Five Key Questions: Poly @ Potomac
OXON HILL, MD — In one of the most entertaining games we’ve seen all year, Poly defeated Potomac by a final score of 61-58. Here we recap this 3A State Championship rematch with five key questions.
WHO WAS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GYM?
This is a tough choice, so we’ll pick two players. 2018 Demetrius Mims and 2020 Justin Lewis get the nod in this category. Mims, who is headed to play college hoops at Long Beach State next season, played above the rim throughout this contest, leading with both his words and actions. Lewis, a top 3 sophomore in Maryland, provided rim protection, high level rebounding ability, and offense from a variety of areas. These two combined to record 41 points, 23 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
WHAT KEPT POTOMAC IN THE GAME?
The Wolverines didn’t get much going in the paint, but they lived by the 3. 2018’s Jason Newman, Isaiah Funderburk, and 2019 Sincere Jones each hit three shots from downtown. We’ll talk more about Newman’s gutsy performance in a bit. Poly could certainly have used their top perimeter defender, Cleveland Horton, but he was unavailable for this contest.
HOW GOOD IS RAHIM ALI?
Rahim Ali was the glue guy for Poly in this win, and has the chance to be very, very good at the next level. The crafty class of 2020 point guard, who is currently ranked as a top 10 sophomore in Maryland, demonstrated elite vision to go along with an impressive skill set. Ali recorded 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.
WHICH UNSIGNED SENIOR STOOD OUT?
Jason Newman takes the cake here. The diminutive 2018 lead guard casually knocked down threes from the volleyball line, but also showed that he wasn’t afraid to get in the paint and mix it up at times. Newman’s blend of aggressiveness to go along with his ability to stretch the floor consistently makes him an intriguing prospect. He finished the game with a team-high 19 points. One more quick note about Newman, who rolled his ankle late in the fourth quarter and was unable to finish the game. He displayed unreal passion, leaving everything on the court, and this was evident by his reaction when he had to come out of the game.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
It’s a shame these two teams met so early in the state tournament. Poly will travel to Great Mills on Friday, where they will play for the Regional Championship. If they win, they return to Xfinity where they will face the winner of Decatur and Centennial.