Gamepoint Fall Shootout: Top Individual Performances (Part I)

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Oceanside, Ca. — Whenever there's an opportunity to get a close look at many of San Diego's best teams in one sitting, I make sure to take advantage of it.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The fine folks who run the high level and high class Gamepoint travel program organized a Fall Shootout at MiraCosta College, which featured some of SD's top teams and players, in addition to a couple Temecula squads and one from my home-base of Orange County.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Here are the top individual performances from the seven-game slate.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Brandon Angel</strong>, Torrey Pines</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">It seemed like the Stanford-bound forward didn't miss a shot the entire game en route to an event-high 29 points. By my count he only missed two, with most all of them, coming by way of the perimeter catch-and-shoot or pull-up. Angel paced the Falcons to a 53-47 win over a scrappy Capistrano Valley team and showed improved athleticism and ball handling in the half-court setting.</span></p> [caption id="attachment_857032" align="alignright" width="300"] Stanford-bound senior Brandon Angel scored 29 points to lead Torrey Pines to a victory over Capistrano Valley at the Gamepoint Fall Shootout.[/caption] <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Chris Howell</strong>, Torrey Pines</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Howell is a welcomed addition to what would have already been one of the area's best teams. The 6-foot-5, pushing 6-6, point guard picked up any slack Angel left him, scoring 18 points, while showing he can get to the free throw line and convert the freebies. Howell, a junior, is another player who has become more explosive both with speed and leaping ability, both of which were needed additions to go along with his high IQ game.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Melo Sanchez</strong>, Mater Dei Catholic</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sanchez didn't need a whole lot of minutes to show how important he is to his team's success. In fact, Sanchez scored all 15 of his points in the first half as the Chula Vista-based squad cruised past Poway, 65-43. Sanchez does more than just score for Crusaders as he also can serve as their de facto point guard when needed and set the table for his teammates.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Keavie Love</strong>, El Camino</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Love may have the build of an outside linebacker or safety, but he continues to show quite the hooping skill-set each time he takes the floor. The 6-foot-2 guard led El Camino with 17 points and seven rebounds, while also playing some stout defense on the opponents top scorer. Love is a physical downhill driver in transition who continues to show improvements as a perimeter shooter.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Keatten Smith</strong>, Santa Fe Christian </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The 6-foot shooting guard had his right arm warmed up early as he connected on four quick 3-pointers to help Santa Fe Christian jump out to good start. When his feet are set, Smith doesn't need much time or space to get his shot off and is one of those guys who makes you think his shot is going in each time he lets fly. Smith finished with a game-high 16 points in SFC's 12-point win over Temecula Valley.</span></p>