NHR State: Manny Makes a Name for Himself
RIP City/Bloomington Jefferson wing Manny Montgomery led his team this winter and put up 42 points on a top ten 17u squad this weekend. Watching players emerge at a tournament like the NHR State Tournament is one of the best…
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Continue ReadingRIP City/Bloomington Jefferson wing Manny Montgomery led his team this winter and put up 42 points on a top ten 17u squad this weekend.
Watching players emerge at a tournament like the NHR State Tournament is one of the best parts of watching spring/summer basketball. Six-foot-4 guard Manny Montgomery shouldn’t be a huge secret as he scored 16 points a game this year in the Metro West Conference for Bloomington Jefferson, a Class AAAA team in Minnesota. That said, this breakout performance at the NHR State should help everybody know who Manny is.
Why? Because Manny Montgomery recorded 42 points for Rip City in a win over the Northern Lakers. That same Northern Lakers team that knocked off Minnesota Fury Zurn two weekends ago (and yes this weekend they had all of their key players). But none of those key players were able to slow Manny from going at the rim on Sunday and scoring 42.
Where did all the points come from? Think about a star with a 42 in the middle (which is what every MLB ballpark has someplace in their stadium actually!). The five points of the start is where all the production came from leading to the 42 in the middle.
Point 1. The arc. Manny Montgomery has a shooting touch that led to six makes at the arc against the Lakers.
Point 2. Transition. There can not be many players in Minnesota as dangerous moving up the floor as Manny. Think Rob McClain from Red Lake and now headed to the division one level at Texas-Rio Grande Valley. That is how Manny pushes the ball and finishes with two hands at the rim.
Point 3. Foul line. Because the Lakers couldn’t get a body on, or in front of Manny they fouled him constantly. He also made the clutch foul shots for Rip City putting the game away.
Point 4. Second chance baskets. Manny went at the rim for about four or five putback scores pushing right through block-out hit attempts for scores. His second jump is so quick there was nothing the Lakers could do.
Point 5. The Dribble Attack. Some Lakers were quick enough to move with Manny but not big enough. Some were big enough but nowhere quick enough. Manny attacked the rim off the dribble for more of the 42.