Notes from the Trinity Holiday Tournament
Thanks to AD Pat Buchanan and Trinity for hosting this event and providing me with great hospitality!
St. Paul Harding 65, St. Agnes 61
We knew about Jovan Christian from some of his big-time scoring performances last year. Well, I got to see his three-point shooting first-hand as he hit seven threes against St. Agnes en route to 28 points. He has a nice, quick form, and he works very hard to get open on the perimeter. Devonte Bolten is a quality big man for Harding who had a big block late and hit some clutch free throws. I thought this team did a really nice job of holding onto control late.
St. Agnes had a scorer of its own in Marcus Johnson, its senior guard who tallied 27. Terrell Jones helped out with 20 of his own, and Norman Strickland had key back-to-back threes to help the Aggies try and rally in the second half. But Harding ended up taking control and beating Agnes’ zone to seal the win.
Bloomington Kennedy 90, HSRA 48
Senior Markell Aune got Kennedy going in the first half with five makes from deep, and Kennedy cruised all the way in this one. I really liked Kennedy guard Isaiah Stone; he’s a senior who averages 15.8 PPG and had 13 in this one. He gets a lot done around the rim and has a jumper as well. The Eagles also have some nice size in 6-foot-8 Laronte Mormant and 6-4 Allen Ardley. I was looking forward to seeing potential sleeper Caleb VanderBeek, but he was out today with a concussion.
HSRA was without star player Aaron Gill, who wasn’t listed on the roster, either. Reggie Hill (10 pts) and Louis McCaleb (14 pts) are both long wings who push the pace and love attacking the rim. Nashaun Shackleton is a big body who added 11.
Cristo Rey Jesuit 72, St. Paul Washington 45
It’s a youth movement at Cristo Rey as Franklin Doyle is the team’s only senior. Doyle (19 points) is strong attacking the rim and has come a long way since he interned for my office as a freshman (Cristo Rey has students intern somewhere once a week). Sophomore James Somner led the Pumas in scoring with 20 points and passed the ball exceptionally well from the top of the key. His dishes helped facilitate several scoring opportunities. Watch out for freshman Erick Burgess, a lanky wing who dropped 13.
Washington was led by sophomore guard Zaveon Smith (10 pts) and senior Keveon Magee (12).