The Game: Victory Christian vs Verdigris
This game started fast. Both teams came out ready on the offensive end and slow on the defensive end as this game is setting up to be a high scoring affair. Victory Christian could not stop the Cardinals in the…
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Continue ReadingThis game started fast. Both teams came out ready on the offensive end and slow on the defensive end as this game is setting up to be a high scoring affair. Victory Christian could not stop the Cardinals in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 27-15 lead. Verdigris had more of the same to take a dominant lead into the half. Victory knocked down some tough shots to try to stay in the game. Verdigris lead at the half 49-34. The offense slowed on both side of the ball in the third quarter as the Conquerors got back a couple points. They trailed 63-50 to end the third quarter. Victory launched a comeback attempt to start the fourth quarter but it ultimately fell short as the Cardinals were able to stop any big runs with big buckets. Verdigris held on to win 83-70.
Takeaways
Verdigris’ Offense Can’t Be Stopped
Verdigris’ offense was unstoppable in the first quarter. They scored on every single one of their possessions till about halfway through the second quarter. Their shots just could not miss. Obviously the offense could not keep up the 100% rate the whole game, but they definitely kept shooting lights out throughout the second quarter. They were just throwing up shots from anywhere on their side of the court and they were going down. In the first half alone they nearly hung half a hundred on a good Victory Christian team. While their offense slowed down a little in the second half it was not by much. They played fast and shot the ball well to stop any chance that the Conquerors had of coming back.
No Quit from Victory
While Victory fell down by as many as 21 throughout the game, they never gave up. They played hard even when the shots were not falling and their offense was struggling. The second half was much better from the Conquerors but they had just fallen down by too much to come back in the game.
Players to Know
Dre Rodriguez 2021 Victory Christian Wing
Rodriguez was dominant down low for Victory Christian. When the Conquerors could get the ball down low to Rodriguez they are hard to stop. He can finish through contact and his athleticism opens up the floor to allow him to step out to the perimeter as well. He has a solid stroke from mid range. The offense try to find him on every possession. Rodriguez will be a guy that will have to keep playing at a high level if Victory Christian wants to make a run into the postseason this year. He finished the game with 21 points.
Jaren Keith 2021 Verdigris Guard
Keith was a presence on the offensive side of the ball tonight for Verdigris. In the first half he could not miss. It seemed if he shot the ball from anywhere no matter the defense it just went in. Kieth rode that hot streak to the half giving him twenty points in the first half. He played well at all three levels of the game, scoring at will. Keith showed tonight why he will be a valuable player moving forward for the Cardinals. He finished the night with a tie for the game high with 26 points.
Tyler Haddock 2021 Verdigris Guard
Haddock was solid throughout the whole game. He does not bring a lot of flash to the court but he just does his job. He scored the ball consistently through all four quarters of the game and even iced the game from the free throw line in the fourth quarter hitting 6-7 from the line. Haddock works hard for his team and is a great leader. He was pumping up his team whether he was the player making shots or it was his teammates. He is a player a coach loves to have because he is all about the team. He finished with a joint game high of 26 points on the night.