Prep Hoops 10 Best: Overland vs. George Washington
It will be hard to imagine a more lively atmosphere than what was pulsating inside the gym on Monaco Parkway on Friday night. Host George Washington was looking to start 5-0 against a young but talented Overland team that had…
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Continue ReadingIt will be hard to imagine a more lively atmosphere than what was pulsating inside the gym on Monaco Parkway on Friday night.
Host George Washington was looking to start 5-0 against a young but talented Overland team that had already turned heads with a victory over Regis Jesuit.
The Patriots simply had too many weapons, looking the part of a true state title contender. G-Dub reeled off a 14-3 run to start the game and rarely led by anything less than double digits the rest of the game. The backcourt trio of Calvin and Jon’il Fugett and Jervay Green is as dominant as any in the state, and the three combined for 50 points in the 66-53 victory.
MVP: Jervay Green, George Washington
Green did it inside and out on his way to a game-high 18 points. The 6-4 senior nailed three 3-pointers and also rattled the rim with three thundering dunks. When he was scoring, he was penetrating and dropping the ball off for easy buckets for his teammates. Overland simply couldn’t stay in front of him.
Play of the game
Green’s final dunk of the game, which came in the fourth quarter, was a beauty. A sliver of daylight was all he needed to dart through the middle of the lane, leap just inside the free-throw line and throw it down over an Overland defender, igniting the rowdy G-Dub crowd.
WATCH: George Washington's Jervay Green….elevates. Oh. My. (footage courtesy of @DuvalierJohnson) cc: @1MrBigShot @CHSAANow pic.twitter.com/Tnv4KREax1
— Mile High Sports (@MileHighSports) December 10, 2016
Best offensive performance: Calvin Fugett, George Washington
Sensing in the opening moments of the game that his shot wasn’t quite on Friday, the 6-0 senior went into attack mode. He was constantly in the lane and seemed to hang in the air above the defense while finishing with maximum efficiency. He finished with 17 points and missed, at the most, three shots.
Best defensive performance: Jon’il Fugett, George Washington
It’s a joy to watch the 5-11 junior play perimeter defense. Few, if any, in the state do it better. Fugett’s constant pressure made the Blazers have to work for every dribble. He forced a number of turnovers early that led to easy transition offense. When he hits the defensive glass, he’s immediately heading up the court. His stout defense turns into instant offense.
Best under-the-radar performance: Laolu Oke, Overland
The 6-6 junior, who has been off to a strong start this season, had a team-high 14 points. He was especially strong in the second half, helping the Blazers close the deficit to 11 points in the closing minutes. Oke is still raw but has good athleticism and a strong motor. He battled hard on the glass and created a lot of second chances.
Best under-the-radar performance (1a): Tray Pierce
At 6-8 with an insane wingspan, Pierce’s mere presence can alter shots and prevent teams from attacking the rim as much as they’d like. That was the case for some stretches Friday, and Pierce runs the floor very well in transition, helping him finish two fastbreaks with big dunks.
Best intangibles: Treal Swanson, Overland
The 6-3 junior knows his role and plays it well. Specifically, he has good athleticism but doesn’t rely on that alone to rebound. He finds his man, bodies him and then locates the ball. He rebounded it really well Friday and then found the right man to start transition opportunities.
Best underclassmen: Stephen Hayes, Overland
Though he finished with only four points, the 6-3 sophomore had strong moments defensively. He’s still adjusting to a larger role after swinging varsity last season, but the future looks bright for Hayes.
The story going forward for George Washington: Final four tickets?
There is no doubt the Patriots have the talent to hang with anyone in the state. The plan constant, harassing defense, can shoot it consistently from 3-point range and have good size. This is still a team that can be turnover prone at times, allowing opponents to stay in games. But that’s nitpicking at this point. G-Dub looks the part of a legit stat title contender.
The story going forward for Overland: Who’s the go-to?
We’ll admit it: The Blazers are already further along than we’d imagined they’d be at this point, and that is credit to the coaching chops of Danny Fisher. Overland has the athletes, and Fisher has done a good job of instilling confidence a group that is largely limited in terms of varsity minutes. What will be interesting to see is who will become the go-to player or players on this team that can go get a bucket when the team needs one.