3 things to look for in the Center Hill/Whitehaven matchup
Tuesday night will be Center Hill’s biggest test of the first half of the 2018 season when Whitehaven steps onto its home floor. Both teams have depth, reliable players, and coaches who have won state championships in the past. Both…
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Continue ReadingTuesday night will be Center Hill’s biggest test of the first half of the 2018 season when Whitehaven steps onto its home floor.
Both teams have depth, reliable players, and coaches who have won state championships in the past. Both of these teams love to press and play fast. Both teams play physical. The similarities between the two teams are quite astounding, but there can only be one winner.
Can the Mustangs’ keep their winning streak going and protect home court?
Can the Tigers land another signature win, this time against No. 1 team in the state of Mississippi?
No one will found out the answers to those two questions until the final buzzer sounds Tuesday night. This game will be all about matchups. Which team will get the mismatch, whether it’s on the perimeter or in the post?
Mismatches are important to point out, and coaches are always looking for them.
Here are 3 things to look for in Tuesday night’s matchup between Center Hill and Whitehaven:
Jordan Wilmore
The junior post player had 15 points in last week’s win against Lausanne. He’s a better player than what he was when he arrived in the fall. He’s 7-foot-4, so how will the Mustangs guard him? Center Hill’s tallest player is Decorian Payton (6-5). Kaeden Laws is 6-4. Expect the Mustangs to either double team Wilmore or play zone for most of the game.
Calvin Temple’s 3-point shooting
Temple loves to shoot the 3. The Tigers love to play physical defense and not give shooters that much space. If Temple can get an inch of space between him and his defender, he’s going to shoot it. Expect Whitehaven’s junior shooting guard Matthew Murrell to guard Temple at times. He’s 6-3, with upper body strength.
Transition 3s
The Tigers love to shoot 3s in transition. They thrive offensively off scoring in transition. How will Center Hill avoid that? The Mustangs will have to get back on defense as soon as Whitehaven grabs the rebound. Expect Center Hill to try and force Whitehaven to play half-court offense. But, the Tigers were forced to play that way against West and won the game, 36-31. Whitehaven is one of a few teams that can play in ugly games and win them.