Ten Best: Columbus North vs. Center Grove
MVP: Spencer Piercefield (Center Grove) In a game where offense was limited a bit, Spencer Piercefield was able to give some consistent shot making ability and Columbus North was so hard to defend in the post that Spencer was able…
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Continue ReadingMVP: Spencer Piercefield (Center Grove)
In a game where offense was limited a bit, Spencer Piercefield was able to give some consistent shot making ability and Columbus North was so hard to defend in the post that Spencer was able to have a little freedom on the wing. His 15 points on 4/6 shooting was really impressive and was the difference in the outcome of the game. He’s grown into a solid player for Center Grove and looks like he has found his role.
Play of the Game: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove)
The best play of the game came very shortly after Trayce’s big block in transition. He had another mid-post catch where he was able to do a modified drop-step around a defender for a dunk at the rim. Jackson-Davis doesn’t have a ton of hops so you don’t expect him to make these plays a ton but his ability to finish using his length and stride with the confidence to pull it off makes this even more impressive.
Best Offensive Performance: Spencer Piercefield (Center Grove)
The best offensive performance comes from the 2019 guard Spencer Piercefield. He has earned his playing time and starting spot. He’s a really good perimeter jump shooter and that alone was why he was the MVP of the game. He went 3/5 from behind the arc and it all came in the middle part of the game when it was still tight. Trayce didn’t have his touch down low and everyone else chipped in. Spencer was the guy that was consistently scoring from start to finish.
Best Defensive Performance: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove)
Easily the best defender in this game was Jackson-Davis. He’s a game-changer at the rim now and Columbus North found that out early on some of their drives. They were trying to get to the basket in the open floor and he had a big block that kind of set the tone for the night. He’s also getting some really tough defensive rebounds and taking away any second chance points for Columbus North in the half court.
Best Guy Off The Bench: Ben Nicoson (Center Grove)
Ben is a guy that could be starting with his ability to handle the ball and the press. He did a great job when he was in the game. Controls the tempo pretty well and nobody can really speed him up. Keeps turnovers to a minimum and he’s a pretty solid shooter when Center Grove needs him to be.
Best Intangibles: Alex King (Columbus North)
King started off the game great but in the middle quarter he really struggled and as he did, Columbus North did too. However, he does so much at 6’8 that he’s irreplaceable for them. He’s so agile and mobile that he can step out and defend a lot of players. The strength factor hurts only when he’s in the post but in the few instances he was matched up with a true post he wasn’t too bad. He can rebound, pass, defend a bit, and shoot.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Lucas Doyle (Center Grove)
Lucas is a football guy and is already looking that way for college but on the basketball court, he can give you another piece that presents a different look. He’s a great screener and has a pretty solid jumper so the defender just can’t play off of him because he can hit a 15’ footer if he wants. He only had a few points but they were big ones in this game.
Best Underclassmen: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove)
Trayce already has a few offers in his bag with one coming from Purdue. He’s that level of talent and you have seen that over the course of the season how he is able to impact the game in many ways. The 6’8 power forward has really improved his face-up game where he can now drive and create in the mid-range. Pretty good shot blocker as well with a quick trigger on his jump and long arms that make it look too easy. He’s only scratching the surface right now.
Best Player Coaches Need To Pay More Attention To: Ethan Mitchell (Columbus North)
As we wind down to the end of the season, coaches are going to really want to finish off things on a good note. A potential late pickup could be Ethan Mitchell. The 6’7 post player didn’t have his best game but over the course of the season he has proven himself as a legit scoring threat in the paint and he’s got the body that can play right away. He’s also a pretty high academic student to boot.
Best Storyline Moving Forward: The best storyline to watch is Columbus North and their first round matchup with Bloomington South. It is a really tough game for them but they have been playing very well and seem to have more pieces on their roster develop over the course of the season. If they can pull it off, that really opens up that Sectional with Columbus North, Columbus East, and Bloomington North all having a chance to win. But first, have to pull down the best of the bunch. Up first is Columbus North.