Toledo-Area District Finals: Top 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…
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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, Nate Brighton Nate Brighton 6'5" | PF Evergreen | 2020 State OH and Mason Loeffler Mason Loeffler 6'4" | SG Evergreen | 2020 State OH .
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:
Jayvin Landers
Jayvin
Landers
6'5" | SF
Antwerp | 2020
State
OH
(2020) | 6-5 SF | Antwerp
stats: 11 points, 4 rebounds
The Wittenberg commit contributed timely 3-pointers and consistent post-entry passes to set up easy baskets. Made 3-pointers in motion and pulling up after one dribble. Becoming more consistent playing through contact would help Landers at the next level, but he flashed that ability coming down-hill on a first-quarter and-one.
Jared Lindke (2020) | 5-10 SG | Toledo Christian
stats: 13 points, 3 rebounds
Lindke is a muscular, stout guard with a lot of quickness. He used his athleticism to defend guards all the way up the court and he was able to pressure every Antwerp ball-handler. Lindke can get his own shot if the play breaks down. Credible 3-point shooter.
Mason Loeffler
Mason
Loeffler
6'4" | SG
Evergreen | 2020
State
OH
(2020) | 6-4 SG | Evergreen
stats: 22 points
Loeffler set the tone with four 3-pointers in the first quarter, including one from three-quarters court as the buzzer sounded. He also swung momentum down the stretch with an emphatic fast-break dunk. Overall, the unsigned senior impressed by hitting jumpers without much space. Loeffler, a D-II/NAIA level prospect, floated around to find soft spots against Archbold’s zone and shot it confidently even when a defender had a hand up. He’s a good athlete but he would benefit from playing less flat-footed on defense.
Nate Brighton
Nate
Brighton
6'5" | PF
Evergreen | 2020
State
OH
(2020) | 6-5 SF/PF | Evergreen
stats: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals
Brighton, another unsigned senior leading Evergreen, is a skilled combo forward with a lean frame and capable stroke from distance. He was clutch as a scorer and rebounder. Snagged several rebounds in traffic and flashed his face-up game, a strength of his.
His defensive versatility, though, is Brighton’s best asset in our opinion. He can show and recover against the pick-and-roll. Very capable of sitting down and defending in space. Plus rebounder. Always in position.
TaVaz Lawler Showers
TaVaz
Lawler Showers
5'11" | PG
Start | 2020
State
OH
(2020) | 5-11 PG | Start
stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds
Down late with his high school career in the balance, TLS went into takeover mode by attacking the rim. He’s a springy, dynamic athlete with elusive finishing moves. Extremely crafty left-handed player with the ball on a string. Lawler Showers played confidently and didn’t see too many shots he didn’t like. Good shooter from distance with a quick release. Very hard to contain in the open floor.
Adrian Michael
Adrian
Michael
5'10" | PG
Start | 2020
State
OH
(2020) | 5-11 PG | Start
stats: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals
Michael was all over the place. He battled for rebounds and played aggressively on- and off-the-ball on defense. Michael won a clutch offensive rebound in transition at the end of the fourth quarter. The compact guard embodies the Start program with how hard he plays on every possession. The unsigned senior is also a terrific shooter from distance who plays unselfishly.
Jamir Simpson Jamir Simpson 6'5" | PF Lima Senior | 2020 State OH (2021) | 6-5 PF | Lima Senior
Simpson is a second guy Lima can run an iso for because he can score against good defense. Although Toledo St. John’s was in position, Simpson was able to bulldoze and pirouette from the elbow for high-percentage finishes. Even when he missed, the Pikeville recruit used his second jump to follow-up for second-chance points. Quick first step and good use of the jab step. He didn’t settle for many jumpers.
Josiah Fulcher Josiah Fulcher 6'2" | SG Lima Senior | 2020 State #342 Nation OH (2020) | 6-2 SG | Lima Senior
The Bowling Green signee’s one-on-one defense was even more impressive than his scoring on Saturday night. Fulcher is a wiry athlete who can sit down in a long stance. He stayed attached to SJJ’s top scorer and playmaker, Brady Lichtenberg, at the point of attack. Made hustle plays in transition defense.
Offensively, Fulcher uses a quick first step to blow-by. He’s equally capable of scoring at the rim or pulling up for a consistent jumper after one dribble. Fulcher is the type of dominant figure all State Championship contenders need.