Springfield 54, Thurston 52: Top Performers
In a Tuesday night battle between Midwestern League teams, Springfield topped crosstown rival Thurston in a 54-52 thriller behind 16 points from junior guard Trey Bryant. Down two with under a minute to go, the Millers desperately needed a bucket.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn a Tuesday night battle between Midwestern League teams, Springfield topped crosstown rival Thurston in a 54-52 thriller behind 16 points from junior guard Trey Bryant.
Down two with under a minute to go, the Millers desperately needed a bucket. Senior guard Zach Sorber then pushed the ball up floor and found Braeden Lowe streaking to the basket, who converted a miraculous and-one to give Springfield a precious fourth-quarter lead.
Now down one, Thurston’s Miguel Perez attempted to reclaim momentum with three points of his own, but his jumper came up well short.
Jordan Vega rebounded for the Millers, converted one of his two free throws, and stretched the lead to two.
On the other end, the Colts’ final play took too long to develop, and the buzzer sounded just before Jake Newell could get his jump-shot off.
The win brings the Millers to 7-3 in league play, tied for third. Meanwhile, the Colts drop to 6-5 for sole possession of fifth.
Here’s our top performers from a Tuesday:
Trey Bryant (2021 Springfield) – Stats: 14 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl
In a game that was clearly defensive, Bryant emerged as the go-to guy for Springfield. The junior guard used his size and strength to attack the basket while rebounding very well. The 6-foot junior appears to be a focal point for the Millers’ success, letting the game come to him for steady offensive production.
Zach Sorber (2020 Springfield) – Stats: 10 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl
The Millers received a huge boost off the bench from Sorber, who knocked down both of his looks from three to earn secondary scoring honors. The 5-foot-10 guard is a clear leader, plays with heart, and has the ability to rise to the occasion. Both of the senior’s threes came at pivotal moments in the ballgame.
Santino Stranieri (2020 Thurston) – Stats: 14 pts, 1 reb, 4 ast
Stranieri was easily the most consistent offensive option for the visiting Colts, and although the senior came off the bench, his ability as both a slasher and a shooter were on full display. Stranieri has great speed with the ball, and he can blow by defenders to create his own offense and open things up for others. The 6-foot-2 guard’s four assists was a game-high.
Jake Newell (2022 Thurston) – Stats: 9 pts, 14 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl
Only a sophomore, Newell has been an absolute animal on the glass at 6-foot-3. With a tremendous nose for the ball, Newell times jumps well and has great hands, making him one of the premier rebounders in 5A. Furthermore, Newell has also been one of the best offensive players for the Colts, doing damage from both outside and on the stripe.