Five Intriguing Prospects: Curley vs St. John’s Catholic Prep (MIAA B Conference Championship)
Last night at APGFCU Arena on the campus of Harford Community College, Archbishop Curley and St. John’s Catholic Prep faced off for the MIAA B Conference Championship. Both were the two top teams coming into the playoffs, so it only…
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Continue ReadingLast night at APGFCU Arena on the campus of Harford Community College, Archbishop Curley and St. John’s Catholic Prep faced off for the MIAA B Conference Championship. Both were the two top teams coming into the playoffs, so it only made sense for the finale to come between the two. From the tip, Curley gained control and even though the Vikings had a few runs to pull close, none were enough to overcome the slow start as the Friars went on to be crowned champions by a final score of 64-54.
Here are five intriguing prospects from the contest:
Caleb Johnson | 6’2 | Curley ’20
Johnson put a bow on his career at Curley with one last strong performance, leading his team with 20 points and capping off his high school career with a championship. The 6-foot-1 combo guard kept his match up off balanced throughout with effective change-of-pace dribbles. That separation led to Johnson getting open driving lanes for himself to take advantage of. When he senses his man sprinting to recover, he’d stop and pull up from the mid-range area.
Matt Contreras | 6’0 | St. John’s Catholic Prep ’20
Contreras got hot in the first half to keep the Vikings within striking distance. He scored all of his 11 points in the two quarters. The Vikings are used to being powered by two other senior guards in Brandon Pilgirm and Tyriel Collins, but the two struggled to get any good looks from the field. Instead, Contreras stepped up and stretched the floor with his outside shooting. He also baited his defenders with pump fakes and attacked the basket for a couple of contested finishes. Defensively, he guarded the ball well and stayed in a defensive stance when he was one or multiple passes away. It was confusing as to why Contreras sat the bench for the majority of the second half when his team really could’ve used his long distance shooting and solid on-ball defense.
Dinari Boykin | 6’3 | Curley ’21
It’s been a year or so since I’ve seen Boykin and he’s making tremendous strides in his overall game. He’s more confident in his ball handling and play making ability. Pair that with his athleticism and size solid size at 6-foot-3 and he makes for a tough match up. Boykin scored 18 points in the win and consistently scored in isolation situations. He also rebounded well out of his area.
Winston Moore Jr. | 6’5 | St. John’s Catholic Prep ’20
Moore led the Vikings with 13 points and was extremely efficient in scoring around the rim. The 6-foot-5 forward hung out in the dunker’s spot and utilized fundamental footwork in the post before scoring over his left shoulder or on 10-foot jumper’s after squaring to the basket. He was a paint presence throughout the game and helped control the defensive glass for St. John’s.
Masai Troutman | 6’4 | St. John’s Catholic Prep ’22
Troutman showcased plenty of promise with his play for St. John’s. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is a versatile wing for the Vikings who can impact the game in a number of ways. He scored from all three levels, rebounded consistently and proved that he could push the ball himself in transition. On such a big stage, Troutman seemed comfortable and confident in his abilities.