West Georgia Doubleheader: No. 3 Lithonia vs. No. 4 Hiram; No. 4 Chapel Hill vs. Marist
Saturday’s double-header in West Georgia had great basketball on display in Paulding County and Douglas County. In Game 1, R5 #4 No. 3 Lithonia flexed its muscle on the road and breezed by R7 #1 No. 4 Hiram 65-52 using…
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Continue ReadingSaturday’s double-header in West Georgia had great basketball on display in Paulding County and Douglas County. In Game 1, R5 #4 No. 3 Lithonia flexed its muscle on the road and breezed by R7 #1 No. 4 Hiram 65-52 using an explosive second half. In the night cap over in Douglas County, R5 #2 No. 4 Chapel Hill lost a stunner against R7 #3 Marist 52-51 in a triple overtime marathon. Here are some players that stood out in their respective games.
2020 6-7 W Franklin Champion – Lithonia
I’m not quite sure how he is under the radar but after watching Franklin Champion for the first time, I wouldn’t be surprised to see his recruitment heat up quickly as the grassroots season nears. A legit big wing with skills inside and out, Champion was overpowering in his Top 5 showdown with Hiram posting 19 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals and 1 block. Champion is smooth around the basket, able to attack off the dribble and finish with slick finger rolls. His activity defensively led to run out opportunities as his length deflected a ton of Hornet passes. Schools will want to familiarize themselves with Champion as he looks like a valuable late pick up.
2020 6-3 PG Eric Gaines – Lithonia
One of the trendiest guards in the nation, Gaines had a bit of a quiet start but after banking in two threes, he got the juices flowing and totaled 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. He broke out in transition in the fourth quarter and helped put the game out of reach. Early in the game, he was a little sloppy with the ball but still managed to limit his turnovers. He didn’t really press the issue hunting for his offense and let it eventually come to him. Once the tempo quickened in the second half, Gaines started to light up. He’s graceful when slicing into the paint, protecting the ball and unfurling it once shot blockers are out of sight. His athleticism gives him an edge rebounding the ball and on defense, his timing when blocking shots is impressive.
2020 6-2 G Javyen Brown – Hiram
It was too little too late when Brown finally got hot from deep, but his stretch in the fourth quarter showed what type of shooter he is as he nailed four threes in the final stanza. Hiram’s success had come from its outside shooting but entering the fourth quarter, the Hornets had just two makes as nothing would drop. Brown finished with 16 points (5 threes), 4 rebounds and 2 steals. He’s a quality guard that should get some interest from small colleges looking for a ball handler that can light it up from deep.
2020 6-6 F John Treanor – Marist
Chippy, physical and tough, John Treanor grinded his way to 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a gutsy effort that lifted Marist past Chapel Hill in a wild triple overtime thriller. It was a low scoring, defensive war as the two teams went to overtime tied at 39 and then saw triple overtime start at 43-43. Treanor battled in the paint the entire game and traded words with all of Chapel Hill’s big men. He finished hard drives by gathering himself and fundamentally squaring his shoulders. He didn’t rush any attempts up close and was not bothered by Chapel Hill’s length. Treanor went down with a cramp at the end of the first overtime and missed the first 26 seconds of double overtime but he willed his way back onto the floor and quickly scored Marist’s only points of the frame to help force the deciding third overtime. Treanor’s hard work and effort inside embodied Marist’s overall grit. It was a big-time stock up game for Treanor and a classic playoff upset for the program.
2020 6-1 G Mitch Owen – Marist
The football standout made big play after big play in what could have been his final game. Owen chipped in 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He saved his best for when it mattered most. He scored four points in triple overtime. Trailing 51-45, Owen scored off a missed free throw and then hit two free throws himself to make it 51-50, setting up Cody Gaynes‘ game-winning steal and layup. But the War Eagles might not have ever had a chance for Gaynes’ heroics if it wasn’t for Owen’s game-saving block of Mike Bell at the end of regulation to force OT. Owen flew in out of no where to reject Bell’s layup attempt to preserve the tie.
2020 5-10 PG Cody Gaynes – Marist
No flash, just substance. Cody Gaynes applied constant pressure on Chapel Hill and did not back down from his matchup with Micah Bell. Giving up five inches and an immense amount of quickness and athleticism, Gaynes managed to do a terrific job on defense making life hard for Bell and all of Chapel Hill’s guards. Gaynes landed the knockout blow, capping a 7-0 run over the final 1:34 of 3OT to stun the Panthers when he picked Bell’s pocket and laid it up with 34 seconds left to give Marist the lead for good. Gaynes had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block.
2021 6-5 W KJ Doucet – Chapel Hill
Doucet is a big wing that can score inside and out. He hit three threes on the day including back-to-back threes in 3OT that looked like they could be the dagger. He finished with a game-high 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Doucet is a solid prospect heading into his final season. He will need to tighten up his ball handling and get more efficient when slashing inside. He had a few travel calls when spinning and dragging his pivot foot.
2021 6-3 PG Micah Bell – Chapel Hill
Stuck in the half court and unable to run wild in transition, Bell never got into a real flow. He had a nice third quarter when he came out aggressive, but he wasn’t able to keep his foot on the gas pedal and finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. I would have liked to see him get into the lane more, but Marist’s defense was so solid they limited any clean driving lanes. While his offense came and went, his effort on the glass was apparent. The super athletic guard outjumped everyone and helped eliminate any second chance opportunities for the War Eagles. Hearing from Mercer and Georgia State, Bell could be in-line for a big summer with the right travel team. He is a gifted athlete with great length and really high upside. A sour taste in his and KJ Doucet’s mouth could propel both of them to monster senior seasons.