10 Best: Brooks DeBartolo vs. Berkeley Prep
Two Class 5A-District 9 rivals met on Thursday night. Berkeley Prep came out slow but wound up beating Brooks DeBartolo 61-44. After trailing 10-7 after the first quarter, the Buccaneers (3-1) outscored Brooks DeBartolo 18-6 over the next eight minutes.…
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Continue ReadingTwo Class 5A-District 9 rivals met on Thursday night. Berkeley Prep came out slow but wound up beating Brooks DeBartolo 61-44.
After trailing 10-7 after the first quarter, the Buccaneers (3-1) outscored Brooks DeBartolo 18-6 over the next eight minutes. They took that momentum into the second half. Junior wing Zach Mathis led all scorers with 18 for Berkeley Prep while Alex Nieves had a team-high 12 for the Phoenix (3-1).
MVP: Zach Mathis (Berkeley Prep)
With football season just ending last week in the state final four, Zach Mathis didn’t need much time to get back into a rhythm on the basketball court. The 6’6″ junior had nine points at the break as he added nine more in the second half. He also recorded six rebounds, three blocks, an assist and a steal. When the Bucs needed a play the most, they went to Mathis, who performed at a high level.
Best offensive performance: Myles Hyatt (Berkeley Prep)
Junior forward Myles Hyatt made a couple of mistakes as a passer, but for the most part he used his speed to get inside for buckets. He had 10 points in this game and hit a couple of really hard shots in transition. Hyatt is a 6’2″ forward the Buccaneers really trust.
Best defensive performance: Nicholas Petit-Free (Berkeley Prep)
An offensive and defensive tackle for the Bucs football team, Nicholas Petit-Free is almost certainly going to play that sport at the next level. However, the 6’6″ junior finds himself in a timeshare with fellow football teammate Mayan Ahanotu. Petit-Free had two points on the night and a couple of really nice rebounds. He played lock down defense.
Best guy off the bench: Davis Koetter (Berkeley Prep)
The son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter, Davis had five points in this game. The 6’2″ senior quarterback is fresh off a stellar season as Berkeley’s quarterback. He earned most of his opportunities in the first half where he showed up on offense and made some really nice passes.
Best intangibles: Alex Nieves (Brooks DeBartolo)
Alex Nieves came on late scoring eight of his team-best 12 points in the fourth quarter. He has quick feet and is smooth near the basket. Nieves showed some fancy moves and a heads up mindset on a good amount of his attacking lay-ins.
Best under-the-radar performance: Jordan Gilliard (Brooks DeBartolo)
Senior guard Jordan Gilliard wrapped up football season as a defensive back for Wharton. At 6’2″, he has so much length and he looked poised on the court for Brooks DeBartolo. He scored eight points finishing third on the team in that category.
Best underclassmen: Liron Thomas (Brooks DeBartolo)
A 6’1″ freshman, Liron Thomas drew the start for the Phoenix. He contributed five points in this game. Thomas didn’t get many opportunities on offense to score, but he made plays as a passer and floor stretcher. Thomas is still figuring out how to contribute on a consistent basis. He’s a 2020 prospect to watch.
Best catch and shoot guy: Kegan Karnes (Berkeley Prep)
Freshman guard Kegan Karnes is listed at 5’8″. He looks like a freshman when he hits the floor. However, when he gets open watch out. Karnes missed his first two 3’s in this one, but proceeded to connect on four in the second half to finish with 12 points. The younger brother of junior guard Kaleb Karnes, Kegan is trusted heavily as a varsity starter and tonight was proof.
Best energy guy: Craig Hall (Brooks DeBartolo)
Craig Hall paced Nieves with nine points on the night. The 6’7″ senior showed why he is the most reliable post man on both offense and defense. Hall took it to the rack with aggression and played tough defense. He is someone the Phoenix will lean on heavily once again this season.