Five Takeaways: San Clemente vs. Dana Hills
Early season games have been interesting in the Southern California area thus far. From the time off due to the pandemic to scouts not seeing players as much as they have in the past, now is the time to see…
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Continue ReadingEarly season games have been interesting in the Southern California area thus far. From the time off due to the pandemic to scouts not seeing players as much as they have in the past, now is the time to see games you wouldn’t normally take in throughout the season.
A non-league contest between San Clemente and Dana Hills fit the bill of a strong South Orange County rivalry with plenty of untapped talent. The host Tritons defeated the Dolphins, 66-60, and below are five takeaways from that game.
San Clemente has one of the better true big men in Orange County
The Tritons are known for their talented grid-hoopers, and while Asher Gardiner Asher Gardiner 6'6" | C San Clemente | 2022 State CA-S looks the part of a tight end or offensive lineman, he sticks strictly to basketball. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward/center is a physical low post presence who knows his role and focuses on defense, rebounding and finishing shots around the basket. Gardiner finished with 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Dana Hills boasts an under-the-radar scorer
Six-foot-3 junior Griffin Haugh displayed a versatile scoring package on the perimeter. The smooth-shooting guard knocked down shots off the bounce and off the catch and hit multiple from well beyond the three-point line. Haugh isn’t just a shooter either as his balanced pull-up jumper is a weapon that is difficult to guard. Haugh scored a game-high 23 points with four three-pointers.
Jack Carroll vying for best shooter in OC crown
The 6-foot-5 off-guard is the definition of the shooting guard position. He gets great lift on his jumper, understands how to set up and come off of screens and doesn’t need much time or space to get his shot off. Carroll finished with 13 points, knocking down three triples in the process.
Tritons guard to consider at the Division III or NAIA level
Tyler Nemeth showed an impressive overall feel for the game and ability to make high IQ decisions in both the half-court and transition settings. Nemeth, a 5-foot-10 senior, struck a nice balance between creating scoring opportunities for himself and teammates. He finished with a team-high 17 points, including two three-pointers and multiple trips to the free throw line.
Glue guys galore
While it’s always nice to take an in-depth look at the top players on each team, one guy on each squad impacted the game in multiple ways that went beyond the stat sheet. For San Clemente it was Sam Hunter, a rangy wing who guarded multiple positions, rebounded well and pitched in 12 points. For Dana Hills it was coach’s son Tommy Desiano. The senior brought a toughness and physicality to the defensive end that helped Dana Hills stay close down the stretch. Desiano scored eight points and made key defensive plays.