10 Best: East St. Louis vs Althoff
Althoff vs East St. Louis. We saw these two play at the Highland Shootout back in January. This was the game were Althoff was leading when #2 2017 player Jordan Goodwin went down with a shoulder injury. East St. Louis…
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Continue ReadingAlthoff vs East St. Louis. We saw these two play at the Highland Shootout back in January. This was the game were Althoff was leading when #2 2017 player Jordan Goodwin went down with a shoulder injury. East St. Louis came back behind #1 senior Jeremiah Tilmon to get the win. They played again Tuesday in the playoffs. Althoff was without Goodwin in the 4A regional semi, but it didn’t matter early. Their defense and ability to knock down the three ball gave Althoff a 10 point lead at the half. With Jeremiah Tilmon in foul trouble and ultimately fouling out hope looked bleak for ESL, but a pair of senior guards made plays late to give East St. Louis the comeback win 60-58. Here is a look at our 10 Best: East St. Louis vs Althoff.
MVP
PG Kerion Chairs (East St. Louis – 2017)
Chair is a 5’11” senior who came up huge in this game when the chips were all down. He went for 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Shot the ball well from both mid-range and three. The quick and shifty guard pushed the tempo and brought life to his team. He finished with 15 points. Small college/JUCO prospect.
Play of the game
PG Reyondous Estes (East St. Louis – 2017)
Estes is a 6’1” senior who is headed to Minnesota as a quarterback. He led the Flyers to a football state title. He had the biggest play of the game in this regional semifinal as he scored a layup with under 20 seconds left to give ESL the lead. Most of his 11 points came at the cup on layups. Did hit a wing three. He and Chairs were the reason they won this game in regulation.
Best offensive performance
PG Arthur Carter (East St. Louis – 2017)
Carter is one of the more undervalued point guards in the state. The strong and compact lead guard takes it to the rack strong. Is best going coast to coast in the open floor using his speed to take it right at the defense. Finishes well through contact at the rim. He had 13 points. JUCO prospect.
Best defensive performance
SG Edwyn Brown (Belleville Althoff – 2017)
The Eastern Illinois football recruit had a very strong first half. He has stepped up his rebounding since Goodwin has been out. The long and lanky 6’4” wing gets after it on the defensive end and loves to push it in transition. Finishes with runners/floaters in traffic. Even mixed in a three. Missed multiple free throws at the end that would have given Althoff an opportunity to send it to OT. Finished with 15 points.
Best rebounder
SF Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis – 2019)
Hargrove is a 6’5” small forward that has had a huge rise in the rankings. Going from unranked to #4 in the state in the class of 2019. He has a long and projectable frame with quality strength and plus plus athleticism. Hargrove is known for making an impact with his energy and second jump. Did that in this one. He was active on the glass getting several put backs. Had a big alley-oop dunk. The perimeter game wasn’t working as he didn’t really handle it much and he bricked a pair of threes. Love how he rebounds in traffic snatching boards at their highest point. He had a sweet dish to a cutter for an assist. Defensive potential at the next level. Hargrove finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists. He is a high major recruit.
Best passer
PG CJ Coldon (Belleville Althoff – 2017)
Coldon was magnificent in their opening playoff win on Monday and he made some noise again Tuesday. The Wyoming football commit took it right at the East St. Louis defense for a couple of tough scores among their twin towers. Also hit a three from the corner. Without question best attacking the rim off the bounce. Passes well in the lane. Solid game to close his basketball career with 15 points.
Best catch and shoot guy
SF Marvin Bateman (Belleville Althoff – 2017)
D2 schools what are you waiting on? Bateman is a long and lanky 6’4” wing that is a dead eye sniper from beyond the three point arc. He is outstanding letting it fly in the catch and shoot. Was money from the corners in this game. Has improved as a rebounder as the season has progressed. Doesn’t bring much else offensively, but you can’t teach the ability to shoot the ball at his size. Finished with 14 points. Now Bateman will turn his focus to recruiting.
Best intangibles
C Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis – 2017 – Illinois)
It wasn’t an outstanding showing from the state’s top ranked prospect. The 6’11” center missed a few bunnies early and never really got in a rhythm in the first half. Struggled finishing against Althoff’s packed in zone. Did like how he ran the floor hard and competed on the defensive end as a rim protector. Foul trouble would once again haunt him. This has been one of his biggest weaknesses throughout his career. He would eventually foul out of this game. Before that he did have a nice little stretch in the third quarter where he got a dunk off a dump off pass, converted an and-1, and scored through a triple team. Not his best outing, but they move on. Tilmon had 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 dimes.
Best under-the-radar performance
SF Dante Ray (Althoff – 2017)
Ray was solid in this game. Most of the time his points come on threes, but in this game he did all his scoring inside as the jump shot wasn’t falling. Got on the offensive glass for a couple second chances and challenged ESL’s big front line going up strong for points. He had 10 points. D3/NAIA player that has the size and frame at 6’4” to continue to get better. Not overly refined at this stage.
Best bench player
The whole ESL bench stepped up to make key plays with their stars in foul trouble.