AAAAAAA Region 5 Playoff Semifinals: Game 1 Takeaways
SOUTH FORSYTH VS LAMBERT (@Forsyth Central) My Trifecta of Takeaways: “EVEN STEVEN” ON PAPER The two clubs had split their regular-season meetings, each winning on their home floor, so in a 2 vs 3 playoff matchup you’d expect some swings,…
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Continue ReadingSOUTH FORSYTH VS LAMBERT (@Forsyth Central)
My Trifecta of Takeaways:
“EVEN STEVEN” ON PAPER
The two clubs had split their regular-season meetings, each winning on their home floor, so in a 2 vs 3 playoff matchup you’d expect some swings, and that’s what we got. South controlled the first half and took a 6-point edge into the break, but Lambert came out aggressive in the 3rd and ended up ahead 40-39 headed to the final stanza. But a 27-12 explosion by the War Eagles blew past the Longhorns and then snuffed the last bit of fight out of them at the free-throw line, going 9 for 10 in those last few minutes. That massive last quarter was the death blow, leading to a 66-52 South win and a date in the finals Friday night.
LIKE EWING VS OLAJUWON
Collin GrangerThe night’s marquee matchup in a fan’s eye came in the form of the two clubs big men, South Forsyth’s Devin McGlockton and Lambert’s Collin Granger. Early on it seemed both young men were going to be spectators in a perimeter dual between the guards, but as the gym heated up, so did the stars. Both played clean and hard, staying on the floor and out of foul trouble despite plenty of contact. Granger got things going in the middle part of the game with 15 of his 18 points, working in tandem with guard Braxton Beaty to act as the spark for the ‘Horns. But as the lead stretched for South in the 4th and time became limited, his mates were forced to hoist from deep or power drive looking for fouls, and he was unable to lead his team back. The 6-7 senior has games ahead though, as he and his compadres will hit the floor in the state tourney next week. McGlockton, after the War Eagle guard play carried the first quarter, began to assert from there on, as he finished with 17 points. He’s exceptional at positioning, and while he may not be the most aggressive player in demanding the ball, the rotation of disciplined South guards always have their heads up looking inside for chances for the big junior. As I said after seeing him the first time, another year of body development to go with an already very effective inside-outside game could have him vaulting up the local rankings.
LEAVE IT TO THE LITTLE GUYS
Ethan UnderwoodDespite the ballyhooed inside matchup, as we see so much in today’s game, guards held the day, and both squads had outstanding performers. South generally seems to have a new leader every night out, but it’s always hard to miss the play of sophomore Ethan Underwood, who in my second time seeing the War Eagles was even more impressive than the first. If you walked past him in the hallway of the gym, you might think he’s in the band, but put him on the floor, and he’ll eat you alive with big shots and smart plays. He too had 17 to match McGlockton for team-high honors. But as always he had plenty of help, as the three other of the “four-headed” guard monster employed by coach Scott Givens, seniors Thomas Stocks and Nate Hammond and junior point guard Kohl Harris, all had big moments. Be it Stocks’ 7 clutch points in the 4th, Hammond’s energy and leadership at both ends, or Harris finally taking advantage of the space Lambert was giving him and getting 3 big buckets in the 4th, all three are so steady and join Underwood in giving defenses fits as to who to key on. For Lambert, the aforementioned Beaty was terrific all night, getting a combination of hard drives the hole and three-point buckets to lead his team with 24 points. His athletic ability and speed with the ball is a handful. But it was the conspicuous absence of senior Luke Champion (0 points) from the scoresheet that was a stunner. In seeing Lambert three times this year, it’s not hard from a former coach’s standpoint to see that a donut from the sharp-shooting senior is going to be too much for a still talented Longhorn team to recover from.