keep his energy consistently high, and he did that again last night. The Villanova commit kept his teammates involved, and made big shots when his team needed it.
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE | JEREMY ROACH | PVI ’20
Jeremy Roach did a masterful job of controlling the tempo of the game last night. He is absolutely fantastic at reading and reacting in ball screen situations. Roach almost always makes the proper decision, and is a really good paint getter who applies constant pressure on the defense. He earned plenty of foul shot attempts, and converted at a high rate on his way to scoring 17 points.
BEST DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE | JOSH ODURO | PVI ’19
We lost count of the number of charges Josh Oduro took last night. The 6’8 junior is a great help defender who isn’t afraid to get on the floor and dive for a 50/50 ball. Oduro is intelligent when challenging shots, and provides a physical paint presence for the Panthers.
BEST REBOUNDER | BRANDON SLATER | PVI ’18
Slater’s rebounding ability is one of his best qualities, and it was on display again last night. He works super hard on the offensive glass, and displays solid box out fundamentals when rebounding on the defensive end of the floor. We also love the fact that he is skilled enough to push the ball after pulling it down from the boards.
BEST UNDERCLASSMEN | TREVOR KEELS | PVI ’21
Trevor Keels has been one of the most consistent performers for PVI all season, and last night was no different. The 6’4 freshman, who never seems phased by a big moment, is a knock down three point shooter off the catch with deep range. Keels, who hit three treys on his way to scoring 13 points, boasts a strong skill set and sturdy frame that absorbs contact when he finishes at the rim. He works hard at all times while on the floor, and demonstrates a great feel for the game.
BEST GUY OFF THE BENCH | ANWAR GILL | GONZAGA ’19
Anwar Gill brought consistent energy off the bench for Gonzaga. The skilled lefty got downhill and attacked PVI’s defense off the bounce, earning himself several trips to the foul line. Gill scored 9 points last night.
BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR PERFORMANCE | ALLIN BLUNT | GONZAGA ’18
In the last 12 months, there are not many players who have improved as much as Allin Blunt. The unsigned 6’6 senior has plenty of confidence, and is super versatile on both ends of the court. Blunt led the Purple Eagles with 13 points, looking most comfortable in the mid range areas and high post.
BEST HUSTLE GUY | ANTHONY HARRIS | PVI ’20
Anthony Harris was flying all over the court last night. The 6’3 junior almost posterized a defender to end the first half, and recorded countless deflections on defense. Harris earns plenty of plaudits for his skill and offensive ability, but tonight he put in another great shift as a result of his consistent effort.
BEST SHOES | JEREMY ROACH | NIKE KYRIE 3
Jeremy Roach rocked these White/Multicolor/Metallic Gold Nike Kyrie 3’s last night, and we couldn’t help but notice how clean they were. The aesthetics of these shoes were simply unmatched last night.
BEST STORY TO WATCH MOVING FORWARD
As WCAC play begins to heat up, the road doesn’t get much easier for these two teams. Gonzaga will travel to DeMatha on Thursday while Paul VI will face a very good McNamara team on the road. It will be interesting to see how this game affects these two teams moving forward.