Five Takeaways: Fairmont vs. Spire Institute
Trailing by nine points at halftime, Spire Institute turned up in the second half to beat Fairmont 80-70 in the first game at Flyin’ to the Hoop.
Caleb McConnell and DeVon Baker, both senior transfers from Dayton Dunbar, led the way for Spire in a homecoming game. Baker got to the basket at will, scoring 22 points in the second half, while McConnell bottled up Farimont’s top scoring threat.
Now, let’s go a bit deeper into the storylines and takeaways from the game…
No answer for DeVon Baker
Baker used his developed 6’1” frame to drive to the lane against Fairmont in the second half, leading Spire to victory. He kept pressure on the defense by pushing the break, challenging forwards at the basket by jumping into them and finishing with either hand.
He still relies on supreme athleticism, specifically agility and strength, to get buckets. He hasn’t received any offers since transferring to Spire.
Development of Caleb McConnell
On the other hand, McConnell has earned offers from St. Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure, and Kent State since his move from Dunbar. The 6’5” athlete showed a point guard’s feel with a pair of no-look assists from the elbow last night. McConnell continues to be a smooth scorer who doesn’t force even though he can get a clean look whenever. He’s especially crafty in the mid-range, scoring 19 points for Spire in the win.
His body looks much more developed, even though we saw him just months ago in the summer. With this comes an uptick in defense, as McConnell was able to frustrate Jack Hendricks in the second half with his athleticism away from the ball. Holding Hendricks to just nine points in the second half was the x-factor in their win.
Ryan Hall‘s value
Fairmont needs Hall’s dynamic driving ability on the floor to compete against teams like Spire. While their collective team does a good job of running motion in the half-court, Hall is the only guy who beats defenders off the bounce one-on-one. The 6’4” junior guard is a tremendous athlete who finished over McConnell on a few occasions and crashes the boards nicely. He has good size for a combo guard and protects the ball against pressure.
Jack Hendricks off the ball
Hendricks had 20 points in the first half alone, another impressive performance for the unsigned senior two-guard. The 5’11” Hendricks impressed with his ability to catch-and-shoot off motion. He can catch it after running baseline and hit the jumper in a fluid motion. Also, Hendricks freed up teammate Kellan Bochenek for a couple 3-pointers because of the attention his motion caused. The kid is a strong Division III prospect as a specialist.
Fairmont’s winning streak snapped
The Firebirds were winners of eight-straight coming in. After a loss to a non-OHSAA team, Fairmont now has back-to-back games against Trotwood (Jan. 16) and Springfield (Jan. 19) on the docket. Even though Fairmont has notched wins against Bethel, Beavercreek, and Lebanon this season, it’ll be tough to avoid a three-game skid considering their upcoming schedule.