First Game Show outs: Wilder vs. Council
When I went to watch Wilder and Council play on Saturday I was planning on getting some info for later coverage, but it turned out to be a great game (especially for the first game of the season). A few…
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Continue ReadingWhen I went to watch Wilder and Council play on Saturday I was planning on getting some info for later coverage, but it turned out to be a great game (especially for the first game of the season). A few players put up some impressive numbers that I’d like to discuss more into detail as well as give a short team analysis as we jump into the 19-20 season.
Final Score: Wilder 57 Council 50
Wilder started the game out by jumping to a lead, but Council stayed aggressive and was able to cut down their deficit towards the end. Wilder stayed strong and iced the game with some free throws and patient offense. Both teams looked very confident and composed for their first game of the season. Both teams are also great at running in transition, getting points off of fast breaks and getting into the flow of their offense. It got sloppy a couple of times, but both teams did a fair job taking care of the ball and running an offense. Council played more aggressively on rebounds and drives to the hoop, which is where they got most of their points. Wilder, on the other hand, played with a mixture of 3 point shots, drives to the hoop, and kick-outs for shots. Jonathan Mendoza had a great game and career-high for wilder, scoring 27 points, while Braden Nichols for Council scored 19 points.
Jonathan Mendoza: #11 Jr PG/SG
I was impressed by Mendoza from the start because of his calm demeanor and ball-handling skills, making him fit for the point guard position. He has a great shot and shoots with confidence, making 6 field goals, three 3 pointers, and 6 free throws. The 6 field goals were a mixture of mid-range shots, crossovers for a layup, and even a short corner stepback jump shot. He sunk two 3 pointers back to back at the beginning of the game giving his team momentum. He is also quick, pesky on the defensive end, and got a couple steals leading to fast break assists. He is pretty short (around 5’8 I’m guessing) but has a great floater in the lane and is a good playmaker as well. He may have more difficulty scoring against tougher teams and better defenders, but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on as he improves his game this season and next.
Braden Nichols: #22 Sr F/SG
His height is unavailable right now, but Nichols definitely has the body for a forward position (tall & lanky). Nichols got his team going in the beginning with a strong drive and finish to the hoop. He is pretty aggressive at times and knows when to cut into the paint and make a play. He had some pretty finesse post moves with a little jump hook and soft-touch 2 ft shot. He created some chaos towards the end of the game by getting rebounds and keeping their hopes alive but didn’t show that level of effort in rebounding the whole game. I can see Nichols stepping up this season and being a big factor for his team.
Extras
Owen Ivey, #2 for Council also had an exceptional game, scoring 14 points with a lot of layups, strong moves to the hoop, and a pair of free throws.
Pablo Martinez, #2 for Wilder played well chipping in 11 points with a floater, strong putback, free throws and a 3 pointer.