Prep Hoops 10 Best: Manual vs. Rock Falls
It seemed Rock Falls was destined to upset the Peoria team in its home sectional, but Manual prevailed with great rebounding. The Rams (17-13) grabbed 11 more rebounds in a big second half to beat Rock Falls 57-48. The rebounding…
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Continue ReadingIt seemed Rock Falls was destined to upset the Peoria team in its home sectional, but Manual prevailed with great rebounding.
The Rams (17-13) grabbed 11 more rebounds in a big second half to beat Rock Falls 57-48. The rebounding margin was even at halftime but Manual pulled ahead with 19 rebounds (seven offensive) in the second half for a 36-25 advantage.
After an efficient 11-for-24 first half, the Rockets (30-3) mustered a 7-for-18 line in the second half while nine of their 13 turnovers came in the final 16 minutes. Manual’s off-ball pressure picked up, which led to unforced errors and a couple of steals and run-outs.
Manual will meet the winner of Wednesday’s Peoria Notre Dame-Dixon semifinal in Friday’s Class 3A Peoria Sectional Championship at 7 p.m.
Game Thread
At the Peoria Sectional where @ManualAcademy and @RfRockets1 do battle. pic.twitter.com/eHZOuo5nOi
— Aaron Ferguson (@Sports_Aaron) March 6, 2019
1. MVP
Pee Wee Brown (Manual 2020, G, 6-2) – 25 points (10-19/1-3/4-6); 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block
Pee Wee Brown was Manual’s engine on offense, consistently moving through the middle of a 2-3 zone and driving down either side of the lane. His motor kept working, crashing the offensive glass and creating second-chance opportunities for himself and his teammates. Defensively, his length and agility were key defending on and off the ball.
2. Play of the game
To close the first quarter, Rock Falls point guard Dylan Leaf (2019) got a steal and run-out, leading to a quick dish to Jalen Johnson (2020), who gave it right back to Leaf for a pretty give-and-go in the paint. He followed that up by dribbling through traffic and nailing nylon on a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Rockets a 14-3 lead after the first quarter.
3. Best offensive performance
Cade Nailor (Rock Falls 2019, F, 6-3) – 17 points (5-10/2-4/5-7)
Nailor was as impressive as anybody on Tuesday. He’s a crafty scorer that won’t shy away from contact, can get a bucket on the block, knock down a contest 3-pointer and get to the free throw line. He showcased a nice turnaround jumper from the post, and an ability to take his man off the bounce.
4. Best defensive performance
Myriece Byrd (Manual 2020, G, 5-11) – 2 steals, 2 defensive rebounds
Byrd seemed to be the quickest player on the floor. He turned it up defensively, which is when he had both of his steals, leading to run-outs at the other end. He’s a solid on-ball defender with good footwork.
5. Best player off the bench
Marshawn Tolliver (Manual 2021, G, 6-0) – 3 points (1-2/1-2/0-0); 1 rebound, 1 steal
Neither team went deep into its bench but Tolliver stood out because he hit one 3-pointer which meant the Rockets had to close out on him for the rest of the game. He was physical defensively, picking up four fouls (three in the fourth quarter alone), but provided good pressure and created unforced turnovers.
6. Best intangibles
Dylan Leaf (Rock Falls 2019)
Leaf was so impressive with the ball in his hands. He made crisp passes (five assists) and had good handles to get around Manual’s quickness and length. Leaf set himself, and his teammates, up to make great plays and get clean looks at the basket.
7. Best under-the-radar performance
Emaryon Byrd (Manual 2021, F, 6-4) – 16 points (5-12/1-3/5-5); 10 rebounds
If there was ever a quiet performance, it felt like it was Byrd’s. With his brother, Myriece, Quintez Edwards (2019) and Brown carrying the load, there wasn’t a lot of focus on Emaryon. But he was solid from block-to-block, had good enough handles to drive at the rim, the IQ to avoid a charge and hit a pull-up jumper and proved he could hit from the perimeter. Nine of his rebounds were on the defensive end, where his presence was felt around the rim.
8. Best shooter
Jalen Bickett (Rock Falls 2020, G, 6-0) – 12 points (4-6/4-6/0-0)
It felt like every time the ball came in Bickett’s hands the shot was going to fall. He was at his best in catch-and-shoot opportunities.
9. Best coaching decisoin
Willie Coleman went to some fullcourt pressure and, if Rock Falls got the ball into the frontcourt, more pressure by off-ball defenders. It tightened passing lanes and forced Rockets non-ball-handlers to get caught picking up their dribble and making bad passes to avoid a five-second count. It also denied Dylan Leaf the ball in the second half, which brought the Rock Falls offense to a halt.
10. Best run
Manual went on a 26-11 run in the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into a six-point lead, ultimately punching its ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. It started with Pee Wee Brown scoring a layup to cut the Rock Falls lead to 33-26 with 6:30 left in the third quarter. He scored 11 points during the run, adding 3-pointer after the layup and closing it with a pair of free throws. Emaryon Byrd scored seven of his 16 points during the run. Edwards scored four of his seven during the run. Myriece Byrd scored three of his six points in that stretch.
Lines of the night
Manual
Pee Wee Brown – 25 points (10-19/1-3/4-6); 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Emaryon Byrd – 16 points (5-12/1-3/5-5); 10 rebounds
Myriece Byrd – 6 points (1-8/0-2/4-8); 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Rock Falls
Cade Nailor – 16 points (5-10/2-4/5-7); 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Jalen Bickett – 12 points (4-6/4-6/0-0); 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Dylan Leaf – 7 points (3-12/1-6/0-0); 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block