Ten Best: Crispus Attucks at West Lafayette
The first significant snow fall of the year lead me to the Crispus Attucks at West Lafayette contest. This was truly a battle of two different playing styles as Attucks looks to get up and down the floor and West…
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Continue ReadingThe first significant snow fall of the year lead me to the Crispus Attucks at West Lafayette contest. This was truly a battle of two different playing styles as Attucks looks to get up and down the floor and West Lafayette looks to control the pace of the game. Early on, Attucks was getting exactly what they wanted, turnovers and bad shots that lead to quick transition opportunities. This helped them jump out to a 20-12 lead after the 1st quarter. West Lafayette changed up their game plan a little bit and moved back into a zone that slowed Attucks down and forced more outside shots. They held Attucks to 4 2nd quarter points and took a 28-24 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the half, Attucks was on the attack again getting a few easy baskets in transition but they were never fully in control of the game again. West Lafayette limited Attucks to one shot and kept working to get good looks on the offensive end which meant taking long possessions. West Lafayette was up 45-39 heading into the 4th. Both teams struggled to get anything going in the final quarter of the game and West Lafayette was able to get stops and hit FT’s down the line to seal the game. Final Score: Crispus Attucks 48 – West Lafayette 53.
MVP: Nike Sibande (Crispus Attucks)
Although it was in the losing effort, Nike Sibande was the MVP of this contest. Sibande posted 22 points (7-8 2FG, 1-8 3FG, 5-5 FT), 9 rebounds (8 defensive and 1 offensive), 2 assists, and a steal. Aside from falling into the trap of settling for the long ball, Sibande was in complete control of Attucks’ offense all night. He got to the basket with ease and was very efficient with his shot selection inside the arc. His aggressiveness also helped him real in the game high 9 rebounds. He was doing everything in his power to help his team to victory.
Best Offensive Performance: Charlie Nycz (West Lafayette)
Charlie Nycz was aggressive with his jumper from the very start of the game. Nycz finished with a game high 25 points (5-7 2FG, 4-13 3FG, 3-5 FT), 1 defensive rebound, and 1 steal. Although he didn’t shoot it overly well from deep either, his aggressiveness on the offensive end is what won the game for West Lafayette. He was a dominant force in the second half getting to the basket and finishing through contact. They moved him off the PG position a little in the second half to help him get open and get his shot off because they were in need of his scoring, and he delivered.
Best Defensive Performance: Jamal Harris (Crispus Attucks)
Jamal Harris is one of the most athletic guards in the 2018 class. He used his athleticism to bother West Lafayette and cause turnovers. Harris finished with 9 rebounds (6 defensive and 3 offensive), 1 blocked shot, and 3 steals. He rebounded well for being a guard and his steals got him involved in the game by getting Crispus Attucks out in transition. He is a good one-on-one defender because of his footwork and ability to keep his man in front of him.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Jamal Harris (Crispus Attucks)
Along with being a nuisance on defense all night, Harris produced 8 points (4-9 2FG, 0-1 3FG), game high 9 rebounds (6 defensive and 3 offensive), 2 assists, 1 block, and 3 steals. He did a little bit of everything for Crispus Attucks last night. His aggressiveness in the open court was unmatched and he had all four of his buckets inside of five feet, finishing over opposition. If Harris were to remain aggressive even in the half court, Crispus Attucks would have another scorer to complement Sibande and draw some attention away from him.
Best Player Off-The-Bench: Luke Staton (West Lafayette)
Luke Staton comes off the bench with some length, athleticism, and energy for West Lafayette. He finished the game with 8 points (4-6 2FG, 0-3 FT), 4 rebounds (2 defensive and 2 offensive), and 1 steal. Staton was all over the floor hustling for loose balls and was a nice complement to the big men (Karlaftis and Mbongo) down low. Staton also had the play of the game with his one-handed put back slam over a defender late in the 3rd quarter that got the crowd going and pretty much sealed the deal for the win.
Biggest Upside: Nelson Mbongo (West Lafayette)
Nelson Mbongo showed some signs of greatness last night. He was aggressive going to the hole in the first quarter and also made some big buckets late in the game for West Lafayette. He finished with 8 points (3-5 2FG, 2-2 FT), 3 defensive rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Mbongo is a sophomore still trying to find his role on this team. His length and athleticism will take him far but he will need to remain aggressive throughout the game to continue to grow. He is good on the defensive end of the floor but he needs to attack the glass more on both ends.
Best Intangibles: George Karlaftis (West Lafayette)
Karlaftis is a wide and strong body on the inside for West Lafayette. Karlaftis is a hustle guy that comes away with rebounds and clears space inside for himself and others. West Lafayette was looking to go to him early and often last night as Crispus Attucks didn’t have the size to bang down low with the big body. George finished with 7 points (3-8 2FG, 1-4 FT), 5 rebounds (4 defensive and 1 offensive), 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. The numbers don’t show the impact that he had on the game. His hustle and toughness were exactly what West Lafayette needed against the quicker, more athletic Attucks team.
Best Rebounder: Matt Krause (West Lafayette)
Matt Krause found himself struggling from the floor finishing with only one bucket (3 points), but he found other way to get involved and help his team to a win. The 6’6” junior used his length and basketball IQ to position himself in the best spot for rebounds. He finished the game with 9 rebounds (8 defensive and 1 offensive). He has great hands for a taller player and tends to spend the most of his time on the wing. Krause will need to continue to crash the glass for the undersized West Lafayette team and will find himself getting more involved in the offense as the season wears on.
Best Underclassmen: Jaiquan Edwards (Crispus Attucks)
Jaiquan Edwards is a 6’5” sophomore forward. He is long and lanky and really played well for Crispus Attucks last night. He finished with 4 points (2-4 2FG), 6 rebounds (2 defensive and 4 offensive), 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal. He needs to attack the defensive glass the same way that he does on the offensive end moving forward but Edwards was solid for Attucks last night. They will need that kind of production out of the sophomore forward who will probably continue to start the remainder of his high school career.
Biggest Takeaway: Secondary Scoring
Both teams only had one player in double figures (Nycz and Sibande). West Lafayette will look for Karlaftis, Mbongo, and Krause to hopefully join Nycz in the scoring column in future contests. Having a few players in double figures will really help take some pressure off their starting PG to score. Crispus Attucks will need Harris and Owens to be more involved on the offensive end. If they get more involved Sibande will find himself scoring easier and with more efficiency.