Five Takeaways: Park Center outlasts Edina
In one of many exciting match-ups from Friday night, #1 AAAA Park Center faced off against #10 AAAA Edina. The game was close the whole second half but Park Center was able to hold on to win 66-61 to remain…
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Continue ReadingIn one of many exciting match-ups from Friday night, #1 AAAA Park Center faced off against #10 AAAA Edina. The game was close the whole second half but Park Center was able to hold on to win 66-61 to remain undefeated.
Here are five takeaways we got from this match-up:
Mid-range Middleton dominates for Edina
Senior guard Jack Middleton came out ready to compete, and his hot shooting night was what kept Edina within striking distance. He scored 33 points in a variety of ways by knocking down a few outside shots and getting to the rim, but where he was most dangerous was from mid-range. His ability to stop on a dime off the dribble created a lot of space for his jumper, and every time he elevated you had a feeling he wasn’t going to miss. Despite Park Center throwing a lot of defensive attention on Jack, he was able to maneuver off ball screens and make some backdoor cuts to continue to open up space for his shot. He had already been known as one of the top shooters in Minnesota’s senior class, and this season he has been stepping up as one of the state’s top scorers by averaging 26 ppg through four outings. Edina is 2-2, but with performances like this, Jack Middleton has them ready to compete with anyone in the state.
The veteran presence of Tommy Chatman comes up big for Park Center
After a dominating first half as a team, Park Center struggled to generate much offense in the second half, allowing Edina to claw their way back into the game. Once the game got close though, Tommy Chatman came out much more aggressive than I had seen him this season. He piled on 16 of his 22 points in the second half, and his mid-range jumper was hitting nothing but net. The 6’3 senior guard has such a calm feel for the game, and remained composed despite the Edina comeback. Park Center is a team that hasn’t really established a go-to offensive player in late game situations, and Tommy’s clutch performance down the stretch is a good sign that he could be that guy for the Pirates.
Edina needs a third scoring threat to stay competitive
Jack Middleton dominated for 33 points, and Jacob Hutson was big in the second half with 16 points, but no one else for Edina scored more than 5. For a majority of the game the other starters and bench players did not look comfortable taking shots with the high pressure defense of Park Center, despite having a lot of openings from the arc. Charlie Haff is a guy who was impressive in the opener against Lakeville North, but wasn’t getting aggressive inside despite having a size advantage, and while being guarded by a player in foul trouble. Zach Kloos is another player who has two double-digit scoring performances this season, yet wasn’t shooting the ball with the confidence that he has shown before. With Edina’s ability to compete with some of the top teams in the state with two guys pulling most of the weight on offense, it makes you wonder just how good they can be if one of their role players starts to step up as a scoring option.
Detavius Frierson continues to grow as a player
One play that stood out to me was Park Center’s back screen leading to an alley-oop attempt to Detavius. The pass was off, and instead of trying to force the finish like a lot of players would, Detavius had the IQ and vision to swat the ball back to an open teammate leading to an open jumper. That play spoke levels to me about Frierson’s growth as a player. Most known as a freak athlete, Detavius has been growing into a leader, and almost acts as a coach on the floor with his constant communication. He matches that level of communication with his effort on defense and rebounding, which led to multiple offensive rebounds and second chance scores. Detavius finished with 12 points, making it three straight double-figure games for the rising junior.
Park Center’s press continues to work wonders
Park Center’s starting lineup is filled with length and quickness, a combination that has proven to be lethal on defense. They like to pick up full court in a man-to-man press, and force the ball to stay out of the hands of the opposing team’s primary ball handler. Once in the halfcourt, they rotate so well off the ball, and are able to create a lot of turnovers with their anticipation on passes. This led to a couple of Detavius Frierson fastbreak dunks, and a few other scores from guys like Dain Dainja and Khari Broadway handling the ball up the court. Their ability to disrupt offensive flow and create turnovers was the difference in this game, and is a key reason that they’re undefeated and the #1 ranked team in the state.