NCHSAA State Playoffs: 71st vs. Holly Springs
Holly Springs vs 71st HS had all the makings of being a good game on Saturday night, as both teams had their fair share of firepower. Holly Springs would strike first, but 71st would respond and the teams would go…
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Continue ReadingHolly Springs vs 71st HS had all the makings of being a good game on Saturday night, as both teams had their fair share of firepower. Holly Springs would strike first, but 71st would respond and the teams would go into the half with 71st holding a slight lead. The third quarter was pretty much the same with teams going back and forth, however late in the 4th quarter is where 71st would take over and hold on to the lead to advance.
Holly Springs Senior Forward Kadin Shedrick: UVA fans should be excited about what he can be in the future as he has plenty of upside to his game. He’s a legit 6’10, has the ability to stretch the floor with his shot, and is only scratching the surface of how good he can be. We saw a few plays where he put the ball on the floor and drove past defenders which is always impressive for a guy with his size.
Holly Springs Senior Guard Garrett Phillips: A three point specialist, he faced all types of defensive pressure throughout the night. One of the things you love to look for when a players is being defended like he was, is how well they stay locked in without forcing the issue. He did a nice job of continuing to move without the ball and once he got his opportunity at an open look, he knocked shots down.
Holly Springs Junior Guard Marcus Elliot: One of the more consistent performers for this team in this matchup, he does a nice job of not allowing anyone to speed up his game. He can score the ball at a solid rate but is a player that looks to get his teammates involved, also brings a nice amount of energy defensively.
Holly Springs Junior Forward Kaleb Scott: He didn’t have his best showing but you could see some of the reasons why he has picked up interest from a nice amount of colleges. Physique wise he looks as if he puts a nice amount of time in the weight room, and he also has some impressive athletic ability that was displayed.
71st HS Senior Forward Xavier Howard: Was a huge part of the offense for 71st in the first half, he knocked down the trey ball with consistency and wasn’t afraid to mix it up inside. Rebounding wise, he does a nice job of finding a body as soon as the shot goes up, which is something you won’t see from many youngsters. Led all scorers with 24 points on the night and has picked up some interest from JC level schools.
71st HS Senior Guard Thomas Hendricks: As the season has gone on, he has gotten better and more comfortable with the system at 71st. Constantly applying pressure on the defensive end of the floor, he causes issues for teams on a regular basis. Offensively he was on fire from three point land, especially in the first half, he shoots it with confidence which is something you like to see from a smaller guard.
71st HS Senior Guard Demauriea Nickleson: If there was one player that we feel changed the game the most without scoring, it would be him. His defense in the fourth quarter was simply outstanding, he does a nice job of moving his feet and defending without fouling. Although he scored 14 points on the day, you have to be more excited about the five steals he came up with in the second half.