North Georgia Showcase Notes

<p>The season kicked off last weekend with multiple full-day opening events throughout the state. I first made a stop at Buford for 2 games of the North Georgia Showcase before heading over to the Southwest Dekalb Showdown. The 2 matchups I saw were Mill Creek vs. Franklin County and Dawson County vs. Mountain View. Here are some thoughts from those games.</p> <p>The first game of the day saw Mill Creek take down Franklin County 67-58. Mill Creek had a nice start to the game and got out to a solid lead, which put them in good position for the rest of the game. Franklin made a few runs throughout the contest, but each time they did so, Mill Creek had a response and were able to extend their lead once again.</p> <p><br /> With a few key pieces transferring out, Mill Creek will now be in the hands of seniors <strong>Jack Kostel</strong> and <strong>Zion Wimby</strong>. They are embracing heavy loads and leaderships roles and it showed Saturday, combining for 45 points while directing the team and being vocal all game. Wimby is known for his shooting ability, but waited until the 2nd half to put that on display. After the break, Wimby connected on 5 3’s and scored 19 points for a total of 25 in the game. His efficiency was there as he didn’t force things once he got hot from the outside. Wimby is ultra-competitive and has a knack for jumping in passing lanes and getting deflections on defense as well. Recently committed to UAH, Kostel did a lot of what you would expect from him at Buford. He was more aggressive as a scorer, which will be needed this year, while still getting others involved off penetration often. I was most impressed with his improvements in being a leader and talking, especially on the defensive end. With his multitude of skills and how much he’ll have the ball in his hands this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kostel puts up a few triple-doubles throughout the winter.</p> <p><br /> The next game at Buford pinned Dawson County against Mountain View in a game that was tight and entertaining in the 2nd half. The duo of <strong>Noah Scales</strong> and <strong>Myles Davis</strong> was magnificent for MV. Scales scored 21 and Davis had 20 himself, taking the game into their own hands for the Bears in the 2nd half particularly. Scales has a soft, pretty jumper and wasted no time putting it to use in this game. His shooting in the 1st half opened up things for him after halftime and he proved to be capable of scoring in the paint too. Davis is a big wing who uses his body well and is a difficult match as a perimeter player. He’s right around 6’4” with a wide body, ball-handling ability, and the strength and dexterity to finish consistently. Davis shields defenders off effectively and will keep the opposition honest with his outside shot.</p> <p>Although those 2 guys played exceptionally well for Mountain View, Dawson County was the winner of the contest and displayed impressive balance and chemistry. Although they don’t have a surplus of true posts, Dawson has smart, savvy defenders who compete and play big. Making up their 67 points, the Tigers had 4 double-digit scorers and one with 9 points. <strong>Jasper Gibson</strong> and <strong>Mason Barnes</strong> were steady as the primary ball-handlers for Dawson; Gibson took on more of a facilitating role than usual and looked good doing so. Although he had to deal with foul trouble, he had a really solid game making plays after getting into the teeth of the defense. Barnes continues to show why he will be one of the area’s breakout juniors. He plays at his own pace and is always in control when the ball is in his hands. His IQ and creativity off the bounce usually results in a good shot for either himself or his teammates. <strong>Tate Adkins</strong> and <strong>Campbell Reed</strong> were reliable deep threats for Dawson. Adkins hit timely 3’s throughout the game and Reed came to life in the 2nd half after getting 2 quick fouls in the 2nd half. <strong>Eli Burruss</strong> gave the Tigers a strong rebounding presence and a finishing target once guys penetrated. Dawson County looks cohesive early on, which they’ll need. They have a big matchup with GAC at the beginning of December after competing in the North Forsyth Thanksgiving tournament. </p>