Top Takeaways from the 6A Regional at Edmond Santa Fe
Edmond Santa Fe hosted the regional opener Friday night and the Wolves dominated their matchup with US Grant. Putnam City also put on an impressive performance against Edmond North as they advance to play Regional finals between SF and PCO. …
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Continue ReadingEdmond Santa Fe hosted the regional opener Friday night and the Wolves dominated their matchup with US Grant. Putnam City also put on an impressive performance against Edmond North as they advance to play Regional finals between SF and PCO.
Here are some takeaways from both games:
Alfred Alkannama dominated Edmond North doing what he does best
Alkannama was the best player on the court Friday night and it wasn’t really close. He dominated the game without taking a three point attempt which is very hard to do as a perimeter player.
The senior wing carved up the Ed North defense just by beating them off the bounce. Rather it was going right or left, Alkannama got to the front of the rim whenever he wanted too.
He has sort of a Dwayne Wade type of craftiness in the paint which allows for him to create opportunities when nothing is there. On numerous occasions, he would one way and pump fake which would get the defenders out of position and he would pivot the other way into a layup.
Alkannama has had an under-the-radar senior season and college coaches have taken notice. PCO will need him to continue this type of play as they face off with SF Saturday on their home turf.
PCO’s guard trio is as tough of a matchup as any perimeter group in the state
Other than size, the Pirates trio of Alkannama, KD Jolly, and Tre Carolina has everything it takes to pull off an upset. Coaches always say that the postseason is about guard play.
If that comes to be true, PCO is in great hands with these three. Jolly is the smaller lefty point guard who can create off the dribble and has the shot to get hot from deep.
Carolina is the leader who seems to have the most pure talent. Carolina has all the skill set that I would want from a point guard. He is also extremely efficient in the moves he makes and the shots he attempts.
Alkannama adds the physicality and downhill type of play which creates opportunities at the free throw line. North got out to an 11-0 but PCO picked up the pressure defensively and Alkannama decided he had an appointment with the basket and no one was going to stop him from getting there.
Dalante Shannon is another great Oklahoma prospect on the rise
Tonight wasn’t Shannon’s best game but he showed up and tried to will his team to a victory but came up short. Shannon was aggressive and he knocked down some tough shots from the perimeter which hit nothing but net.
This 2021 prospect has a big upside but what’s most impressive his ability to produce at such an early point in his varsity career. He is a tough player to stop defensively because he can get his in the half-court but also in transition.
It will be interesting to see how well he develops over the summer and comes back bigger and better to lead the Huskies to a successful season.
Elijah Mason is one of the tougher matchups in 6A
Mason has crazy bounce which is always scary for defenders around the rim. At 6’4, Mason has the size to compete with larger players but he has the speed of a guard.
Mason was one of the bright spots from the game for the Huskies due to his scoring around the rim and the ability to rebound on both offense and defense.
The 2020 forward has a great motor and he attacks the offensive glass very well. He also has a nice mid-range game which is rare in today’s game.
Mason will continue to get better in all areas and he will create some problems for opposing forwards in 6A next season.
Jaylen O’Conner has all the tools to get going and help SF get back to the championship game
To be a championship team you need certain roles accounted for to have a legitimate change to contend. Having a legitimate scorer is key when you begin to play better teams in the postseason.
You need a scorer like Jaylen O’Conner who can get going at any moment. O’Conner is a dynamic wing prospect who can shoot it from deep but he also has the ability to get to the rim.
O’Conner is one of those shooters who you can’t lose track of defensively because his release is so quick that if he gets a spot up opportunity you won’t have any time to recover.
As a scout, sometimes you see certain guys commit to a JUCO because they did not get as much attention coming out of high school but who will blow up after a couple of productive seasons at that level.
I believe O’Conner is the type of kid who will fill it up at the Dodge City CC and put him self in a position to choose wherever he wants to go next.
He has the ability to catch fire this postseason from deep which could lead this talented SF team to another deep run in March.