5 Takeaways from Omaha Central vs. Omaha North in the OPS Jamboree Championship Game
The season-opening OPS Jamboree Boys Basketball Tournament came to a conclusion Monday night at Gretna High School. The championship game pitted two old rivals against each other as the Omaha Central Eagles took on the Omaha North Vikings. I honestly…
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Continue ReadingThe season-opening OPS Jamboree Boys Basketball Tournament came to a conclusion Monday night at Gretna High School. The championship game pitted two old rivals against each other as the Omaha Central Eagles took on the Omaha North Vikings. I honestly did not know what to expect coming into this game, as North was coming off an upset win over defending Class A state champions Omaha South and Central had handled its first two opponents of the tournament pretty well. Central jumped out to a quick start, and this lead by double digits for the majority of the contest. Here’s what we learned from the Eagles 78-55 victory.
Wal Chuol Gets Buckets
The MVP of the Jamboree Tournament was most certainly Omaha North senior guard/forward Wal Chuol. After opening the tournament with 29 points and 9 rebounds against Omaha Bryan and following that up with 20 points in the semi-final upset over Omaha South, Chuol was the closest thing to a spark Omaha North could find on the offensive end against a consistent Central press. With 20 of his 27 points coming in the second half, Chuol remained as efficient as he’d been all tournament long shooting 9-14 from the field and 5-8 from three-point range. He finished the tournament averaging 25 points a game, and shot 66% from the field and 65% from beyond the arch.
Omaha Central is Much More Than Just Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
Two of the three games in this tournament, Central’s most prominent scorer and uncommitted senior Latrell Wrightsell Jr did not have great nights from the field. Wrightsell still lead the Eagles with 17 points, but he was also joined in double figures by fellow senior guard Max Polk, 6’6 forward Deng Diew, and sophomore guard Jayden Dawson chipped in 12 points off the bench. Central has a great deal of depth this year and are most certainly well stocked when it comes to guards. Which leads to the next thing I learned
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Some Youngsters to Keep an Eye on for 2021/2022
Aside from the two seniors in the backcourt, Central also has some younger guards to keep an eye on for the coming years. Junior guard Fai Germany is the third guard who starts and in my eyes is glue guy for the Eagles. He had 9 points and 9 assists while playing some great defense against a variety of North guards. Sophomores Jayden Dawson, PJ Davis, and Jackson Page all showed what they can do coming off the bench and playing well. Dawson’s three 3 pointers showcased his range. All four of these guards, coupled with the starting group make Omaha Central well worth the price of admission this season
Central is Still One of the Top Teams in Class A
From top to bottom, Omaha Central has a roster filled with guys who are able to play quick, play smart, and play stifling defense. Just about everyone who saw the court for Central showed flashes of what they can do. The guard combo of Max Polk and Latrell Wrightsell might have the most varsity experience of any backcourt in the state. This team is going to play with pace, and look to shoot the ball early and often. A good chunk of the team returned this season following their runner up finish in last year’s state tournament. Combine that big-game experience with their depth and they will most certainly be a team to reckon with throughout the season.
Wal Chuol is the Straw That Stirs the Drink for Omaha North, But There Is Also Some Younger Guys to Watch
Chuol is certainly one of the most prolific scorers in Class A and in the state of Nebraska as a whole. He showed his deep range from beyond the arc, as well as being able to go to the rim against a strong defensive team in Central when he was most certainly the focal point of the scouting report. In this game, the rest of North’s offense went cold and was hampered by foul trouble and some struggles against Central’s press. Junior Point Guard Curtis Ogba who had been North’s second-leading scorer in the first two games was held to just 2 points, and at times was being defended by someone almost a foot taller than him, and sophomore guard Keshaun Williams had 6 points, but fouled out in the 3rd quarter. Both of these guards, coupled with Chuol, have the potential to surprise some teams this season. As North showed in the semi-final win over Omaha South, when Wal Chuol is on, North will be able to compete with just about anybody in Class A.