Scouting Reports: Ponchatoula vs. Independence (Video)
The Ponchatoula Jamboree on November 12 was the last time the Green Wave suited up for a game before the start of the regular season and they entered the year on a good note taking down Independence 36-23 (video). The…
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Continue ReadingThe Ponchatoula Jamboree on November 12 was the last time the Green Wave suited up for a game before the start of the regular season and they entered the year on a good note taking down Independence 36-23 (video). The two teams played two 10-minute halves, which was just enough time for the top players to show what they’re capable of. Here’s a quick look at what to expect from both teams this year, as well as the players that stood out during the scrimmage:
Ponchatoula Green Wave
Ponchatoula had a chance at snagging a playoff spot going into the home stretch of last season but couldn’t make up enough ground to jump into the top 32 finishing at No. 40 in the Class 5A power rankings. The Green Wave will have another opportunity to get in the postseason this year, though, with the return of senior guards Raymond McKay, Troy Jackson and Josh Doussan and the team is off to a 3-0 start with wins over Lake Area (58-53), Franklinton (60-52) and Bogalusa (64-62) in overtime (video).
The Wave play and uptempo style of basketball centered around the shooting and ball handling of those three players and McKay is the orchestrator of the group. He’s undersized at 5’9” but is a crafty player with a good shooting touch and the ability to create for others and run a team. McKay can also score in bunches at times, which he put on display in a 27-point outburst (video) against a 19-1 St. Paul’s team last year in a District 6-5A game.
Jackson functions as sort of a secondary point guard to McKay and has been the more consistent scorer so far in 2016-17. He had 13 in the jamboree against Independence and 18 in an overtime win over Bogalusa with four 3-pointers in both games, plus 12 against Franklinton.
His stroke from long range has been money and he’s also shown off some impressive ball handling skills as a dribbler and passer. Jackson is another undersized guard at 5’9” but has shown great maturity both on and off the floor helping Ponchatoula to a 3-0 start.
While McKay and Jackson are both distributors to a degree, Doussan’s primary goal with the Wave is to put the ball in the basket. He can score from behind the arc, has a decent mid-range game and can also put it on the floor and get to the rim. Doussan is slightly bigger than McKay and Jackson at 5’10” but all three are willing defenders that play hard on both ends of the floor.
Ponchatoula will have some stiff competition in District 6-5A with St. Paul’s likely to lead the way but they should be in contention for a playoff spot throughout the year.
Independence Tigers — 2018 W/F Melvin Baker
Independence finished the 2015-16 season right at .500 with a 13-13 record and they lost most of their key contributors to graduation. The one starter they did return, however, was 2018 W/F Melvin Baker, an all-district selection in 7-3A last year as a sophomore.
The 6-foot-4 prospect is an impressive athlete with a thick build that is adding different facets to his game. He was limited to the paint last year getting buckets around the rim and in transition but is now beginning to extend his skill set beyond the 3-point line.
Baker knocked down 3 long range shots in the Tigers’ jamboree against Ponchatoula and scored a game-high 16 points. He also had a pair of ferocious blocks and nearly finished two big dunks in the contest as well. While his ball handling still needs some work to become more of a threat from the perimeter, Baker has certainly improved over the summer playing with Team Shockaz.
There isn’t much around him at this early point in the season but if the Tigers can find a couple of contributors as the season progresses, Baker with a little bit of help may be enough to get them in the hunt for the district title race with Amite and Albany.
Highlights from the game’s top players are below and click here to check out the scouting reports from the first game of the Ponchatoula Jamboree between Amite and Hammond: