Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic – Evening Session Game 1
You would think with an experimental 30-second shot clock used for Saturday’s Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic games, local Georgia high school programs might have been a little out of sorts. Not so at this year’s event hosted by Norcross HS, as…
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Continue ReadingYou would think with an experimental 30-second shot clock used for Saturday’s Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic games, local Georgia high school programs might have been a little out of sorts. Not so at this year’s event hosted by Norcross HS, as a stout lineup of teams took the floor and ratcheted up the highlights and athleticism despite the shorter possession times.
Game 1 of 3 in the night session (there were six total games on Saturday) featured two clubs whose overall records belied the skill level of several standout players, as a taller 5A Southwest Dekalb team held off a scrappy and skilled 7A Discovery bunch 56-47.
Eugene Brown (11)Eugene Brown (SWD), SG – Brown played to every bit of his 6-6 frame, using that height advantage over the Titan opponents to affect the game in a variety of ways. Showing a very nice handle, our #8 ranked 2020 player worked toward several of his team-high 15 points starting from the perimeter and ending at the rack, but also showed that he wasn’t afraid to pull it from downtown, knocking down a late shot-clock 3 in the 4th quarter which helped stem a Discovery rally. The Ohio State signee added 9 rebounds and 4 blocks to a stellar line.
Jarrett Walton (SWD), PG – Adding to all of the high-level point guard play seen this early season was Walton, a 6-1 senior who was a catalyst for the Panthers. His ball-control and defense highlighted his night, as he ran the SWD fast break beautifully, getting both own finishes (an emphatic dunk among them off a steal in the 1st quarter) and setting up Brown and others. Preferring to get to the basket, Walton, #144 on our 2020 list, finished with 4 steals as well to go with his 10 points for the 4-5 Panthers, and comprised a very effective backcourt with 6-2 senior Jacorry Gist, who also displayed an excellent all-around game (10 points, 6 steals) and was an obvious factor in SWD’s 28-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
Rion White (SWD), PF – It was hard to miss the 6-6 White, a physical specimen, willing banger and
JJ Hawkins (5) and Rion White (3)also standout QB for the Panther football squad, who was efficient all night going 4-7 form the field and 3-5 from the line and finishing up with 11 points and 7 rebounds. That physicality proved out thanks in large part to the junior, as the Panthers outscored the Titans 44-22 in the paint.
JJ Hawkins and London Riley (Discovery) – Hawkins, a crafty 6-4
junior forward, and Riley, a smooth 6-3 senior guard, took on the brunt of SWD’s larger frontline and backcourt pressure defense and both handled themselves extremely well, showing skill and poise. Hawkins took his back to the basket game right at White and Brown, and came out with 10 hard-fought points and 7 well-earned boards. Riley, a deadeye spot-up shooter, showed a taste for finding his way to the
London Riley3-point line, getting four 3s on the night, totaling 14 points and showing the kind of stroke that will surely put up greater numbers to come for the 7-6 Titans.