Five Takeaways: Archbishop Spalding vs St. Frances

Last night was the official opening night of the MIAA. It began with a bang as Archbishop Spalding played host to St. Frances. These two teams boast some of the top talent the league has to offer and should be the two of the three teams who end the shortened season at the top of the standings. It was an up-and-down affair and while Spalding pulled within single digits with less than four minutes to go, St. Frances used a late push to seal the victory by a final score of 96-78. Staten begins his POY campaign Khyrie StatenKhyrieStaten6'2" | CGSt. Frances | 2021StateMD got his senior season started off with a bang as the 6-foot-2 guard scored a game-high 31 points in the win. The Delaware State commit scored nine of his 31 from beyond the arc and converted on all seven of his free-throw attempts. He finished shooting 10-of-17 from the field and took advantage consistently in transition. Staten was a dark horse POY candidate coming into this season and if he can ride this momentum for the next few weeks, it’ll be safe to say that he will lock up the honors. Pennick shines despite the loss 2022 Spalding guard Jordan PennickJordanPennick6'1" | CGArchbishop Spalding | 2022StateMD had a productive summer with Team Choo that was frequently documented in our write-ups. He translated that production to the high school season as he led the Cavaliers with 25 points. While many of the Spalding players looked to be out of sync because of the long delay that COVID caused, Pennick was sharp and his pace looked tremendous. He scored in a variety of ways, but feasted on catch-and-shoots from around the perimeter as 15 of his 25 points came from such scenarios. He also hit a couple of high-level mid-range jumpers off the bounce that showcased his confidence. I could tell during the summer that Pennick had been putting in the time and reps with his jump shot. I believe this season he’ll show the rest of the area just how good he is. Whitmore continues to improve 2022 Spalding wing Cameron WhitmoreCameronWhitmore6'6" | PFArchbishop Spalding | 2022State#97NationMD had his coming out party last season as as sophomore. Now the 6-foot-7 wing is primed to become the face of the league with his elite athleticism and skill set that continues to develop overall. Whitmore finished with 24 points in the loss, but had a handful of jaw-dropping plays above the rim. When it’s all said and done, Whitmore should have a strong argument for POY if he continues to play at the level he did last night. https://twitter.com/SpaldingCavClub/status/1362345615896817664?s=20 St. Frances’ balanced scoring The Panthers had nine players score in the win and as indicated by their 96-point total, the wealth was shared. Four players finished in double-digits including Staten, 2024 Derik QueenDerikQueen6'8" | PFSt. Frances | 2024MD, 2023 Jahnathan LamotheJahnathanLamothe6'3" | CGSt. Frances | 2023StateMD and 2021 Julian ReeseJulianReese6'8" | CSt. Frances | 2021State#109NationMD. The 2021 duo of Byron Ireland and Elijah DavisElijahDavis6'0" | PGSt. Frances | 2022MD each chipped in with nine points. What makes this team so difficult to beat is the balance within their attack. They have players at every position who can score at a high rate. They usually do their damage in the open floor, but last night St. Frances consistently executed their sets in the half court for scores.  Going forward St. Frances has taken the floor as a group the past couple of months, which not only puts them in game shape but also allows them to get out to a fast start to this shortened season with their chemistry. Their timing was polished whereas Spalding clearly has some rust to knock off before they hit their stride. Spalding has only practiced for a week and a half, so it’s expected to go through lulls. Looking forward, St. Frances plays host to Goretti, who defeated Pallotti earlier this week. Spalding plays host to Mount St. Joe, who escaped with a close win last night in their season opener against John Carroll.