Prep Hoops KY 10 Best: Franklin-Simpson vs. Bowling Green (1/23/17)
Franklin-Simpson and Bowling Green squared off in a Region 4 vs. Region 4 matchup on Monday night Franklin, Ky. In what would be a very intriguing high school basketball game, the Wildcats and Purples went back-and-forth all throughout the contest, but only one team could win.
Both clubs went at it from the ball was thrown up to the final buzzer, as numerous players had big outings, but one athlete from each side outdid the rest. Thanks to a stellar performance from Terry Taylor, Bowling Green used a big fourth quarter run and avoided an upset to a talented Franklin-Simpson club by a score of 62-59.
- Most Valuable Player: Terry Taylor, Bowling Green — The strong forward was the Purples’ main leader on Monday. The senior, who is a double-double machine, scored 21 points while also pulling down 8 total rebounds. It took Taylor a little while to get into a rhythm, but once he did, he took control of the affair and led the Purples all throughout the night.
- Play of the Game: Deangelo Wilson’s fast break layup and-one, Bowling Green — Deangelo Wilson’s fast break layup and-one was the play of the game. Wilson grabbed a rebound of his own and zoomed down the court and drove in, scored, was fouled and converted the three-point play. The score helped the Purples outscore the Wildcats 29-12 in the fourth quarter.
- Best Offensive Performance: Tavin Lovan, Franklin-Simpson — Lovan put on an impressive offensive performance on Monday night. Lovan is physically gifted and was virtually unstoppable knocking down big-time shots on Friday. He scored 31 points and helped his Wildcats’ club only trail by six to Bowling Green at halftime. Lovan’s scoring came in a variety of ways, including layups, free throws, mid-range pull-up jumpers and three-pointers.
- Best Defensive Performance: Deangelo Wilson, Bowling Green — Wilson made his defensive presence felt all night long. The flashy guard played tenacious defense and made many crucial steals. He also scored 19 points to be the Purples’ second-leading scorer.
- Best Guy off the Bench: Josiah Robey, Franklin-Simpson — Robey came off the bench on Monday and contributed in a big way. He may of not filled the stat sheet, but he played tenacious defense, knocked down a couple of big shots and set up opportunities for his teammates and followed head coach Dee Spencer’s play calls.
- Best Intangibles: Kyran Jones, Bowling Green — Jones’ toughness and competitiveness stood out all throughout the game. He possessed a high basketball IQ and made the right basketball plays throughout the game. Jones set excellent screens and found himself scoring at ease under the basket and grabbing rebounds.
- Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Deangelo Wilson, Bowling Green — Although most of his scoring came in the first half, Wilson hit big shots and was the backbone of the Purples’ club on Monday. He hustled, played tenacious defense and helped get others involved while also contributing points wise, as he finished with 19 for the game.
- Best Underclassman: Zion Harmon, Bowling Green — Harmon, an 8th grader, played well all game long and is the best underclassman on Bowling Green’s squad. Each game, he plays like an upperclassmen by knocking down big shots and controlling the tempo of the contest. Harmon is considered the top-rated player in his class.
- Best Rebounder: Tavin Lovan, Franklin-Simpson — Lovan grabbed 14 rebounds in the game. He made a handful of crucial rebounds Monday that set up scoring opportunities on the opposite end of the court, as well as offensive boards that gave his team second chances.
- Best Coaching Decision/Strategy: Sherrill‘s playcalling, Bowling Green — The best coaching decision or strategy of the game was Coach D.G. Sherrill’s playcalling in the fourth quarter of the contest. From the time the ball was thrown up to the final buzzer, Sherrill used his jam-packed basketball mind and guided the Purples to their 37th-straight victory over a Region 4 opponent.