Five Takeaways: Etiwanda vs. Salesian (Classic at Damien)
LA VERNE — Friday’s action at the Classic at Damien featured four quarterfinals loaded with top teams and talent. Etiwanda advanced to face Sierra Canyon in one of Saturday’s semifinals with a 70-58 win over Salesian of Richmond. Here are…
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Continue ReadingLA VERNE — Friday’s action at the Classic at Damien featured four quarterfinals loaded with top teams and talent. Etiwanda advanced to face Sierra Canyon in one of Saturday’s semifinals with a 70-58 win over Salesian of Richmond. Here are five takeaways from that match-up.
Jahmai Mashack can play at any level when his shot is falling
The highly-touted junior has always been one of the top individual and team defenders in his class, and when you add those qualities to his rebounding ability at the guard position, you have a guy with all the intangibles coaches look for at the next level. What the 6-foot-3 Mashack has been struggling with is a consistent jump shot, but on Friday he showed what when it’s falling, he can lead his team to major victories. Mashack scored a game-high 24 points, including a 3-5 clip from 3-point range, to help the Eagles advance to the Platinum Division semifinals.
Camren Pierce is a great four year piece for Cal Poly
The 6-foot point guard has all the qualities a college coach looks for when choosing who he will hand the keys to his program to. Not only is Pierce is a high level defender, decision-maker in transition and half-court settings and leader, but his smooth mid-range pull-up is a tough shot to guard and his burst allows him to get to the rim and finish with ease.
Te’Jon Sawyer has tools to be a solid big man at the next level
The 6-foot-8 wide-bodied five man has the tools that you can’t teach to young big men. The Salesian senior has soft hands and touch with either hand around the basket. He knows how to use his body to establish and hold deep post position and knows how to weak-side seal when the ball changes sides of the floor. Sawyer needs to work on his body, which will help with his rebounding and rim protecting.
Austin Johnson is a sophomore to keep an eye on
The 6-foot-4 Salesian combo guard stood out because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Johnson didn’t have his best scoring game, going just 2-for-5 from the field with seven points, but he handed out five assists and pulled down four rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. Johnson plays with a controlled pace well beyond his years.
Shane Bell could be a solid late signing
Salesian’s 6-foot-4 senior is one of the top unsigned guards in Northern California and could easily help a high level Division II or low major Division I program. The wiry shooting guard went 3-for-5 from distance, finishing with a team-high 13 points. What’s nice about Bell is the fact that he doesn’t need a ton of touches or shots to make an impact. He’s a rangy catch-and-shooter who gets good left and has a good release point.