10 Best: Hillsboro vs. Mehlville
Prep Hoops Missouri was in South St. Louis County on Tuesday night to watch the nonconference battle between the Hillsboro Hawks and host Mehlville Panthers. After taking a five-point halftime lead, Mehlville bolted out to a 42-27 lead midway through…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Missouri was in South St. Louis County on Tuesday night to watch the nonconference battle between the Hillsboro Hawks and host Mehlville Panthers.
After taking a five-point halftime lead, Mehlville bolted out to a 42-27 lead midway through the third quarter and appeared in total control of the game. However, Hillsboro mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally to stun the Panthers 58-56 for a dramatic road victory.
Here is a Top 10 look from Tuesday’s Hillsboro-Mehlville game:
Most Valuable Player: Michael Brewer (Hillsboro) – The 6’5″ 2019 forward had an outstanding performance with 20 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. He is a matchup problem with his size, athleticism and versatile skill set. He could get buckets in the post and he was also able to score off the bounce from the wing. He also knocked down a 3-pointer in the second half.
Best Offensive Player: Dylan Branson (Mehlville) – The big-bodied 2020 guard scored a game-high 23 points and got them in a variety of ways. He muscled his way to the bucket for easy scores and knocked down a 3-pointer from well-beyond the line. He can also post up and use his size to score inside against smaller defender. He is a natural point guard who can facilitate, and his ability to get buckets makes him a well-rounded offensive player.
Best Shooter: Ben Lampkins (Hillsboro) – The 5’9″ 2019 guard scored 15 points and knocked down four 3-pointers on the evening. He has been shooting the 3-pointer at an excellent clip throughout the season. He is not afraid to turn it loose at any time or from any spot on the court.
Best Low Post Player: Davion Bradford (Mehlville) – The 7’0″ 2020 center scored 15 points and had his way with the smaller Hawks in the low post. He displayed some nice moves in the post with strong finishes and jammed home four slam dunks, including one at the back end of an impressive rim run.
Best Player off the Bench: Mitchell Hickson (Hillsboro) – The 6’0″ 2020 guard came off the bench to score five points for the Hawks, including a nice 3-pointer in the second half.
Turning Point of the Game: With Hillsboro trailing by 15 points in the third quarter, coach Dan Johnson called for a box-and-one defense against Mehlville’s Branson, who had 18 points at that point. 2021 guard Zach Whaley had the assignment and he did a very good job. It slowed Mehlville down enough to spark the comeback.
Best Passer: Dylan Branson (Mehlville) – Not only can Branson get buckets, but he is an excellent passer who can set up his teammates in a variety of ways. He set up his big teammate Bradford for dunks, had a few nice outlet passes for run-out layups and added a few nice dimes off the dribble.
Key Shot of the Night: Zach Whaley (Hillsboro): The 2021 guard stepped up and made a big 3-pointer to tie the game at 49-49 with just over three minutes left in the game. The Hawks went on to take the lead and never trail after that points.
Best College Prospects: Dylan Branson and Davion Bradford (Mehlville): Both talented 2020 players have received a number of offers from Division I programs.
Best Free Throw Shooter: Mark Moore (Hillsboro) – The 5’9″ 2020 point guard sealed the Hawks big victory by making four consecutive free throws down the stretch. Very cool at the line to close down the victory.