Prep Hoops 10 best: Fieldcrest vs. Dee-Mack
Friday’s Heart of Illinois battle was in question until the final three minutes when Dee-Mack went on a 13-3, game-clinching run. The Chiefs and their experience playing in close games prevailed for a 52-42 win over Fieldcrest. It was the…
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Continue ReadingFriday’s Heart of Illinois battle was in question until the final three minutes when Dee-Mack went on a 13-3, game-clinching run.
The Chiefs and their experience playing in close games prevailed for a 52-42 win over Fieldcrest. It was the nightcap of a girls/boys doubleheader in Mackinaw. Fans saw two great games with the Dee-Mack girls team beating Fieldcrest 57-49.
Fieldcrest struggled offensively, turning it over 15 times and going 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range. The Knights were 15-for-46 (32.6 percent) from the field overall.
Here are the 10 best observations.
1. MVP
John Blumeyer (Dee-Mack 2021, G, 5-foot-10) – 25 points (9-15/3-7/4-5); 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Becoming a scoring point guard is a recent development for Blumeyer, but a needed one. It adds another element to the Chiefs offense if Levi Scheuermann (2019) goes cold, like he did on Friday.
The sophomore was wildly efficient, despite a 2-for-6 third quarter, and showed he can score at all three levels. He finished through contact and hit from the charity stripe. Blumeyer is blossoming into a young star that will lead the Chiefs for years to come.
2. Play of the game
Really, it was two plays back-to-back that gave the Chiefs a late momentum shift and sparked the game-clinching run.
First it was Scheuermann tying the game on a free throw and then ripping the ball away along the baseline for an easy layup to give Dee-Mack a 41-39 lead with 3:05 left. After an empty possession, Blumeyer turned defense into offense with a steal and layup through contact. He completed the traditional three-point play to give the Chiefs a 44-39 lead with 1:58 left.
3. Best offensive performance
John Blumeyer (Dee-Mack 2021) – 25 points (9-15/3-7/4-5)
It wasn’t just Blumeyer’s scoring that made the difference for Dee-Mack. He’s had to step up as the primary ball-handler due to injuries and other circumstances. He took care of the basketball, started the offense and moved well off the ball to set himself up with great scoring opportunities.
4. Best defensive performance
Levi Scheuermann (Dee-Mack 2019, G, 6-2) – 6 rebounds (3 defensive), 3 steals, 1 block
When you’re not shooting the ball well, you can still impact the game in other ways. Not only was Scheuermann not shooting the ball well, but he got whistled for two quick fouls in the first quarter. He came back and played most of the second quarter, defending without fouling.
Not only that, but he showed his basketball-IQ on the defensive end by reading his man off the ball and jumping the passing lane for a steal. He also had a highlight-worthy block on a right baseline shot that he smacked clean like a volleyball player putting away a kill.
5. Best player off the bench
Sam Scott (Dee-Mack 2019, G, 6-0) – 2 points (1-3/0-0/0-1); 3 (offensive) rebounds, 2 steals
Nobody shined on the offensive end that came off the bench, but Scott was the best defender. He got deflections on the defensive end and moved well to stay in front of his opponent. He moved well off the ball offensively and got in the paint to secure extra possessions on the offensive glass.
6. Best intangibles
John Carnicle (Dee-Mack 2019, G, 5-8) – 7 points (3-6/1-2/0-0); 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Carnicle took smart shots and, despite being the shortest player on the court, secured possessions at both ends. Most impressively was late in the game when he stuck to Fieldcrest’s Jaxon Cusac-Mckay (2021) and denied him the basketball in the fullcourt to make Fieldcrest work extra hard offensively. That was key because Cusac-Mckay had a game-high six assists and started the offense for the Knights.
7. Best under-the-radar performance
Hayden Carls (Fieldcrest 2019, G, 6-0) – 9 points (4-7/1-4/0-0); 3 (offensive) rebounds, 1 block
Carls made an impact in the third quarter, when he went 3-for-4 from the floor and secured three offensive rebounds. His spark in the quarter was big for the Knights, who led 34-33 heading into the final eight minutes.
8. Best underclassman
Jaxon Cusac-Mckay (Fieldcrest 2021, G, 5-10) – 10 points (3-14/1-6/3-5); 6 assists, 2 rebounds
Cusac-Mckay was sharp in running the offense and played hard on both ends of the court. He struggled to hit from the floor, especially on the perimeter. It didn’t get any better late in the game as he tried to will his team into the game himself. His shot selection needs to improve, especially when he’s so sharp at moving the ball and setting up his teammates.
9. Best rebounder
Carl Schmidgall (Dee-Mack 2019, F, 6-2) – 8 rebounds (4 offensive)
Schmidgall won the rebounding battle over the bigger Clay Wells (2019, 6-5). Schmidgall didn’t score but his role was to secure possessions and he did that on both ends of the floor, beating Wells 8-4 in rebounds.
10. Best coaching decision
John Hughs, Dee-Mack
Hughs used a timeout in the final minute of the game to draw up a play in the backcourt. Fieldcrest pressure the full length of the floor. The inbounds pass went to Scheuermann on the right side of the floor while Blumeyer leaked out on the seam to the basket, where Scheuermann found him for a dagger of a layup.
Lines of the night
Fieldcrest
Hayden Carls – 9 points (4-7/1-4/0-0); 3 (offensive) rebounds, 1 block
Derek May (2019, F, 6-1) – 9 points (3-11/0-3/3-4); 9 rebounds
Jaxon Cusac-Mckay – 10 points (3-14/1-6/3-5); 6 assists, 2 rebounds
Dee-Mack
John Blumeyer – 25 points (9-15/3-7/4-5); 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Levi Scheuermann – 18 points (5-14/0-4/8-14); 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 block
John Carnicle – 7 points (3-6/1-2/0-0); 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block