5 Takeaways: Blue Ridge vs. Virginia Episcopal
I traveled about an hour and half from my home in Richmond to the mountains outside of Charlottesville for a big time VIC Conference matchup between rivals Virginia Episcopal School out of Lynchburg and home standing Blue Ridge from St.…
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Continue ReadingI traveled about an hour and half from my home in Richmond to the mountains outside of Charlottesville for a big time VIC Conference matchup between rivals Virginia Episcopal School out of Lynchburg and home standing Blue Ridge from St. George. Not only was the game big in VIC rankings, but it was also a matchup between the #1 ranked VISAA D2 team in Blue Ridge and #3 team in VES, and to add fuel to the fire (as if it was needed), VES beat Blue Ridge earlier this season in Lynchburg.
The game got off to a somewhat of a slow start, partially because both teams are terrific defensive units and partially because the refs called everything EXTREMELY close in the first half. VES headed into halftime with a 18-16 lead after trailing 12-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Bishops continued their momentum early in the third quarter as they extended their lead to 27-22 midway through the third, but the Barons woke up behind the spark of 2020 guard William Lee off the bench. Blue Ridge was on a 9-0 run to end the quarter before VES junior Klemen Vuga hit a crazy turnaround from three and VES led 34-32 going into the fourth.
It was the last lead that the Bishops would have for the game, as Blue Ridge turned up the defensive intensity in the fourth and gathered all of the momentum in the opening two minutes. They were able to run away with it and ice the game, holding VES to just seven points in the fourth quarter. Blue Ridge was able to come away victorious 55-41.
Take a look below at some of the stats (all are unofficial kept by me) and five takeaways from a big time matchup.
Blue Ridge: 2020 William Lee 15P (5-for-9 FG, 3-for-5 3P, all 15 in second half), 2019 Chris Rogers 10P 4A 3S, 2021 Mike Gray 8P 4R 2A, 2020 Sasha Glushkov 7P 4R, 2020 Andrew Nwaoko 7P 5R, 2019 Jaden Frazier 5P 8R, 2019 Savion Helm 3P
VES: 2019 Bryce Waterman 14P (3-for-5 3P), 2020 Ismael Plet 12P 6R 2A 2S, 2020 Klemen Vuga 6P 4R 2B, 2020 Fabio Dias 4P 3R 2A, 2019 Michael Caprise 3P 3A 3R, 2019 Saliou Diop 2P 5R 7B
Blue Ridge Depth is a Big X-Factor
The Barons will likely maintain their top spot in the VISAA D2 rankings this week after the win, and it was their depth that really separated them in this one. While VES only played 6 players, Blue Ridge played 11 players, 10 of them in the first half, and seven of them scored in the game. Their leading scorer came off the bench in junior guard William Lee, they bring a senior leader and versatile scorer and defender in Savion Helm off the bench and they have size in 6’5” Helm, 6’5” junior Andrew Nwaoko, 6’9” sophomore Houston Emory and 6’6” freshman Maliq Brown. This is all to go along with their starting front court of 6’8” Tennessee Chattanooga commit Jaden Frazier and 6’11” sharp shooting Sasha Glushokov.
The depth is something that at times hides the talent of some of their players, but according to Head Coach Cade Lemke it gives him options and on any given day it could be another players turn to shine.
“Tonight it was William [Lee] and Andrew [Nwaoko], but next game it could be Savion [Helm], Ernesto [Torres] or Houston [Emory],” Lemke said. We have a lot of guys who can play, it’s just finding the right group to mix and match depending on the game and matchups.”
Bryce Waterman is a D1 Shooter
At 6’5” with a GPA 3.3 and an SAT score of 1070, you would think a kid with the right physical intangibles and academics would get the recruitment he deserves but that doesn’t seem the case with Waterman. With the Blue Ridge defense shadowing and denying him the basketball all game, Waterman worked endlessly to get open and took advantage when he did, showing the ability to make some tough contested shots. He has a quick release, has good footwork but doesn’t need to be squared to the basket and he showed improvement in his ability to put it on the deck and score from the midrange as well. His body has improved immensely as well and he’s made big strides on the defensive end. He finished with 14 points on 3-for-5 shooting from deep.
Rogers, Lee Continue the Blue Ridge Backcourt Tradition
Since Lemcke has turned Blue Ridge into a prep powerhouse in VA over the past five years, he’s done so almost every year with a backcourt many would consider “unconventional.” Unlike most coaches, Lemke doesn’t mind playing two guards together, as long as they defend tenaciously and don’t turn the ball over. They had a ton of success with Malik Johnson and Josh Colon, and now he’s seeing that same success with senior Chris Rogers and junior William Lee.
While they don’t start together, the Barons were at their best when the two sub 6’0” guards were on the floor at the same time. Both of them are tough as nails on both ends of the floor who don’t mind picking up ball handlers full court, diving on the floor for a loose ball or sacrificing their body for the team. The both are also able to make shots on and off the basketball and get in the lane to make plays for others. While some may see their size as a problem, they make it work by providing relentless pressure and never backing down from anyone else.
Ismael Plet Coming into His Own
Plet has been a guy that we’ve had on the radar for the past three years, and the 6’6” forward looks like he’s progressing nicely and finally turning the corner offensively. He has a tremendous frame, and his mix of strength and athleticism it allows him to play inside-out on both ends of the floor. He showed the ability to score with the jump hook and the fadeaway out of the post against smaller defenders, and he showed the ability to put it on the deck in transition and in pick-and-roll situations in the half court. He still needs to fine tune his perimeter skill set, but as a downhill attacker and two-way impact guy he has some versatility and a lot of physical tools you can’t teach.
Defense Makes Both Teams a Contender
While both teams are super talented, well coached and have guys who can light it up, it was the defensive effort from both teams that makes me believe they both will be contenders in the State Final Four in a few weeks. How good was the defensive intensity for both teams? The score was 18-16 at halftime. Blue Ridge wasn’t great from the field going 19-for-51 (37.2%) compared to VES 15-for-38 (39.5%), but the Barons had to my count 8 steals and forced at least 21 turnovers in the game. For VES, 6’10” big man Saliou Diop was a force in the paint blocking 7 shots on the game, and Blue Ridge sophomore guard Mike Gray took three charges on the game. The intensity and attention to detail that both teams and coaching staffs put on the defensive end is why they have both been some of the winningest programs in the state over the past few years.