4A Playoffs Round 1: LaGrange at Denmark Player Impressions
Overcoming more turnovers than I’m sure he would have liked, Denmark coach Tyler Whitlock refocused his crew after a blistering 1st quarter between the two teams and held off a late charge from LaGrange Saturday with timely free-throw shooting to…
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Continue ReadingOvercoming more turnovers than I’m sure he would have liked, Denmark coach Tyler Whitlock refocused his crew after a blistering 1st quarter between the two teams and held off a late charge from LaGrange Saturday with timely free-throw shooting to edge the Grangers 68-62 in a 4A opener in Alpharetta.
The Danes’ size proved ultimately to be the difference maker as both teams fought through stretches where maintaining possession and poor shot selection were stalling them. Here are some players who stood out on the night:
Joseph Scott 24)Joseph Scott (Denmark, 2021, 6-5, PF) – Scott has had some moments in the times I’ve seen Denmark this year, flashing the kind of elite potential others have remarked upon as well. Against the visiting Grangers he showed much of what he can do at both ends, both as a dominant rebounder and as a capable scorer, and not just in close, but showing an ability to step out and make it from distance to keep defenses honest. In finishing with 18 points, it was the kind of all-round performance that not only will garner him big attention during the offseason but also one Denmark will need more of down the line should they face the likes of 4A contenders Woodward Academy, Sandy Creek or Americus-Sumter.
Sutton Smith (Denmark, 2021, 5-10, PG) – Virtually no Dane game ends without Smith in some way impacting it, almost always with more positives than negatives, as he is firmly established himself near the top of almost every list of area floor leaders. The turnover bug infected everyone Saturday, yet despite that Smith had a hand in some big junctures in the game where he was not only able to control the tempo, speeding it up to his liking or slowing it down to protect tight leads, but knock down key baskets on his way to 17 points (6 for 6 from FT line in 4th). Teams have to pick their poison with this Dane bunch, and if they pay too close attention to the studs on the wing or the block, Smith can be a decisive factor with his terrific passing and ability to score from multiple levels.
Denmark’s other two cant-miss impact performers, senior big man Adonnis Tolbert and sophomore wing Robert Cowherd, didn’t necessarily dominate the scoresheet, but Tolbert was immense defensively getting multiple big blocks, was a complete cleaner with Scott on the glass, and added 10 points. That he’s still a very much available prospect at this late stage boggles the mind, he’s more than athletic enough to step away from the basket if needed at both ends, but at 6-6 he’s plenty strong and skilled in close to be a factor at the next level. Cowherd didn’t have his best night on the offensive end, but he’s shining as a defender in my eyes of late, the last two games I saw him he was in pure lockdown mode on the opposing teams best scorer. Adding another dimension to his rising list of superlatives, the top 2022 prospect will continue to have eyeballs focused his way through the playoffs and into the grassroots season.
Kindae MaddoxFor LaGrange, three seniors left it all on the court in their final game. Kindae Maddox had 9 of his 14 in a big 2nd quarter, showing nice touch from the outside while also getting to the rim. Guard DJ Burks didn’t have the monster game some might have expected from the scorer, and Cowherd’s defense had something to say about that, but he showed nice all-around skill and ahtleticism, particularly when asked to handle the ball after good-looking sophomore point guard Jakobe Jones fouled out in the early in the 4th quarter. Forced to deal with Scott and Tolbert all night, 6-3 senior center Nafis Carston battled hard and showed a ton of fight in getting 8 points and doing what he could against the high-flying Dane frontcourt. Junior guard Malik Hall, not to be left out, nearly pulled the Grangers back into the game by himself at points, getting three 3’s in the 2nd half and finishing up with 15 impressive points off the bench.