Breakdown Tip Off Classic 5 Takeaways: Caledonia vs Maranatha Christian

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The third game of the day on the East Court at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic featured two of the top Class AA teams and after a brutal display of shooting in the first half, Caledonia pulled away from Maranatha, 81-64.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are five takeaways from the contest:</span></p> <p><strong>Noah King turned it on in a big way</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a 1 for 8 start to the game, Noah King was the catalyst for the Caledonia offense that went for 52 second-half points. He scored 19 points in the second half on his way to a 21-point effort that also included seven rebounds and five assists. The senior guard is so skilled and solid with the ball and even when his shot isn’t falling, he drives winning. His ability to get into the paint, use his strength and bully defenders is rare and his understanding of where his teammates are makes the Caledonia offense go. He’s also a rock-solid defender and can check guards and forwards effectively. Once he got it going in the second half, Maranatha simply didn’t have a guy who could handle him.</span></p> <p><strong>Eli King’s Athleticism Has Surpassed Even His Skill</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The youngest of the King brothers has the highest long-term upside and its tied to his next-level athleticism. He’s 6-foot-3 with long arms that are starting to fill out and while he won’t be as physically strong as Noah, or perhaps as cerebral as oldest brother Owen, he’s by far the bounciest and twitchiest of the King brothers. People see the dunks and they illustrate his hops without doubt. But he’s also got the explosiveness to blow by people off the dribble and the speed to get out in transition and be a terror for backpedaling defenders. His skill level is awfully high. But his athleticism may now be his greatest strength. It’s impressive.</span></p> <p><strong>Maciah Harut Was a Bright Spot</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maranatha had a solid start but fell beneath a tidal wave of offense by Caledonia in the second half. The bright spot for the Mustangs was senior point guard MaCiah Harut who scored 22 points and handed out four assists. Harut was a starter a year ago and averaged about eight points and better than five assists in a support role but he looks like he’s taken his game to another level as a senior. He knocked down 3-pointers, he got the rim, he finished over length and showcased a nice mid-range game. </span></p> <p><strong>Caledonia Role-Players Got Going</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caledonia is without junior big man Sam Privet who figures to be a key cog for the Warriors later this year if he’s able to get healthy and going forward. Without him, other guys have to step up and after a collective horrendous shooting effort in the first half, they did. Austin Klug knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during Caledonia’s big second-half spurt. Casey Schultz was active on the glass and excellent defensively and underclassmen like Jackson Koepke and Ja’Shon Simpson played well off the bench. </span></p> <p><strong>Bluford Brothers Look Like Players</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Maranatha is going to be one of the top teams in its conference and in Class AA, it’ll need production from new sources. Two guys who look ready to deliver are sophomores Matthew and Isaiah Bluford. The freshman pair scored six apiece and looked comfortable pushing the tempo, getting to the rim and looking for offense. Neither guy is going to be heavily featured yet as Harut and Hakim Daniels (who scored just two points Saturday) are the go-to guys. But the Blueford brothers are going to relied upon for minutes and they look like promising players going forward. </span></p>