6A Final Four Game 2: Tri-Cities vs Chattahoochee Takeaways
It was clear what Tri-Cities plan was as the ball tipped in last night’s second 6A semifinal in Buford, and that was to keep Chattahoochee stars AJ White and Cam Sheffield from being the ones to beat them. Played at…
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Continue ReadingIt was clear what Tri-Cities plan was as the ball tipped in last night’s second 6A semifinal in Buford, and that was to keep Chattahoochee stars AJ White and Cam Sheffield from being the ones to beat them. Played at a frenetic pace that appeared on paper to favor Tri-Cities and its near bottomless bevy of athletes, the game took flight and although very tight through the opening half, the plan to deny and harass was at least making Sheffield’s (11 points) life difficult.
But as nearly every Hooch opponent has found out this season, keeping White quiet is a whole other dilemma, and the exciting junior playmaker put his talents to the fore and, after a 2-point opening quarte, added 27 more from there in leading his team to its first-ever state finals appearance with a 78-72 win.
A Trifecta of takeaways from the night:
Stepping up to the front
David McDanielWhite and his talents are well know by this stage of the season, and the Rice-bound Sheffield has been a warrior of the highest order all year for outstanding Coach Chris Short, but in seeing Hooch several times this year, it was clear to me that come playoff time someone other than the Big 2 was going to have to make some plays. Well, Short wisely knew that as well, and his role players were tremendous all night long. Senior center David McDaniel, a 6-7 rebounding and defensive stalwart for most of the season, was dynamite on the night, getting 18 humongous points, including 8 in a fast-paced first quarter that ended 20-19 in favor of the Bulldogs. He also added 8 rebounds and 4 big blocks, and instantly stamped himself to any colleges watching that while a raw offensive talent, his other traits make it worth taking a long look for the next level. Senior guard Franklin Bailey has been a steady No. 3 option for the Cougars all season, and despite only having 6 points on pair of 3’s in the first half, his defense and ballhandling assistance against elite defensive pressure was a factor. Forced to stretch his bench further than he has of late, Short got steady contributions from a trio of underclassmen, sophomores Tomiwah Adetosoye and Gil Matondo and junior wing Keith Murray the three contributing 10 massive points between them to go with 7 total rebounds and a ton of hustle in key moments.
“Don’t say I can’t do it”
The above quote, one I feel White has probably been forced to utter (at least to himself) most of his young basketball career due to his 5-9 frame, may seem like inspirational speaker mumbo jumbo. But the way White plays, with a quiet confidence and forceful determination, combined with a natural gift of being able to put the ball in the basket with high efficiency, is more than enough to make the point man a special talent. Tri-Cities clearly knew this, throwing as many as 4 different defenders of varying sizes at him all night, and double-teaming him out above the arc for most of the 2nd half, but it accomplished little. The crafty guard was still able to get to the basket for his trademark soft-touch lay-ins or silky floating bank shots, or he would power dribble past a defender or through a double team then stop on a dime for a 10-foot pull-up. It was all there. He added 3 rebounds and 3 assists by my tally, and went a perfect 8 for 8 from the stripe in the last quarter to help seal his team’s win.
Too many cooks in the kitchen
Demetrius RivesThis is actually meant as a compliment to Tri-Cities, a team I Iabeled the best in the metro a few months back, and its diverse roster of talented players, but on this night it was shockingly their undoing. Coach Omari Forts is a very good tactician, particularly defensively where the Bulldogs are relentless, but it seemed in playing 10 men, and having guard Peyton Daniels back in the rotation for the first time since the Regions, disturbed the Bulldogs from getting into a consistent rhythm. And despite the game being close throughout, it appeared to my eyes a shortening of the bench might have gotten them in a better position to close the gap late in the game. The lone senior in that grouping, forward Demetrius Rives, was terrific all night, nearly unstoppable when he had the ball in close, getting 21 points and adding 10 rebounds. The unsigned 6-4 Rives is a bull to handle, hard-working and a tenacious rebounder playing as an undersized forward close to the basket. But he can step away and be more than effective, and he would be a tremendous addition to any next-level roster looking for a 40-minute worker who will more nights than not outwork his opponent. Junior Mario McIntosh, a similar 6-4 battler in near the basket who can also step outside, was impressive in spurts, but like Rives, in key moments struggled getting touches. It’s a guards world in the modern game, and the Bulldogs have options all over the place, but that type of ball domination hurt them against Hooch. Still, sophomore guard Simeon Cottle, a developing talent who can play the 1 or the 2, showed a sweet shooting touch and was terrific at both ends, finishing with 19 points (three 3’s). Daniels came off Forts’ bench to total 14 points, and the junior’s no doubt a spectacular scoring talent from all points on the floor, but as mentioned in my opinion the game needed to be won inside, and Rives, McIntosh, Eli King and Davorian Rudolph (and the sparingly used 6-6 Julius Lymon) were at times controlling the interior with their size, length, and athleticism, and could have affected the game mightily by potentially fouling out McDaniel and/or Sheffield. The Bulldogs will welcome back everyone but Rives next November, as they’ll go for a 2nd title in 3 years.