NHR Scout: Armstrong vs Park Center
Armstrong Armstrong was the favorite and while they did not play the game that Coach Miller wanted them to in the first half, they withstood a tough challenge and then as a team responded with a win. Park Center is…
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Armstrong was the favorite and while they did not play the game that Coach Miller wanted them to in the first half, they withstood a tough challenge and then as a team responded with a win. Park Center is a talented, much improved team so this is a good win but Armstrong is more talented and they used a team approach to finish off their opponents moving to 6-2 on the season. Nine different Falcons scored in the game and seven of them had key buckets in the second half to hold off the Pirates. Overall a good win after a tough start.
Players
Jubie Alade. Dealt with early foul trouble but avoided sitting on the bench in the second half by playing a smart defensive game. Noticeably active on defense in the second half but not aggressive. Affective but smart. Picked his spots offensively and scored a key basket late in the Falcon run. More on him early in the week as we talked with Jubie’s Coach Greg Miller about the season Jubie has had.
Jon Olson. The Pirates forgot about him late in the game and Olson knocked out a massive three to put Armstrong a couple scores ahead. He hit two long jumpers in the game but his second one was one of the key scores of the night for the Falcons.
True Thompson. That one or two dribble pull-up is really starting to come along. We’ve been seeing him use it a bit more and more since the spring and True knocked down two more against the Pirates. Tough shot to guard because True beats a forward who usually isn’t as quick as he is and then rises up to a height that most high school kids can’t get a hand to. He also had a baseline reverse finger roll in traffic late in the game that was an important score. Put up 11 points.
Colis Barber. Tough kid. Tough player. Role guy that does what he is asked and plays with toughness. Knocked out a massive corner three in the second half during a momentum run. Also like Barber because of the way he uses his physical frame to bump off cutters, muscle penetrators, and make physical contact off the ball when the ball is free.
Race Thompson. Even though the Pirates made it tough for him to get touches, Race still showed his versatility. Went coast to coast for a bucket, made big foul shots late, and used his length and knowledge of post position to give a target, move to the ball, catch, and score in one motion as he released from his man. Race’s skills facing the basket and pushing in traffic are the topic of many conversations but he’s so good in the post too.
Park Center
In my first viewing of the Pirates I was very impressed. The first term I would use to describe them is organized. There is a discipline to the way they are playing. The floor is spread, the ball is moving, there is off ball movement, shot selection seems for the most part balanced and adequate. Defensively the Pirates have found a team approach. There is a collective amount of work by the Pirate defense that includes defensive stances, guys taking the extra step in defensive rotations, and they play with toughness. The Pirates are 4-4 but look much improved under head coach James Ware.
Players
Xavier Bonner. About a six foot-2 small forward stretched the Armstrong defense a couple times with feet set attempts hit at or around the arc. This was his high game for the year as he’s starting to get a grasp on what Coach Ware wants on both ends.
Malcolm Lawson. Senior strong PF/C combo at about 6-foot-4 that played a big part in keeping Armstrong from using their length to dominate the glass and he kept the long Armstrong forwards pushed out of the paint making good post touches rare. Was big on the glass too especially in half one. Did a great job in limiting quality touches for Race Thompson around the basket.
Losini Kamara. The senior transfer from New York City was a pleasant surprise. He is leading the team in scoring at just under 20 a night but didn’t score into midway through the game. Even when not putting balls through the net he controlled the pace of the contest in the first 18. Kamara’s recognition of transition attack versus patience to make the defense work really caught my eye. Did a great job of directing his teammates, attacking space, moving the ball for clean Pirate looks. Stepped up to score late showing his ability to attack, get hit, and use body control to stay on balance and finish. Also hit a big trey on the wing to tie the contest with 40 seconds to go.
Eric Racine. Six-foot senior guard that hit double figures for the second time this season, he’s scoring about seven points a contest. Was a benefactor of the team ball movement and did a great job getting into space for potential production. Another player that seems to be buying into Ware’s teachings on both ends and his game is progressing as a solid role player.
Derrick Ogechi. Scoring wise this 6-foot-1 junior guard was the biggest issue for the Falcons until he came down on his ankle wrong and took away the burst that the Falcons couldn’t get guys in front of. Scored an early 11 highlighted by dribble attacks into a rotating Armstrong defense that only arrived in time to contact Ogechi after he was at the rim and finishing a rapid attack. Derrick hit a three to get into double figures but came down on his foot wrong and he wasn’t the same after. The Pirates second leading scorer at between 11-12 a game.