MBCA Tournament, Raytown vs. Hillcrest: 10 Best
MBCA Tournament, Raytown vs. Hillcrest: 10 Best SPRINGFIELD — This was no contest from the jump as a bigger, stronger, deeper Raytown team took it to Hillcrest in the paint. They led by 13 at the half and opened a…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMBCA Tournament, Raytown vs. Hillcrest: 10 Best
SPRINGFIELD — This was no contest from the jump as a bigger, stronger, deeper Raytown team took it to Hillcrest in the paint. They led by 13 at the half and opened a 20-point lead in the second half before eventually winning 69-47.
Hillcrest 2019 Tyem Freeman struggled to get going as he battled foul trouble and the Hornets played the entire first half without Shahn Clark.
Raytown meanwhile had 10 players play key minutes and nine scored. It big-man combo of Mason fair and Devin Drew combined for 30 points.
Scouting report
Raytown Blue Jays: Team has a nice combination of size in the paint and talented guards on the perimeter. Have a lot of guys that can play too as several players came off the bench and performed well. Team was 20-5 last year before falling to then undefeated Lee’s Summit in district play with largely the same crew of players. Look for them to put together another big year in 2016-17.
Hillcrest Hornets: Tough match-up with a bigger, more physical Raytown team, but Hillcrest is likely poised for a nice turnaround season after going 8-18 last year. The Hornets have some nice individual players in Tim Washington, Cole Pryor, Hezekiah Duke, Shahn Clark who have varsity experience and one of southwest Missouri’s top young players in Tyem Freeman. They lack size in the paint and that proved to be a big difference in the game against Raytown.
MVP: Mason Fair (Raytown). Although he is listed at 6’5, 2018 Mason Fair plays much bigger than his height. He was a force on the boards and in the paint throughout the contest and finished with 18. He has good hands and a soft touch around the basket, but is also a good passer and has a nice shooting touch out to 15.
Best Offensive Player: Robert Proctor (Raytown). Came off the bench to score 12 for Raytown. Did a nice job attacking the basket and controlling the tempo for Raytown and was a playmaker on bothe ends of the floor.
Junkyard Dog: Devin Drew (Raytown): Was a rebounding machine in the paint, really dominated the glass and pounded Hillcrest on the offensive boards. Drew is big and strong and plays with a lot of energy.
Best shooter: Cole Pryor (Hillcrest): Always a standout 3-point shooter, Pryor has improved his game off the bounce and made three tough pull-up jumpers off the dribble. He finished with 12 points to lead the Hornets.
Top Bench Player: Robert Proctor (Raytown).
Best rebounder: Devin Drew (Raytown):
Name you should know: Isaiah Burton (Raytown). A long, athletic 6’3 2017 guard, Burton has all the tools to be a next level player. Has nice length and athleticism and can handle the ball. Struggled with foul trouble on Thursday.
Top underclassman (2019, 2020): Tyem Freeman (Hillcrest) a 6’4 2019 wing, Freeman finished with 8 points, all at the free throw line as he battled foul trouble. A smooth player with a nice touch from the outside and ability to attack the basket, Freeman is being asked to mix it up inside this season for an undersized Hillcrest team.