Five Takeaways: Maumee Valley at Cardinal Stritch
Cardinal Stritch closed their one-loss Toledo Area Athletic Conference season appropriately last night, taking down Maumee Valley 68-44 behind a full-team effort. The night also provided an opportunity for us to see two teams who ended the season in our…
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Continue ReadingCardinal Stritch closed their one-loss Toledo Area Athletic Conference season appropriately last night, taking down Maumee Valley 68-44 behind a full-team effort.
The night also provided an opportunity for us to see two teams who ended the season in our Power Rankings, along with several of Toledo’s top hoopers. Here were our Five Takeaways:
Stritch’s unsigned seniors impressed
Let’s start with 6’7” senior Nolan Finch, who took advantage of a four-inch size difference in the post, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Finch stayed active on the offensive glass for put-backs and used the pump fake on post-ups. Finished with a soft touch. Most impressively, though, he defended the drive pretty when he was on an island. Finch’s footwork still needs some polish, as he gets stuck while making a pivot at times. Either way, a college should take a chance on him.
Little Anderson, a 6’2” guard, also showed collegiate ability. He’s a glue guy of sorts — simply a master of the fundamentals who plays with tremendous effort. Scores inside very and rebounds well for a 2/3. Great rip-through move and pump-fake to create space for shots on the run.
Sophomores to watch:
Even though Maumee Valley star sophomore Steve Coleman was out, either side carried one member of the 2021 class who had a good night.
Stritch’s 5’5” guard Jhaiden Wilson shot the ball at an elite level off the catch. Provides secondary ball-handling ability and is wicked fast with the ball. Hustles and plays a role, even tallying three rebounds at this height. Wilson scored 13 points.
It was our first look at Maumee Valley 6’3” wing JR Lumsden. He has a big strong frame to go with some shot-creation ability. Impressed on his ability to get to the basket and finish through contact at times. Came and went as a scorer, though. Provides rebounding. Capable shooter. Lumsden finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
Joey Holifield and Jordan Burton have such control of this offense
There’s a calmness about Stritch’s offense, and it mostly comes from their tandem of lead guards in Holifield and Burton. While both scrap and pressure ball-handlers on the defensive end, they ensure quality looks on their other with patience.
They happened to lead the team in scoring last night, too — a normal occurrence. For Holifield, buckets usually came on drives. Holifield has ridiculous wiggle and side-to-side quickness on his way down-hill. Draws contact. Makes great decisions as a passer and sees the right play.
Burton is a perfect piece of this offense because of his efficiency. Creates space in so few dribbles and has the ability to shoot pull-ups with distance. The Notre Dame (OH) commit is a dynamic ball-handler in getting to his spots.
Playoff picture: Stritch
For all of those things we just mentioned — smart guard play, multiple scorers, the right complimentary pieces, defensive pressure, size — we believe Stritch will upset Genoa to win the Division III Toledo District. In the new year, they’ve lost just one game, which came on a Marion Local buzzer-beater at Flyin’ to the Hoop. Holifield’s defense against Genoa’s Jake Plantz will be pivotal in that game.
Beyond that, Stritch could play any number of teams from the Columbus 1 District, all of which they would be favored against. If they remain locked in and can make shots, we have belief they’ll make a deep run.
Playoff picture: Maumee Valley
The Hawks end the regular season 15-6, two of those losses coming to Stritch, who frankly seems to have their number. But it’s not all doom and gloom for a team we have ranked no. 9 in the Division IV Power Rankings.
Obviously, it starts with Michigan commit and junior guard Zeb Jackson. He got it going last night in the second half. Finished with either hand in traffic and is so quick off the ground as a leaper now. His explosiveness has come a long way in a short amount of time. Uses ball screens tremendously. Jackson is also using his length to become a lock-down one-on-one defender.
But, he saw as many as three defenders on the catch last night. They immediately doubled when he passed half-court as a primary ball-handler. Even though he finished with 17 points and five rebounds, Jackson is going to need help when they face teams of Stritch’s level.
They have a gauntlet of a district, too.
Maumee Valley will likely play no. 1 seed Mohawk in a district semifinal. The Northern 10 champs, led by Zach Hayman, stand at 20-1. If MV advances, it will be to play a familiar foe in either Ottawa Hills or Toledo Christian, teams they’re 2-2 against (both losses coming to Ottawa Hills).
Steve Coleman being out obviously doesn’t help. But, either way, they need someone other than Zeb Jackson to consistently make shots. Other Hawks need to make the defense pay in 4-on-4 and even 4-on-3 situations.