10 Best: Seffner Christian vs. Jesuit
Jesuit and Seffner Christian played a hard fought game on Tuesday night. The Tigers (3-0) beat the visiting Crusaders 60-51 behind 20 points from senior guard Stevie Darst. Seffner Christian (2-1) trailed by one point at the break and nearly…
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Continue ReadingJesuit and Seffner Christian played a hard fought game on Tuesday night.
The Tigers (3-0) beat the visiting Crusaders 60-51 behind 20 points from senior guard Stevie Darst. Seffner Christian (2-1) trailed by one point at the break and nearly ran away with the game, but Jesuit used its gritty ways to pull this win out.
MVP: Stevie Darst (Jesuit)
Stevie Darst finishes as the MVP of the night despite having no points in the first two quarters. He scored all of his game-high 20 points in the second half. Most impressively, the Loyola New Orleans commit did what he typically does by knocking down free throws. In fact, Darst connected on 13-of-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter alone. This kid can flat out shoot.
Best offensive performance: Darius Lue (Seffner Christian)
Darius Lue led the Crusaders with seven points at the half. The 6’1″ senior guard came out red hot in the third quarter, scoring all 11 of his team’s points out of the gate. He connected on three 3’s and made a tough layup in transition. Lue did it all from long range and inside, proving he can be a reliable threat for Seffner Christian with 18 points.
Best defensive performance: Derek Webster (Seffner Christian)
Derek Webster paced Lue with 12 points of his own, good for second on the team. But it was his contributions on defense that really helped Seffner Christian hang around in this game. The 6’5″, 210 lb senior had a couple of powerful dunks on offense and on defense, he didn’t give up anything easy.
Best guy off the bench: Christian Noskey (Seffner Christian)
So much energy came from senior Christian Noskey. The 6’6″, 195-pounder had six points in this game and helped the Crusaders out on both ends of the floor in his time out there. Noskey is a crafty player who isn’t afraid to mix it up down low.
Best intangibles: Thierry Moliere (Jesuit)
Although Thierry Moliere only had three points in the second half, the shot proved to be clutch for Jesuit. The junior guard has added muscle to his 6’0″ frame and is clearly taken on a liking as an aggressor for this offense. He had 13 points in this game and will continue to bring athleticism to this Tigers lineup.
Best under-the-radar performance: Tyson Dunn (Jesuit)
Tyson Dunn is perhaps one of the best all-around jump shooters in Hillsborough County. The senior guard connected on huge shots a ton a season ago and on Friday night, he did just that down the stretch. Dunn finished with 12 points including two 3-pointers.
Best underclassmen: Khalil Waleed (Seffner Christian)
Sophomore guard Khalil Waleed may only stand at 5’9″, but he has plenty of determination when he hits the floor. Waleed came off the bench for Seffner Christian and brought high intensity when he earned minutes. He didn’t have any points, but Waleed contributed a ton as a high-end passer and scrappy defender.
Best catch and shoot guy: Lucas Uzdavinis (Jesuit)
Senior forward Lucas Uzdavinis appeared in only eight games last season for the Tigers. He’s now in a key role as a post defender and spot up shooter. Uzdavinis has solid form as an outside shooter and that was proven on Tuesday night with his 12-point performance which included four 3’s.
Best passer: Stevie Darst (Jesuit)
It’s hard to find a better passer in this one than Darst. He has matured as a leader even further from a year ago. With D.J. Snyder now in college, Darst has taken on a role as the point man alongside Moliere. This offense runs according to plan when Darst has command of it. Look for him to continue to mature.