5 Takeaways: Memorial vs Independence
I got to see a heated matchup between the Frisco Memorial Warriors and Frisco Independence Knights Tuesday night. Memorial enjoyed a double-digit lead headed into the fourth quarter, but Independence refused to go away without a fight. The Knights reduced…
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Continue ReadingI got to see a heated matchup between the Frisco Memorial Warriors and Frisco Independence Knights Tuesday night. Memorial enjoyed a double-digit lead headed into the fourth quarter, but Independence refused to go away without a fight. The Knights reduced the deficit to just six points late in the fourth, but the Warriors were solid enough from the free throw line in the closing minutes of the contest to escape with a 64-55 road victory
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Memorial Won This Game in the 2nd Quarter
The Warriors were down two points after one quarter of action, but they really got things going in the second. They managed to string together multiple stops on defense which led to better looks at the other end. Jake Dukes and Josh Thrower were particularly effective on the defensive glass as well during this stretch. They finished the quarter with a 32-19 lead over the Knights and were able to ride that cushion for the remainder of the game.
Drew Steffe is a Super Freshman
There aren’t a ton of freshmen who are able to crack the starting lineup at the varsity level. That said, Steffe is not just a starting caliber player in his first year of high school ball, but he’s a star in the making. We have him listed as a shooting guard on our site, but he operates as the primary ball handler for Memorial and never looks overwhelmed in that role. The underclassman was phenomenal in this matchup. He has a diverse skill set on offense, proving that he can hit the three from deep, mid-range jumpers on the move, and is additionally a polished passer. Steffe is also excellent at getting into passing lanes on defense and tipping a lot of balls. He has a very bright future.
Rhino Hernandez is a Stud for Independence
The Knights also have a talented lead guard on their roster. Hernandez displayed excellent court vision vs. the Warriors Tuesday night. He is a smart and savvy player who often gets into the lane and leaves his feet before finding one of his bigs down low for an easy bucket. He makes a ton of plays that won’t show up in the box score. The junior is a pass-first point guard who plays with high energy at both ends, and his teammates feed of his effort.
Mitchell McCurtain is an Excellent Rim Protector
McCurtain had a big game on defense against Memorial. The senior center finished the night with four blocks and affected several of other shots while defending in the paint. He has a long and wiry frame and is quick to get off his feet. His rejections discouraged opponents from continuing to test him when he was on the court, subsequently leading to Memorial settling for more shots from mid-range and behind the arc. McCurtain also has a soft touch on offense where I thought he was underutilized during this game.
Memorial is Loaded With Young Talent
With the exception of a few seniors, the majority of Memorial’s key guys are juniors or younger. Shannon Lowery had a bit of an off game on offense, but his effort was evident at both ends. He took a beating offensively and got to the line numerous times while also playing physical on-ball defense on the perimeter as well as the interior. Steffe as I already mentioned is a rising star as a freshman. His backcourt mate, Avery Jackson, is a quick ball handler who can drill the three as a sophomore. Thrower, another sophomore, has great size and knows how to get inside and draw contact, converting on a high percentage of his free throw attempts in the process. This is a great collection of young prospects who are going to be even better next year with another season under their belts.