“Chachi” Memorial JV Tournament: Day 2 Energizers
Day two of the “Chachi” Memorial JV Tournament was an electric atmosphere with games going down to the wire as well as having multiple lead changes in the final four minutes of the games. Teams are are always hoping to have…
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Continue ReadingDay two of the “Chachi” Memorial JV Tournament was an electric atmosphere with games going down to the wire as well as having multiple lead changes in the final four minutes of the games. Teams are are always hoping to have a boost from an additional player and this list is all about players that energized the building by sparking comebacks or closing the door on a team’s hopes of starting a run.
- Murphy Baker (Acalanes)
The ability to be very solid and efficient is a rare trait but it is one that Murphy clearly possesses. He displays a high I.Q. for the game within his team’s Princeton offense. This is most apparent when he is off of the ball where he is a deadly cutter and finisher who understands how to find open space. He has a high motor and leads by example with his work ethic on the floor. His steady decision making helps the team run smoothly.
- Ben Chase (Monte Vista)
Ben is elite when it comes to being a competitor. His intensity burns bright all game long and his teammates feed off of the energy and confidence that he displays. He is vocal and tough on the defensive end which helps feed into his offense. Ben is a skilled dribbler who used his change of speed to give Dublin High problems all game long. When he isn’t slashing for layups, he is looking to shoot from deep with solid mechanics. His passing ability is much improved as he set up teammates for several easy layups.
- Kyle Dougherty (San Ramon Valley)
The smooth floor general for the Wolves is without question one of the best guards in the entire tournament. His change of speed and ability to pass are highly developed for his age and he made sure to display those traits all game long. When defenses expect him to pass on drives, he showcases functional strength to finish layups under contact. His I.Q. for the game carries over to the defensive end where he is either disrupting players on the ball or destroying a team’s set play off of the ball. His leadership keeps the Wolves going at all times.
- Tanner Fritschi (Las Lomas)
The Knights point forward provides a level of versatility on both ends that allows Las Lomas to adapt to any kind of opponent they face. He has a high motor that he combines with his physical strength to snatch rebounds and finish in traffic. He is very comfortable leading the fast break where he is able to find cutters or shooters all over the floor. Tanner is an underrated attacker off of the dribble and will get by his slower matchup when the need arises.
- Jag Mishra (Castro Valley)
The freshman SouthPaw for Castro Valley is solid at his using his wingspan and strides to get around defenses. He is comfortable shooting over matchups on the perimeter as well as finishing in traffic by extending over and around the trees. He is a solid playmaker for others and is willing to make the right basketball play.
- L. Murphy (Heritage)
This Bowling Ball of a point guard is guaranteed to put the opposing team in foul trouble. He is very explosive and powerful off of the dribble as he can act as a one man fastbreak when the need presents itself. He is a literal bulldog on the defensive end where he is relentless and has no issue switching onto bigger players as he is capable of practically scaring offensive players into turning the ball over. He is a very strong passer but this ability shows itself best in transition where he excels at long outlet passes that hit there targets like lasers.
- Charles Tharp (San Leandro)
I found myself calling this young man “The Microwave” on several occasions. His energy is seemingly limitless and provides a great spark for his team with his ability to score in bunches. He is solid as a scorer and a slasher. Charles is also disruptive defensively and is able to guard multiple perimeter positions where his ball pressure causes problems for the opposing offense.
- Henry Smith and John Cartago (Dublin)
The Gaels had two players really shift the momentum at one point in the contest. Point guard Henry Smith put his football skills to good use with some of the most devastating stop and start ability you’ll see in the area. His explosion translates on the defensive end where can be a one man press by defending in the backcourt with endless intensity. He loves to find open teammates when he is attacking off of the dribble and gets very excited at the success of his teammates. Sharpshooter John Cartago has a left arm that sends the ball so cleanly into the rim that it barely touches the net on it’s way down. He is comfortable running off of screens or creating his own shot and was able to string together several makes to bring his team back into the mix in the 2nd half.