Ten Best: 7th Place Game J&C Classic – Frankfort at Benton Central
The 7th place game of the J&C Classic between Frankfort and Benton Central took place yesterday at 2:00 p.m. at Lafayette Jeff High School. Benton Central came out of the gate as the aggressor and they were ready to play…
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Continue ReadingThe 7th place game of the J&C Classic between Frankfort and Benton Central took place yesterday at 2:00 p.m. at Lafayette Jeff High School. Benton Central came out of the gate as the aggressor and they were ready to play from the tip. The score at the half was 26-18 Frankfort. Turnovers got the better of Benton Central to start the second half. Frankfort was up 41-26 heading into the 4th and proved to be too much for the Bison. Final score: 56-36 Frankfort over Benton Central. Frankfort finishes 7th in the Lafayette Classic.
MVP: Carter Taylor (Frankfort)
Carter Taylor came out aggressive from the tip and that didn’t change the remainder of the game. In limited minutes, Taylor posted 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He was all around the most influential player on the court the entire game. He used his 6’7” athletic frame to be a different maker on both ends of the floor. His length bothered the Bison all game and he was the cause of a hand full of turnovers. Carter was also responsible for drawing a pair of charges on the defensive end.
Best Offensive Performance: Malik King (Frankfort)
Malik King filled the stat sheet in this game with 20 points (6-8 2FG, 2-4 3FG, and 2-2 FT). He also finished the game with 2 assists. King had the ball in his hands the most on the court and made good use of it. He was much more aggressive in the second half when the pace of the game picked up scoring 11 of his 20 in the second half alone. King looks to score the ball whenever he touches it and will be a threat to teams throughout the season.
Best Defensive Performance: Dyllan Shelley (Frankfort)
Dyllan Shelley finished the game with a game high 3 steals. He was quiet in the first half but was tasked with guarding Blake Morin in the second. He made the best of the assignment as Morin never really got it going from the floor. All of Shelley’s steals came in the second half. He was in the face of his man the entire game and was on the floor on a few occasions. Although he only had 2 points on the afternoon, he was able to give Frankfort a defensive performance that allowed them to pull away from Benton Central.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Mason Gick (Benton Central)
Mason Gick is a 6’6” senior who has been flying under the radar all season for Benton Central. Gick saw limited minutes due to some early fouls but was productive in his time on the floor. He finished the game with 8 points, 10 rebounds (7 defensive and 3 offensive), 1 blocked shot, and 1 steal. He used his length to attack the glass aggressively and was one of the hustle men for Benton Central all game long. Look for Gick to post a few double-doubles as the season progresses.
Best Player Off-The-Bench: Austin Hernandez (Frankfort)
Austin Hernandez came off the bench and made an immediate impact scoring 4 straight points in the first quarter. Hernandez finished the game perfect from the floor with 6 points (3-3 2FG), 4 rebounds, and 1 steal. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time both on offense and defense. He was often the one to relieve pressure on the offense and finish long defensive possessions with a good box out.
Highest Upside: Malik King (Frankfort)
The Junior PG has all of the baseline skills he will need to play at the next level. He will need to work on his ball handling, passing, and defense a little bit in the coming year but he will be a solid basketball player. King is undoubtedly the leader of the Frankfort team and the guys look to him to be vocal on the floor. He has a good looking jump shot from deep and finished well around the basket with both hands.
Best Intangibles: Morgan Knotts (Benton Central)
Morgan Knotts is a gritty sophomore for Benton Central. He was all over the floor on rebounds and loose balls. His IQ for the game is good and it allows him to be in the right spot at the right time. Knotts finished the game with 10 points as well. He’s not a stat sheet stuffer kind of kid but he will be the aggressive leader that the Bison will need this season. He set the tone early and lived up to it throughout the remainder of the game.
Best Rebounder: Mason Gick (Benton Central)
Mason Gick posted a game high in rebounds with 10. He was aggressive on both the offensive and defensive glass. Gick finished the game with 7 defensive rebounds and 3 offensive rebounds. He had a few put backs but was also smart enough to tip some rebounds out for extra possessions. His length bothered some shots around the rim for Frankfort as well.
Best Underclassmen: Casey Henry (Frankfort)
Casey Henry is a solid 6’0” guard off the bench for Frankfort. He has a great handle on the ball and sees the floor very well for a sophomore. He is their secondary primary ballhandler and will see some good minutes as the season goes on. He finished the game with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. He has a good-looking shot from deep and knows how to use his body to shield his defender. He will be a solid player to keep an eye on in the future.
Biggest Takeaway: Frankfort’s Athletic Big and Scoring Guard Combo
Frankfort’s Taylor and King will lead the team in just about every category this season. Taylor has the athleticism to play on the perimeter and also the strength and body to finish inside. King is a floor general who can score at every level. The two of them will need to be good for Frankfort this season. The length and athleticism bothered the young Benton Central team in the 7th place game of this tournament. Benton Central will need some production from their underclassmen this season.