10 Best: McCluer vs. McCluer North
I spent the evening in North St. Louis county checking out the big rivalry game between host McCluer and McCluer North. As usual, it was a high spirited contest with the action going at a fast and furious pace. The…
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Continue ReadingI spent the evening in North St. Louis county checking out the big rivalry game between host McCluer and McCluer North. As usual, it was a high spirited contest with the action going at a fast and furious pace. The momentum swings throughout the game were like a pendulum. McCluer controlled the first quarter, but North fought back to cut the lead to 30-28 at halftime. The Stars grabbed control in the third quarter and raced to a 39-31 lead, but McCluer engineered a decisive 17-4 run, which propelled them to a 59-52 victory. McCluer is one of the hottest teams in the St. Louis area with is current seven-game winning streak.
MVP: Damond Gathing (McCluer): The 6’1″ 2017 forward scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Comets to the victory. Gathing is an undersized forward who played with a tremendous motor. He scored on tough drives to the basket and knocked down several mid-range jumpers. He was also tough in the transition game as a finisher on the break.
Best Offensive Player: Anthony Harris (McCluer): The 5’11” 2017 point guard scored 17 points and ran the Comets fast-paced offense. He is an excellent scorer who has converted into a nice point guard. When it was time to get buckets, Harris showcased the ability to break down defenders off the dribble and either finish at the rim or pull up for mid-range jumpers. He also salted the game away at the end by making his free throws. Like a good point guard should.
Best Post Player: Cameron Lockett (McCluer North): A workhorse 6’5″ 2017 post player, Lockett led the Stars with 17 points and nine rebounds. He was tough to stop when he got the ball around the basket. He was dominant in the third quarter when the Stars were able to make their run and take an eight point lead. He’s a blue collar player who gets good results.
Best Defensive Player: Jamori Criswell (McCluer): The 6’3″ 2018 wing really did a good job on the defensive end when he entered the game. He caused a lot of problems to the Stars’ ball handlers with his length and constant activity. He dove on the court for loose balls and created turnovers.
Best Young Prospect (2019, 2020): Dareon Graham (McCluer): The 6’3″ 2019 guard scored 10 points and displayed some excellent skill level. He handled the ball for much of the game and showed some nice dribble drive moves and pull up jumpers. He also knocked down a 3-pointer. Very impressed with what he can turn out to be in the future.
Patrick Evans (McCluer North): The physically built 6’2″ 2019 guard scored seven points for the Stars. Evans is strong and likes to attack the rim off the dribble. He did an excellent job of getting into the paint.
Play of the Game: Late in the game with the Comets holding onto a late lead, the broke the Stars pressure defense and Harris hit a sprinting Gerald Moore on the back end and the 6’3″ 2017 forward threw down a resounding one-handed tomahawk dunk that sent the McCluer crowd into a frenzy.
Key Stretch of Game: In the final seconds of the third quarter, McCluer North held a 43-37 lead, but McCluer created two turnovers in the final 15 seconds and scored on two transition buckets to cut the lead to 43-41 at the end of the third quarter. More important, the Comets had snatched the momentum back from the Stars and took full control of the game.
Best Bench Player: Jaylen Kimple (McCluer): The 6’0″ 2017 guard came off the bench and scored six points in the second half. He is a slick ball handler who scored on some nice drives to the basket and also provided a defensive spark.