Churchill 82, Westview 80: Top Performers

Jackson Naugle December 15, 2019 @ 08:19 PM

In a battle between 5A and 6A powers, Churchill outlasted Westview 82-80 behind a masterful performance by Silas Bennion. The 6-foot point guard made the play of the game when he stole a Wildcat dribble in the backcourt and converted a go-ahead layup with just 21 seconds remaining in overtime, putting the Lancers up for good. Westview needed an intense fourth quarter comeback in order to force overtime, and trailing by three with just ten seconds remaining, the Wildcats stole the Lancers inbound pass and kicked it out to an open Wayne Jamison, who capped off an impressive fourth quarter with the game-tying three. The Lancers, after lacking momentum the majority of overtime, needed to make a play down 80-78 with 44.7 seconds to play and possession of the ball. Sensational sophomore Samaje Morgan answered, making a sweet double crossover on his way to tie the game up with a strong right-handed finish. Then, Bennion capped off his MVP level performance with the clutch steal and game-winner. Here’s our top performers from Friday: Silas Bennion (2020 Churchill) - Stats: 24 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast, 5 stl The senior point guard started fairly slow offensively, but got going when it mattered most, knocking down multiple deep three-pointers in the second half. Bennion did a little bit of everything for the Lancers, coming up with multiple momentous steals, rebounding the ball well, and picking the visiting Wildcats apart with great passing. The 6-foot floor general plays with a steady head and never hesitates to shoot, making him one of the most consistent offensive players in 5A. Brian Goracke (2020 Churchill) - Stats: 18 pts, 8 reb, 0 ast Goracke took even longer to find a rhythm than Bennion, but he similarly found his footing in the fourth quarter, rattling off a series of three-pointers to build a small lead before the Wildcats went on their run. The 6-foot-5 senior swingman also rebounded well, using his solid frame and athleticism to collect eight boards throughout the night. Samaje Morgan (2022 Churchill) - Stats: 14 pts, 1 reb, 9 ast, 7 stl Despite Bennion’s stat-stuffed performance, sophomore guard Samaje Morgan was still the closest Lancer to achieving the coveted triple-double. The 5-foot-9 pest was flying around on defense, locking up junior guard London Smalley after a big first quarter. Morgan’s quickness and instinct as a defender make him elite on that side of the ball, and the seven-steal effort on Friday was no exception. Morgan was also the driving force behind the Lancer’s offense while Bennion and Goracke struggled early, blowing by defenders before kicking out to open shooters and big men on the way to a game-high nine assists. Wayne Jamison (2020 Westview) - Stats: 26 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast Jamison found his rhythm late in the fourth quarter, answering Goracke’s hot spell with his own, capping off an impressive Wildcat run with a game-tying dagger three. The 6-foot-2 senior did most of his damage from deep, and his ability as a shooter should be one of the Wildcats’ key traits as they chase a state title this season. Brady Grier (2021 Westview) - Stats: 26 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl The 6-foot-5 junior was the steadiest player for the Wildcats, calmly finishing underneath and earning trips to the line on his way to 26 points. Grier was great from the charity stripe, and his three-point shooting ability was also on full display as he knocked down 2-of-4 from deep. The junior combo forward has a good feel for the game, and although his play style isn’t particularly eye-popping, he rarely makes mistakes and finds a way to score the ball, making him a valuable piece of the Wildcats’ talented starting five.