Prep Hoops 10 Best: Dixon vs. Peoria Notre Dame
Dixon gave Peoria Notre Dame all it could handle but for the second time in as many nights, the hometown team won. The Irish (23-5) escaped Bradley University’s Renaissance Coliseum with a 46-39 win over the Dukes (23-8). Notre Dame…
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Continue ReadingDixon gave Peoria Notre Dame all it could handle but for the second time in as many nights, the hometown team won.
The Irish (23-5) escaped Bradley University’s Renaissance Coliseum with a 46-39 win over the Dukes (23-8). Notre Dame also won at Dixon 52-40 on Feb. 2nd.
This installment came down to winning extra possessions, which the Irish grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to Dixon’s five. Notre Dame also had its role players excel, giving them the lift over Dixon’s stars.
Game Thread
Nice night for hoops in the Class 3A Peoria Sectional as @PND_Basketball and @dixondukeshoops. Winner gets @ManualAcademy on Friday. pic.twitter.com/FBf0hHdvu5
— Aaron Ferguson (@Sports_Aaron) March 7, 2019
1. MVP
Connor Dillon (Notre Dame 2020, G, 6-1) – 15 points (6-14/3-7/0-0); 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Dillon set the tone at the beginning of the game, scoring the first 10 points by driving towards the basket, spotting up for catch-and-shoot opportunities and going off the dribble. As the defensive pressure tightened the rest of the game, he hit, perhaps, the biggest shot of the night, a contested corner triple to give Notre Dame a 33-28 edge with 11.2 seconds left. His ability to make the extra pass helped set up shots for Notre Dame’s role players.
2. Best play
Derian Duncan (2019) received a pass beyond the volleyball line on the ‘B’ in Bradley and, instead of resetting the offense, knocked down the 3-pointer to pull Dixon within 19-18 of Notre Dame with 1:24 left in the first half. It completed a 10-2 run, which allowed the Dukes to stay within one possession coming out of halftime.
3. Best offensive player
Connor Dillon
Dillon scoring the first 10 Irish points forced extra attention on him from the Dukes. That extended the 3-2 zone, whether it was up top, on an angle or in the corner, to open up passing lanes and catch Dixon in rotations to get open looks for his teammates. And then there’s the aforementioned clutch gene, making a big shot to close the third quarter and making key passes in the fourth.
4. Best defensive player
Beau Bailey (Dixon 2019, G, 6-3) – 3 steals
Bailey was a hassle on the right side up top of the 3-2 zone. He did a great job of anticipating passes and reading the offense’s eyes to get run-outs off of steals and deflections. It was obvious that he had a good scout on Notre Dame and knew the gameplan.
5. Best guy off the bench
Aaron Duncan (Dixon 2019, F, 6-3) – 5 points (2-2/0-0/1-2); 5 rebounds, 1 block
Duncan was solid defensively and made things difficult around the rim for the Irish. He got himself in great position down low to capitalize on stickbacks or receiving a pass off a drive. His physicality inside wasn’t easily matched.
6. Best intangibles
Notre Dame’s Ben Kouri (2020) and Matt Pudik (2019)
The guard tandem of Kouri (5-10) and Pudik (6-0) was key. They combined to score 14 points, 12 in the second half, and played strong defense throughout. Pudik did a great job of contesting lob passes over the top of him in the backcourt in a 1-2-2 press, forcing one 10-second violation and a timeout. Kouri applied good on-ball defense at the top of the 2-3 matchup zone.
My favorite highlight of the night- Ben Kouri playing defense for Peoria Notre Dame! I want that kid on my team pic.twitter.com/skNvvaorta
— Jim Mattson (@hoijim) March 7, 2019
7. Best underclassman
Notre Dame’s Noah ReynoldsNoah Reynolds (Notre Dame 2021, G, 6-2) – 9 points (4-8/0-0/1-1); 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Reynolds moves effortlessly across the court, though sometimes not quick enough for coach Tom Lacher’s liking. The superb sophomore crashed the offensive glass hard for three of his five rebounds to give himself good looks around the basket, including a key putback with 1:17 left to extend the Irish lead to 42-35. He didn’t showcase his range on Wednesday but he did move well with the ball in his hands and made smart passes under pressuer.
8. Best under-the-radar performance
Matt Williams (Notre Dame 2021, F, 6-4) – 2 points (0-0/0-0/2-2); 2 rebounds
His performance will probably be overshadowed by his three fouls in the second quarter, but before heading to the bench Williams provided big minutes with Reynolds and Declan Dillon (2020) on the bench with two fouls. His presence in the paint was needed to force Dixon’s drives to get cut short or take tough shots.
9. Best catch-and-shooter
Payton Lawrence (Dixon 2019, G, 6-2) – 12 points (4-6/4-6/0-0)
Lawrence continued to get free off of a screen on the right angle to free him up for clean 3-point looks. He knocked down four big ones and had a fifth, only to be wiped away by an illegal screen. That would have brought Dixon within 35-34 with 6:36 left, but minutes later Notre Dame extended the lead to 40-33.
Regardless, Lawrence had a fluid motion and found the soft spots in the 2-3 matchup zone to give himself free space to shoot before the zone extended to him.
10. Best driver
Derian Duncan (2019, G, 6-2)
No, not on the golf course. Derian Duncan can get down hill in a hurry. He is quick enough to get by defenders on the fastbreak and puts his head down to get to the rim. It creates plenty of opportunities for his teammates, however he didn’t show the ability to pull it out and slow it down which cost his team some by forcing wild shots in an attempt to draw a foul.
Lines of the night
Dixon
Derian Duncan (2019, G, 6-1) – 12 points (4-11/1-3/3-4); 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Payton Lawrence (2019, G, 6-2) – 12 points (4-6/4-6/0-0); 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Beau Bailey (2019, G, 6-3) – 10 points (4-12/2-9/0-1); 3 steals, 2 assists
Peoria Notre Dame
Connor Dillon (2020, G, 6-1) – 15 points (6-14/3-7/0-0); 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Noah Reynolds (2021, G, 6-2) – 9 points (4-8/0-0/1-1); 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Matt Pudik (2019, G, 6-0) – 8 points (2-4/0-0/4-4); 2 rebounds, 1 assist