Storm Classic Day 1 Standouts
Josh Boeye (Pinecrest)-
Boeye had an outstanding first game at PCA, putting up 25 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists against Chestatee. After scoring his team’s first 12 points, Chestatee made adjustments defensively but Boeye adapted well. Boeye has improved a lot since I saw him this summer; he is much more confident and effective getting to the basket off the dribble. He is still an excellent shooter and showed he can connect from long range or create mid-range jumpers himself. Don’t be surprised if the sophomore guard continues to put up big numbers.
Ryan DiFazio (Pinecrest)-
Once Chestatee began to key in on Boeye, Pinecrest needed someone to step up offensively. DiFazio was that guy for the Paladins. He had a great 2nd half for Pinecrest and finished with 15 points on 3 3’s. His offensive production was a huge boost for the team and really helped to keep Chestatee from taking the lead. He was efficient in his attempts and mixed it up both inside and outside. Pinecrest could find themselves in the championship if the duo of Boeye and DiFazio keeps playing at a high level.
Cameron Gwyn (Chestatee)-
Gwyn may have been the best shooter in the entire tournament, which he showed in the 2nd half against Pinecrest particularly. Gwyn got some clean looks in the 1st half and while he hit a few shots, there were others that just wouldn’t drop. When Chestatee needed offense in the 2nd half, he started to heat up. He rattled off some shots quickly and then attacked the basket when defenders closed out hard. He finished with 19 points and 5 3’s made in the game; hopefully he can carry some momentum into today’s game.
Cooper Wilson (Chestatee)-
Alongside Gwyn in the backcourt, Wilson is no slouch either. With Gwyn off in the 1st half, Wilson took it upon himself to put up points for Chestatee, hitting 3 3’s in the half. He was not as hot after halftime but that didn’t stop him from making an impact. Wilson has solid athleticism, which he used to rebound effectively and create steals on defense. He finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in the War Eagles’ opening round game. I’ll have to keep my eye on him and Gwyn going forward.
King’s Ridge-
In a Top 10 Class-A Private matchup with Landmark Christian, the King’s Ridge team was dominant. Landmark came in with a reputation for putting up big scoring numbers and hitting tons of outside shots, but that did not happen in this game. The Tigers made an effort to chase them off the 3-point line every possession and it paid off. Offensively, KRCS had crisp ball movement that created easy looks throughout the game and resulted in 20 assists as a team. Eric Coleman, Sutton Smith, Sterling Johnson, Vincent Mason, and Casey Flanigan all had productive games for Kings’ Ridge. They made contributions on both ends and played with great energy that will continue to get wins for the Tigers. King’s Ridge Stats can be found at the following link:
