3 takeaways from Memphis East’s win over MUS
Memphis East (11-3) got a quality win Monday night as it defeated Memphis University School, 54-52. Here are 3 takeaways from the Mustangs’ win over the Owls. Memphis East stayed the course The Mustangs faced a 27-11 deficit after the…
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Continue ReadingMemphis East (11-3) got a quality win Monday night as it defeated Memphis University School, 54-52.
Here are 3 takeaways from the Mustangs’ win over the Owls.
Memphis East stayed the course
The Mustangs faced a 27-11 deficit after the first quarter. MUS (12-5) came out making shots from the perimeter, displaying great ball movement while Memphis East sat in a 2-2-1 half-court press. Coy Stiles, James Barton and Brandon Nicholson took advantage of the Mustangs’ miscommunication in the press and made shots from 3-point range. Curtis Givens III came out and attacked the rim.
But, in the second half, Memphis East started to settle down and make shots, starting with a 3 from junior guard Jamarion Harvey during a 9-4 to get within 32-27 at the break.
The key for the Mustangs was to keep the game close until the fourth quarter. Memphis East went into the final quarter up 41-39. By that time, MUS wasn’t able to connect on shots from 3, started turning the basketball over, and was missing a lot of point-blank shots at the rim.
The Mustangs grabbed the momentum for good after sophomore forward Alijah Curry, who led his team with 15 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and two assists, converted on a 3-point play at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give Memphis East a 44-41 lead, while R’Chaun King and Givens were on the bench.
Throughout the game, the Mustangs sent pressure to Givens, forcing him to pass the basketball.
Memphis East’s defense was the key to this win. It limited Givens, the opposing team’s best player, to only two points in the second half after scoring 10 in the first half.
It was an ugly win for the Mustangs, and they had to rely on their defense plus some timely shots to get this one.
E.J. Smith finished with 11 points, five assists, and four rebounds and should get a bulk of the credit for his on-ball defense on Givens.
Harvey added 10 points on 4 of 9 shooting.
Memphis East had to win the rebounding battle
King, at 6-foot-5, is a handful in the paint. He’s bulky in the shoulders and can easily move defenders out of the way. It was a must for the Mustangs to contain him on the glass. Curry defended King for most of the game and held his own, altering King’s shots at the rim and crashing the boards. Senior forward Markese Washington helped Curry on the glass. He had eight rebounds to go with his seven points, two steals, one block, and one assist.
MUS found a solid scoring option
With a lot of attention on Givens, sophomore guard Brandon Nicholson was a plus for the offense when the Owls were able to build a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Nicholson can put the basketball on the floor, can finish at the rim in transition, can make shots from 3-point range, and isn’t afraid of contact at the basket. He plays on both ends of the court. Outside of senior James Barton, who went 3 for 6 from the field, Nicholson, who led the team with 17 points, shot the second-best percentage Monday night (40 percent).
If Givens or King can’t get going offensively, Nicholson showed that he’s not afraid to carry the offensive load when needed.