Prep Hoops 10 Best: Doherty vs. Mountain Vista
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Connor Staib had two quick layups Thursday night to stake Mountain Vista to a 4-0 lead. It was all Doherty after that. The Spartans ripped off a 23-2 run and never looked back, cruising to a 77-50…
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Continue ReadingHIGHLANDS RANCH — Connor Staib had two quick layups Thursday night to stake Mountain Vista to a 4-0 lead.
It was all Doherty after that.
The Spartans ripped off a 23-2 run and never looked back, cruising to a 77-50 victory over the Golden Eagles to improve to 5-1. Vista, which was without starting point guard Isaac Essien, fell to 3-3.
There was simply no stopping 6-0 senior guard Brevin Brimble, who poured in a career-high 37 points. The rotation of big men also performed well, limiting 6-9 Jake Belknapp while the Spartans built a 49-16 halftime lead.
MVP: Brevin Brimble, Doherty
Brimble scored 25 of his career-high 37 points in the first half. In the opening 16 minutes, he hit 7-of-9 3-pointers, and one of the misses was a half-court heave at the second-quarter buzzer that just missed.
Top offensive performance: Brimble
Another no-brainer. Brimble drained 3s in every fashion. Pulling up in transition. Running off screens. Off the catch. He also expertly used his floater, got to the rim off pump fakes, and work hesitation moves off of pick-and-roll plays. He had the whole offensive arsenal working.
Top defensive performance: Kayden Washington, Doherty
The 6-4 senior gave up four inches to Belknapp but was part of the crew that limited the Mountain Vista big man to only three first-half points. Washington plays with good toughness and his motor is always ticking. Every Mountain Vista attempt inside was contested.
Play of the game
In the midst of another big run in the second quarter, Brimble pulled up from 30 feet away and buried it. One of his seven first-half 3-pointers put the Spartans up 30-10.
Quote of the game
“I feel like we’ve made a bit of a jump in the last week defensively. I thought we really, really guarded in the first half. Defensively, I like where we’re at, especially this early in the season.” — Jarris Krapcha, Doherty head coach
Best under-the-radar performance: Kyrele Beneford, Doherty
The 6-5 junior had 10 points, creating offense with rebound putbacks. He showed good versatility with his ability to get into the lane from the wings off the dribble. Beneford has made big strides from a season ago and is an intriguing small-college prospect.
Best intangibles: Connor Staib, Mountain Vista
The 6-5 junior guard has a great, long stride to the basket and has the ability to get to the rim from just about anywhere. He finished with 11 points without forcing too much action. He’s an on-target passer and a good defender on the wing.
Top underclassman: Simon May, Mountain Vista
The 6-4 sophomore forward has good versatility and decent athleticism that allows him to guard multiple spots. He had a nice attack of the basket in the third quarter, finishing the layup while being filled and finishing the 3-point play.
The story going forward for Doherty: Will the Spartans solidify a second scorer?
There is no doubt this is Brimble’s team. He has the ultimate green light, and Thursday showed why. The question is who Doherty will be able to turn to for consistent offense if talented defensive teams are at least able to limit the sharpshooter. There are a lot of candidates. Joe Golden is coming off recent consecutive double-doubles, Beneford is making big strides offensively, and Emmanuel Burleson can get hot. As long as Doherty has someone ready to take on some scoring load, the Spartans can be dangerous team come February.
The story going forward for Mountain Vista: Can they take a load off Belknapp?
After a slow start, Belknapp finished with 16 points and was a load in the second half. Mountain Vista has to find ways to create offense outside of the big man so that his buckets aren’t so difficult to come by. Getting back Essien, who was wearing a walking boot Thursday, will be a good start.