Toledo-Area District Finals: Top Non-Seniors
This weekend we watched Antwerp, Evergreen, Start, and Lima Senior advance to the regional tournament. The scoring gap between those four games was a combined 15 points. Friday night, Antwerp won improbably against Toledo Christian after a slow start where they…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend we watched Antwerp, Evergreen, Start, and Lima Senior advance to the regional tournament. The scoring gap between those four games was a combined 15 points.
Friday night, Antwerp won improbably against Toledo Christian after a slow start where they looked outmatched early. It went back and forth several times.
Saturday afternoon, Evergreen nearly saw the season slip away before a late run by their two seniors.
Then, Saturday night, Start escaped Northview in the craziest ending to regulation we saw all season. Finally, Lima inched past Toledo St. John’s in their third meeting of the season.
Crazy weekend. Here were the stars of the show:
Cole McWhinnie
Cole
McWhinnie
6'1" | PG
Toledo Christian | 2021
State
OH
(2021) | 6-1 PG | Toledo Christian
stats: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
Life is much less stressful when you have a point guard like Cole McWhinnie Cole McWhinnie 6'1" | PG Toledo Christian | 2021 State OH . He carries himself with a calmness that others can feed off of.
Friday night — especially in the first half — McWhinnie controlled tempo. He never panicked. Used his handle and changes of pace to protect the rock against ball pressure. Patient and skilled passer. Penetrated regularly and is becoming way more effective playing through contact — a part of his game that will continue progressing as he grows physically. Absolute knock-down shooter with a quick, confident release. Defensively, McWhinnie stayed in front. Has some length and often anticipates moves.
Jagger Landers
Jagger
Landers
6'7" | PF
Antwerp | 2022
State
OH
(2022) | 6-6 C | Antwerp
stats: 17 points, 10 rebounds
The sophomore big man secured great position inside and was productive when the ball was thrown to him. Eleven of his points came at the free throw line where Landers has a terrific stroke — a sign he could develop a 3-point shooting threat down the line. He also shows touch on over-the-shoulder shots. Rebounded in traffic.
Trevor Wensink
Trevor
Wensink
6'2" | SG
Toledo Christian | 2021
State
OH
(2021) | 6-2 SG | Toledo Christian
stats: 12 points, 4 rebounds
Wensink makes sound decisions without hesitating. He provides scoring on catch-and-shoot triples and slashes to the basket. Uses a dynamic side-to-side crossover as a slasher, a move he will do repeatedly as he tries to breakdown his defender. Wensink shoots an effective pull-up jumper from the elbow, too. He shines on defense where he uses his quickness and toughness to defend taller wings.
Sean Craig
Sean
Craig
6'6" | PF
Sylvania Northview | 2022
State
OH
(2022) | 6-5 PF | Northview
stats: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks
Craig is automatic in the paint. His touch and fundamentally-sound footwork are his greatest assets. He doesn’t play with any wasted motion. Craig is comfortable playing with his back to his man, often crab dribbling into position before going over the shoulder with a baby hook. Very poised body language. Provided rim protection in the halfcourt, too.
Jourdyn Rawlins (2021) | 5-9 PG | Lima Senior
We’ve loved the 2019-20 version of Jourdyn Rawlins. He knows and embraces his role as a distributor and, mainly, defensive specialist. Lima rosters two go-to scorers and two other guys who are very productive in certain areas of the floor. Therefore, even as the point guard, Rawlins ensures that he doesn’t hold the ball for too long. In other words, he’s unselfish.
Instead of dribbling the air out of it, he focuses his energy on defense. Rawlins often picks up fullcourt man-to-man, which he is capable of. He crashes the glass and is a sneaky leaper. Impressive lateral quickness and speed.
CJ Hornbeak CJ Hornbeak 6'2" | SG Toledo St. John's | 2023 State OH (2023) | 6-1 PG | Toledo St. John’s
Hornbeak shined all week at UT. He knocked down 3-pointers confidently, an area he is already showing signs of progress in. He’s both patient and crafty in the paint. He does a good job of feeling contact, knowing the whistle is coming, then flipping the shot into the cup for and-ones. Hornbeak added a turn-around short-range jumper after driving hard right. Handled the ball against immense Lima Senior pressure.