10 Best: VHSL Class 1 Championship
It was the eighth of nine state championships for me this season, and it’s one we all had a feeling would be pretty competitive. We had no idea as 26-4 Eastside travelled from SWVA to Richmond to meet 28-2 Surry…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt was the eighth of nine state championships for me this season, and it’s one we all had a feeling would be pretty competitive. We had no idea as 26-4 Eastside travelled from SWVA to Richmond to meet 28-2 Surry County. The teams were not just from opposite parts of the state but their style of play was very different as well. It was a matchup of two different styles but a very intriguing one at that.
From the beginning this game was nip-and-tuck the whole way. Eastside jumped out early, then Surry answered. Surry got some extra opportunities, Eastside answered with a couple of threes. Eastside led 14-13 after a first quarter that saw six lead changes and three ties. It was much of the same in the second quarter, with Surry senior Zhamare Slade hitting a three to tie things up at 23 heading into halftime. The game saw 12 lead changes and six ties in just the first half.
As the second half got started, we saw much of the same stuff except the teams seemed to make good adjustments. Eastside did a great job against leading scorer Monte Pope, and through three quarters they led 40-37. After the fourth quarter started though, things started to swing. Some foul trouble hurt Eastside, and Surry kept attacking the basket and using their size and athleticism to get extra shot opportunities. With about two minutes left they started to pull away, and were able to hold on to win 57-48, getting the school’s first boys state championship of all time.
Here’s a breakdown of the game in our signature 10 best format.
MVP: Zhamare Slade | Surry County 2019
Slade was phenomenal throughout the game even though he didn’t get nearly as many touches as I thought he should have. The 6’5” forward was the biggest and most athletic guy on the floor, and he threw his weight around and flew all over in the paint. He showed his ability to stretch the floor with a three, he ran the floor like a gazelle and he banged don the glass on both ends. He finished with 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and pitched in 11 rebounds and two steals.
Best Play
Slade had an exclamation point to his terrific play and Surry’s season that was perfectly fitting. The 6’5” forward got out on the break with just under a minute left and Surry leading by 5. He caught it, took 2 steps and threw down a vicious dunk, then held on to long and took a nasty spill. He exited the game but the damage was already done.
Best Offensive Performer: Ethan Powers | Eastside 2019
Despite their loss, Powers was fantastic for the Spartans, especially in the first half where he made it very evident they better deny him and run him off the line. Powers finished with the first half with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep. The 6’2” guard continued his stellar play, finishing the game with a game high 22 points. His ability to relocate and get his feet ready to shoot is something very underrated about him, and his ability to light it up from deep is one of the reasons he’s a 1,000 point scorer already.
Best Defensive Performer: Quandriel Palmer | Surry 2019
Palmer was steady on both ends of the floor for Surry, and took over a good amount on the offensive end toward the end of the third and beginning of the fourth. He has a downhill, no holds bar kind of guy offensively, and that was how he played defensively too. He guarded multiple positions, he rebounded well and he was all over the place in their press. He finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds and three steals.
Best Guy off Bench: Tramaz Tynes | Surry 2019
Neither team got a lot of production from the bench in terms of points, but Tynes did a good job on the glass and providing a physical presence as well. While he’s only about 6’0”, Tynes is a big guy who threw his weight around in the paint and helped on the glass. He only had one point but he grabbed 7 rebounds in the win.
Best Intangibles: Brandon Drew | Surry 2019
Drew played his tail off from tip to buzzer, and even without his shot falling a lot he was still successful in all other aspects. He rebounded extremely well, finishing with a game high 14 rebounds, and he pitched in 9 points as well going 2-for-4 from behind the arc. He played gritty and hard throughout the game and was a big reason for the Cougars success on the glass.
Best Under the Radar Performer: JR Kilgore | Eastside 2019
Kilgore was not only impressive in the game but came away as a guy I think small schools might get a steal with. He’s a big lead guard who isn’t flashy but he has good vision, he’s gritty and tough and he plays hard on both ends of the floor. He finished with 8 points and four assists in the loss.
Best Underclassman: Xavier Brown | Surry 2022
Brown didn’t have his best game of the season but you can tell he is going to be a very good player moving forward. He has good size for his position, he has a great feel for the game and while he didn’t shoot it well this game he did for the majority of the season. He’ll be a guy that will keep Surry there for a few more years.
Best Clutch Performer: Monte Pope | Surry 2019
Pope had a forgettable game up until the fourth as he was 2-for-9 from the field with 9 points. However, as they’ve done almost all season, the Cougars leaned on Pope in the fourth quarter to help put the game away and he did just that going 5-for-6 down the stretch and helping put the game away. The Region Player of the Year finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds and four assists.
Best Blue Collar Performer: Chris Swann | Eastside 2019
Swann had to battle against bigger and more athletic guys all game but he did so without complaining and with a lot of grit and toughness. He fought for loose balls, he banged in the post and rebounded well and he battled throughout the game. He finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.