Five Takeaways: Bishop Carroll-Free State
Five Takeaways: Bishop Carroll-Free State
MCPHERSON, Kan. — Wichita Bishop Carroll advanced to the championship game of the McPherson Invitational Tournament on Friday as they held off Lawrence Free State for a 59-53 win.
They will face host McPherson in the championship game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Carsen Pracht and Tanner Mans led the Golden Eagles with 19 points each, while Garrett Luinstra led Free State with 16 points.
Here, Prep Hoops takes a look at five things that stood out in the contest.
Pracht puts together big fourth quarter
A 6’2 2019 guard, Wichita Bishop Carroll’s Carsen Pracht put together a huge fourth quarter as the Golden Eagles held on for the win down the stretch. A well-rounded guard who can do a little bit of everything, Pracht is terrific at moving off the ball and is seemingly in constant motion. He showed terrific footwork around the goal on Friday as he found ways to free himself for easy lay-ins. His three-point play with 1:30 remaining off a basket cut largely sealed the win for Bishop Carroll.
Mans (pictured) one of the premier sophomores
Bishop Carroll 2020 forward Tanner Mans impressed on Friday with an all-around game as he went for a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds. At 6’5, Mans can play inside-out basketball, is comfortable on the wing and can shoot the 3. Much like Pracht (above), Mans is terrific off the ball and frees himself up for easy looks with his hard work away from the basketball. Mans showed he is a player to watch this season and beyond and could develop into a college prospect in the coming years.
Luinstra has tough game, continues to impress
Even in a loss in which he didn’t put together one of his best performances, Free State 2018 guard Garrett Luinstra continues to show he is a player college programs should have on their radar. Luinstra scored 16 points to lead the Firebirds on Friday, but struggled with his outside shot, was called for several charges and looked a little out of sorts at times. On the other hand, he displayed a steady hand in the backcourt, competed at the defensive end and made several big plays throughout the contest.
Football recruit a tough match-up inside
Free State 2018 post player Jalan Robinson made noise this past week when he picked up a pair of NCAA Division I offers in football, first from Southeast Missouri State, and later from Kansas. On the hardwood, he is a physical presence in the paint and shows good hands and a soft touch around the basket. He is an unselfish player willing to make an extra pass or throw the ball out of a double team to an open teammate. He went for eight points on Friday, but left several others at the free throw line as he went 2 for 7 at the stripe.
Carroll features several youngsters
Now 7-4 this season, Bishop Carroll started the season by losing its first three games and four of its first five, but has since won six straight games after its win on Friday. The Golden Eagles are a young team, both in its starting line-up and especially off its bench. Carroll starts just one senior — Luke Evans — along with a sophomore and three juniors. From there the team brings a pair of sophomores and a freshman off its bench. Alex Littlejohn, a 6’3 2021 forward, had some solid moments of play on Friday, going for seven points and three rebounds.