5 Takeaways from Grayson vs. McEachern
In this article:
Grayson’s three-headed monster
Grayson boasts a very talented backcourt this year with Deivon Smith and Caleb Murphy, along with Toneari Lane on the wing. All three players play for Atlanta Celtics on the Adidas Circuit and have meshed well as a result of playing together in the spring and summer. They are all division one commits who affect the game not only offensively, but with their defensive intensity as well. Murphy and Smith did a great job of guarding Cooper and limiting his touches. This group could go down in history as one of the most dynamic trios in Georgia basketball history.
McEachern’s streak is over
In an 85-57 win over McEachern, Grayson snapped what would have been McEachern’s 40th straight win. Grayson played with a chip on their shoulder after being upset by Newton in their last game. With 6’10 Oak Hill transfer, Dylan Cardwell, expected to return in the second half of the season, I do not see McEachern losing many more games this season. Is this really the end of the McEachern’s streak or the start of a new one? Only time will tell.
The arrival of Ian Schieffelin
Grayson is well-known for their three-headed monster, but it was Ian Schieffelin (pictured) who stole the show against McEachern. Schieffelin finished with a triple double including 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 blocks. He played a big role in their success and was the X-factor for Grayson’s win over McEachern. If Schieffelin can continue with similar performances, he should see a major boost in his recruitment in the near future.
Cameron McDowell’s first half
Sharife Cooper struggled to find a rhythm in the first half but Cameron McDowell was there to pick up the slack. McDowell scored 15 points in the game, all of which came in the first half. He is a very streaky scorer who will have to have major contributions offensively if McEachern hopes to make a run for another state championship.
How will Sharife Cooper respond?
Simply, Sharife Cooper gets buckets. Unfortunately, this was not case against Grayson as they made him uncomfortable, and he struggled early in the game. Even though he finished with a team-high 17 points, Cooper was not in attack mode and could have been more aggressive offensively. The last time Sharife Cooper lost a game, he did not lose again for almost another two years. I look forward to seeing this matchup again in March and how Cooper responds to this loss.
