Lighthouse Classic: Unsung heroes

<p><strong style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Corinth, Mississippi</strong><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> – The Lighthouse Classic had the best players on the court on Friday and Saturday.</span></p> <p>That can’t be questioned.</p> <p>But what about the unsung heroes? You know, the guys that made the extra pass, got the crucial rebound or made an important basket.</p> <p>Those are the guys people aren’t talking about, but should be given two thumbs up.</p> <p>I handpicked five players from the event that were important in helping their teams have success on the court.</p> <p>Here are the five unsung heroes from The Lighthouse Classic:</p> <p><strong>Andersson Garcia, Hamilton Heights</strong>: The 6-foot-7 senior wing had eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Hawks’ 77-59 win over the Orangeville Prep Bears in the Lighthouse Classic Challenge Semifinal matchup. Garcia followed up that performance with 11 points, 14 rebounds (10 defensive boards), four steals, two blocks and one assist in Hamilton Heights’ 64-61 over West Oaks Academy in the Lighthouse Classic Challenge Championship game.</p> <p>Garcia is playing next to New Mexico commit Bayron Matos and Florida commit Samson Ruzhentsuv, but he’s a big part of the team’s success.</p> <p>“I think he’s been one of our unsung heroes for the last two years,” Hawks head coach Zach Ferrell said. “He does every single thing you ask and every time he plays, he plays his heart out. I can’t count on two hands the amount of games he’s won us.</p> <p>“Just from effort and doing everything he can and rebounding the basketball and finishing,” Ferrell continued. “He hit free throws, just an incredible asset to our team.”</p> <p><strong>Michael Malone Jr., Briarcrest</strong>: The senior guard had nine points, three assists and one steal in the Saints’ 74-64 win over Callaway. Malone Jr. was able to limit the Chargers’ best player, <b>Daeshun</b> <b>Ruffin</b>, to three points in the second half after putting up 21 points in the first half. The defensive specimen made 3 of 5 shots from the field and had only two turnovers.</p> <p><strong>Amos Howard, Webb School</strong>: The senior guard had 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block on 6 of 6 shooting in the Feet’s win over Center Hill. Howard’s 15 points were very important in the win since senior guard <b>JJ</b> <b>Platt</b> struggled offensively, scoring five points on 2 of 11 shooting. Howard had nine points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists in Webb School’s 71-57 win over Holly Springs. With the way Howard played with just three games into the season, that’s a good sign for the Feet moving forward as they try to send off their senior class with a Division II Class A Boys’ State Championship.</p> <p><strong>Cuwandric Samuel, Callaway</strong>: The senior guard had 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the Chargers’ 83-72 win over Wooddale Saturday night. He was the team’s third-best scoring option on the floor behind junior point guard Daeshun Ruffin (35 points) and sophomore guard <b>Keiveon</b> <b>Hunt</b> (20 points). Samuel will be an important key to Callaway’s chances of a MHSAA 5A State Championship.</p> <p><strong>Braxton Morris, Center Hill</strong>: After junior wing <strong>Kaeden Laws</strong> cooled off in the second half, senior point guard Braxton Morris stepped up for the Mustangs, providing 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block in a 67-66 loss to Webb School. His scoring will be needed moving forward because Laws, who was 7 of 22 for 18 points, and senior Decorian Payton, who finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks, can’t win games by themselves.</p>