Class 5, District 7: Monday Standouts (2020-2021)
Prep Hoops Missouri was on hand at Wentzville Holt on Monday night to take in the action at the Class 5, District 7 playoffs, featuring Holt, Jefferson City, Battle and Troy. Holt defeated Jeff City and Battle defeated Troy to advance to Thursday’s championship game. There were several talented young players in the Classes of 2020 and 2021 on display in both games. Here is a look at those youngsters:
Cachao Gianquinto 6’2″ Battle: The smooth 2021 wing scored nine points in Battle’s victory over Troy. He scored seven of those points in the first half, which were all-important because he came up with big shots when top scorer Trey Meny picked up his second foul and had to sit down. He has size, a smooth shooting stroke from distance and he can also put the ball on the floor. Very impressive offensive potential.
Maricus Grant 6’0″ Battle: A very athletic 2020 point guard who didn’t score a lot on this night, but he was a disruptive force on the defensive end with his relentless motor. Along with his athleticism, he displayed excellent anticipation as he had several nice deflections in Battle’s pressure defense. On offense, he was at his best when he is able to attack the basket.
Braden Nett 6’1″ Troy: A 2020 guard who scored nine points in the loss to Battle. He plays with a lot of confidence on the offensive end and was not afraid to put up shots when he is open. He knocked down a 3-pointer and displayed a nice little float game on a couple of occasions. The younger brother of 2018 top scorer Andrew Nett, Braden will be ready to take up the scoring load after his brother’s graduation.
Benjamin Folz 6’3″ Jefferson City: The 2020 wing scored 10 points off the bench in the Jays’ loss to Holt. He came into the game and immediately knocked down a 3-pointer. He complimented that with a couple of nice drives to the basket and an offensive rebound. With his size and shooting ability, he has a promising future.
Zhvaughn Ward 5’9″ Battle: The 2020 guard scored 11 points off the bench and was the catalyst for Battle in their victory over Troy. With his team struggling in the second half, he came in and helped increase the tempo of play with his speed and quickness while coming through with a number of big baskets in the fourth quarter.
Brennan Jeffries 5’10” Jefferson City: A solid 2020 point guard who scored seven points against Holt. He is a good ball handler who displayed good vision and constantly found the open man. He is also a capable shooter who knocked down a 3-pointer. He does not make a lot of mistakes.
Brendan Deters 6’1″ Troy: The younger brother of 2018 point guard Drew Deters, young Brendan came off the bench and did a nice job. He scored on a drive in the lane, but I was very impressed with his passing ability and overall feel for the game. He showed a lot of poise.