Top Performers: McCluer vs Kirkwood
With postseason play looming, teams are trying to hit their stride down the stretch of the regular season so they are peaking at the right time. It was senior night at Kirkwood on Friday, and they welcomed in the Class…
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Continue ReadingWith postseason play looming, teams are trying to hit their stride down the stretch of the regular season so they are peaking at the right time. It was senior night at Kirkwood on Friday, and they welcomed in the Class 4 third-ranked team to town in the McCluer Comets.
Kirkwood impressed for most of the game. They remained poised against the McCluer pressure, knocked down timely threes, and deployed a tough zone defense that kept them in the lead for most of the contest. However, down the stretch it was the Comets who made big plays and eventually escaped with a hard-fought 53-47 road win.
Here’s a look at the top performers from the game:
6’0 Sr Jeremiah Johnson | McCluer
The senior point guard continues to build on an impressive senior season. He is a stabilizing force in the Comets back-court that continues to make good decisions and lead by example on both ends of the floor. Jeremiah had a quiet first half, but came up clutch down the stretch finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and a pair of assists. He did a nice job of navigating the Kirkwood zone and getting his teammates good shots, battled on the glass and finished around the rim, played tough defense, and was money from the free throw line late in the game. College interest is starting to pick up for Johnson, who is strong academically, and would be a steal for D2/NAIA coaches looking for a true point guard.
6’5 Sr Kam Hubbard | McCluer
Kam is one of the most explosive athletes in St. Louis and was a force against Kirkwood Friday night. He finished with a game high 17 points that mostly came from operating short-corner to short-corner against the zone and converting or making his way to the charity stripe. Hubbard also made his mark on the defensive end, where he came away with 5 steals and 3 emphatic blocks. He is an excellent two-way transition player that looks to rattle the rim on the break and sprints back to challenge shots at the basket on the other end.
6’6 Sr Devon Barshow | McCluer
Devon struggled from beyond the arc Friday, but a coaching adjustment saw him moved into the middle against the Kirkwood zone and he started to be more aggressive on the attack and heated up from there. He was tough on the glass, finishing with 7 that included a handful on the offensive end. He did a nice job of getting his defender off balance and making his way to the line, eventually battling his way to a dozen points in the win.
6’3 Sr Will Ferbet | Kirkwood
Will was red hot against McCluer on Friday, and his marksmanship nearly led the Pioneers to an upset win. He finished up the night with a team-high 15 points that all came from long distance, where he buried five triples on the night.
6’2 Jr Jackson Fortner | Kirkwood
Jackson finished in double-figures for Kirkwood, pitching in 10 points on the night. The junior guard looks the part, with an athletic frame and had some nice moments. He attacked the McCluer pressure and was able to match their athleticism and get to the free throw line. He had a couple nice slashing finishes including a smooth double clutch bank.