Vegas Classic: Heat NW Rundown

<p>Heat Northwest has more wins than most, has played more games than most, and they play with more confidence and heart than most.  Their defensive effort and team ball movement has improved every game as Coach Duberry has done a nice job of instilling confidence, team energy, and ball movement.  A lot of growth from these players and we must add, after the player run down was over William Alexander stepped up and hit some huge shots.  So many of these kids have improved.</p> <p>*NHR watched them against SoCal Chaos on Saturday morning but had to leave with a couple minutes remaining.</p> <h2>Player Rundown</h2><p><strong>Damario Armstrong</strong>.  His push in this NW system is high quality.  They force turnovers and run in threes which means shooters to the corner and Armstrong attacking middle before sending the ball out.  Liked his passes recognizing where his shooter was…Does so well in the Duberry system using his strength and lateral quicks to pressure and then always pushing the other way…Sunk a crucial trey with his team down a score late in the game.  Big play, big shot, bigger confidence…</p> <p><strong>Zach Baker</strong>.  I feel like Zach is discovering he is capable of more.  You see it in how he is defending on the perimeter and fighting through screens, when he is doubling off ball screens, running the floor to produce…Ball was kicked out to him and he aggressively attacked the cup to get a foul . Great attack and I love that Zach is seeing that late and exploiting it…Uses a ball screen to attack middle and then weaved to the other side of the rim for a finish.  No quit in that attack plus the confidence to make the play…</p> <p><strong>True Thompson</strong>.  Blocked a jumpshot and moments later closed out to block a shot into the wall. Crazy length and moves his feet very well to cut down space to make a play…A tough backside box-out for most players because they are either too small to deal with True’s length, too slow to make contact, or simply not quick enough to deal with him period.  Had a couple put-backs in this game…</p> <p><strong>Lucas Walford.</strong>  Quick springs to a carom tapping it in.  So quick off his feet…Lucas has a nice face-up one dribble attack more that he looks quite comfortable executing and getting to space with…There are bigs that don’t want to run in transition and guys like Lucas that do.  Lucas is a trail three threat or a follow-up cutter threat because he is always looking to get out and run for results…Must have had some type of back stiffness or something like that as he couldn’t sit on the bench</p> <p><strong>Ben Scherer. </strong> Too big and too strong for the SoCal Cavs.   The Blaine PF/C was able to establish positon, catch, and finish a couple times without the defense displacing him a bit.  Too strong on his turn to be defended in this game once his teammates got him the ball….Came on late, sealed perfectly, gave a target perfectly, used his weight and core strength to bump off his man and finished.  Lovely old school post work…</p> <p><strong>Isaih Wade. </strong> Looks like has grown a bit, a bit more slender so he is moving better but still a strong four man that is hard to displace.  His combination of strength and agility is too much for most fours in 17U and high school that he plays therefore he is a constant double-double threat…Sealed hard late, gave a target, received a nice pass and after shielding his man Wade completed a fantastic entry and attack…</p>