Arvada West vs Pomona: 5 Takeaways
Pomona High School hosted Arvada West for each teams’ first division game of the season. Arvada West pulled away in the 4th quarter, defeating Pomona 60-54, but this game had plenty of energy and back-and-forth. Pomona held a 34-36 edge…
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Continue ReadingPomona High School hosted Arvada West for each teams’ first division game of the season. Arvada West pulled away in the 4th quarter, defeating Pomona 60-54, but this game had plenty of energy and back-and-forth. Pomona held a 34-36 edge at halftime, but an 18-point 2nd half was too much to overcome for the Panthers of Pomona. A few things to take away from this game:
0 SR Josh Rogers (Arvada) is a Force to be Reckoned with
Josh was nothing short of excellent for Arvada West in the game, compiling 29 points (6 for 8 from 3-point range), 3 rebounds and a steal. He is very active on the defensive end while also working very hard to create space for himself on offense. Too often Josh broke free of his defender by swerving through the paint and winding up on the 3-line, only to knock down shot after shot. 5 JR Isaiah Tshimanga was tasked with defending Josh much of the game and truly did a solid job following him around. Without a hand in his face though, Josh is too good of a shooter to stay down for long if his shot isn’t falling, and that was on full display in this game.
Pomona’s Guard Game is Rock Solid
1 SR David Ross’s ability to knock-down shoot and leadership will be missed come next year. While he struggled from the field in this one, his excellent shot form, leadership ability, willingness to take control, and effort on both ends of the floor are critical to the success of this team. Additionally, 5 JR Isaiah Tshimanga seems to have the tools to take his game up a notch. Isaiah was the primary ball handler for Pomona and posted a pretty stat line of 13 points (50% FG), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and only 2 turnovers. Isaiah possesses great athleticism and ability to dribble with both hands – it would be good to see him get up a few extra shots a game in his comfort range.
Arvada West is More Than a 1-Man Show
While Josh Rogers carried the scoring load for Arvada West, it was a team effort that really sealed the win for them. 4 JR Josh Yago may not have posted the most glamorous stat line, but his ability to run the offense efficiently and play solid defense on the perimeter was huge for the success of the team. What may have been most impressive was his ability to knock down a 3-pointer immediately after getting pick-pocketed out on the perimeter. Confident, fundamental, and smart player. 32 SR Oliver Lindeblad showed serious camaraderie when defending his teammate who he believed was intentionally stepped on, and even dished out 3 assists. 5 JR Taylor Kline made a clutch and-1 towards the end of the fourth quarter to extend Arvada West’s lead, and played gritty defense in the interior despite sometimes giving up some size.
Pomona Just Might Have a Building Block Looking Forward
Pomona’s 22 JR Trevor Baskin can have a huge impact on the game. Trevor struggled early in this game, picking up two first-half fouls relegating him to the bench for most of the frame. But his impact on the game is undeniable. Even from the bench Trevor was enthusiastic at his teammates’ success. Trevor is a tall, skilled forward with the handles and finesse of a guard. Despite the limited minutes, Trevor posted 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks, including a monster chase-down-from-behind block in the 4th quarter to keep the game close. Having a player of his height and skill being able to operate from both the perimeter and the paint will be very interesting to keep an eye on going forward.
Arvada West Fans (Sort of) Travel Well
It appeared Pomona had a huge fan advantage for this Saturday game, yet the opposite was found to be true! Only 5.5 miles separate the two schools, but Arvada West’s student section was full of energy and really had the backs of their team. Arvada West players loved acknowledging the support, and it was apparent the student section was really contagious to the play of the Wildcats. Pomona definitely had a sizable student fan base as well as parents, but the noise level of the Arvada West student base was fantastic. Kudos to them!