Ten Best: Lee’s Summit West (71), Blue Springs (48)
Ten Best: Lee’s Summit West (71), Blue Springs (48) LIBERTY — Lee’s Summit West showed why they are the state’s No. 3 ranked team in the latest Missouri Class 5 poll with a decisive victory over Blue Springs in the…
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Continue ReadingTen Best: Lee’s Summit West (71), Blue Springs (48)
LIBERTY — Lee’s Summit West showed why they are the state’s No. 3 ranked team in the latest Missouri Class 5 poll with a decisive victory over Blue Springs in the championship game Nelson Division at the William Jewell Tournament on Friday.
Scouting report
Blue Springs: The Wildcats have a nice team with three really good players in guards Tyree King and RJ Lawrence and post player Daniel Parker Jr., and they have some nice pieces around them as well. They can really shoot it, and Parker is a handful inside. Against Lee’s Summit West, the Titans were too much, both in the paint and had too many guys to throw at King and Lawrence, who combined to shoot 4 of 12 from 3. When those two are on their game, Blue Springs is tough to beat.
Lee’s Summit West: The Titans are Kansas City’s premier team on the Missouri side, and they’re likely to compete for a spot in this year’s Final Four. They are now 7-0 and they simply have it all — size, length and skill inside, terrific guard play and some depth off the bench.
MVP: Christian Bishop (Lee’s Summit West). A 6’6 2018 forward, Bishop is one of the rising young stars in KC hoops and he showed why on Friday, throwing down four emphatic slams, showing off a feathery smooth shooting stroke at the free throw line and leading the Titans with 23 points.
Best offensive performance: Daniel Parker Jr. (Blue Springs). He certainly didn’t back down against the talented front line that Lee’s Summit West possesses and put up 18 points on 8 for 15. He’s a competitor and it showed on Friday. Parker is a strong, physical post player that is capable of mixing it up in the paint or stepping out and knocking down 3s.
Best defensive performance: Daniel Parker Jr. (Lee’s Summit West). He used his strength to body up and push 6’7 2017 Bradley recruit Elijah Childs off the block and keep him from lighting up the scoreboard. The Childs-Bishop tandem on the baseline is one of the state’s best and they won’t see many teams play them tougher than Parker.
Best shooter: Tyree King (Blue Springs). He probably didn’t have his best game shooting the ball, but still finished with 17 points and was 3 for 8 from deep. He can really shoot it and when he’s hot he can carry the Blue Springs’ offense.
Best rebounder: Elijah Childs (Lee’s Summit West). At 6’7, Childs is a physically gifted athlete capable of playing above the rim, but also brings a versatile skill set to the court. He finished the contest with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds, was 4 for 8 from the field, added two assists and led both teams with three blocked shots.
Best passer: Mario Goodrich (Lee’s Summit West). One of the quickest point guards around, Goodrich hooked up with Bishop and Childs for several alley-oop slams and finished with 16 points and a game-high five assists.
Best underclassman: Phillip Brooks (Lee’s Summit West). Neither team played a freshman or sophomore in this one, and LSW doesn’t even list one on its roster — so we’re going with Brooks, a talented 2018 guard. Brooks is a dynamic defender and is a big time athlete packed into a 5’10 frame. Can knock down outside jumpers, has a terrific mid-range game and can get to the basket as well.
Name to remember: CJ May (Lee’s Summit West). Like Brooks, May is kind of the forgotten guy on a team with three fixture Division I players, but he can play. A 6’2 2017 guard, May finished with 10 points, four assists and was 5 for 10 from the field.
Best match-up: Daniel Parker Jr. (Blue Springs) vs. Everybody (Lee’s Summit West). At 6’3, Parker Jr. had to take turns inside trying to contain Childs and Bishop and while those two certainly provided some entertaining highlights and combed for 33 points, Parker actually held his own.