10 Things I liked: Paul VI vs. Bishop McNamara

<p><em>FAIRFAX, VA </em>-- The PAC was packed on Thursday evening for a good old fashioned WCAC matchup between Paul VI and Bishop McNamara. The Mustangs led for most of the game and ultimately outlasted the Panthers to win by a final score of 60-55. Here are 10 things I liked about this contest. </p> <h5>FAVOUR AIRE'S PRESENCE</h5> <p>It did not take long for <strong>Favour Aire</strong> to make his presence felt in last night's contest. The long-limbed 6-foot-10 center blocked 2 shots within the first 2 minutes of the game. Aire pridefully anchored McNamara's 2-3 zone and made opponents think twice before challenging him. Not only was he a force defensively, but Aire commanded attention on the low block where he was effective at sealing his man for position. He was a constant threat to score with his back to the basket or face-up and attack the rim. Aire was relentless on the offensive glass as well. One thing he needs to work on is learning how to challenge shots without picking up cheap fouls. To do that, Aire will need to stay on his feet and keep his hands straight up more often. </p> <h5>DAVID BROWN'S EFFORT</h5> <p><strong>David Brown</strong> did not contribute much in terms of scoring, but his effort never wavered. The 6-foot-5 wing helped clean up on the glass. Brown did his due diligence by boxing out and attacking the ball at its highest point once it came off the rim. </p> <h5>TREVOR KEELS' VERSATILITY</h5> <p>Whenever the Panthers needed a play, whether it was offensively or defensively, <strong>Trevor Keels</strong> was able to deliver. He was able to effectively break down McNamara's zone by utilizing shot fakes and ball fakes to get defenders off their feet and open up holes. Keels wasn't deterred by Aire's length or shot-blocking ability. He played off two feet in the lane and was able to consistently finish through contact. Keels also shot it well and demonstrated his range. On the defensive side, he guarded posts and wings alike and took at least one charge. </p> <h5>DUG MCDANIEL'S PLAYMAKING</h5> <p>Is there a more exciting playmaker in the DMV than <strong>Dug McDaniel</strong>? The sophomore lead guard penetrated McNamara's zone and was able to thread the needle with pocket passes or kick out to open teammates. McDaniel also made plays defensively. He was very active and racked up the deflections to go along with a couple of steals. </p> <h5>WILL PAIGE'S IQ</h5> <p><strong>Will Paige</strong> came in off the bench and made an immediate impact with his ability to move without the ball and make smart passes. He communicated well on defense, took a charge, and played with his usual high motor. </p> <h5>JEREMY ROACH'S ACTIVITY</h5> <p>The stats will say that <strong>Jeremy Roach</strong> did not play well, but if you watch the game you know that he made a significant impact. Roach set the tone defensively where he was very active. He dove on the floor and put his body on the line any time there was a loose ball. Roach took at least one charge and crashed the offensive glass relentlessly. He was also very effective at making plays for his teammates with the ball in his hands. </p> <h5>AARON RUSSELL'S MOXIE</h5> <p><strong>Aaron Russell</strong> came out hot, knocking down three of his first four long balls. His confidence did not waver from that point on. Russell has a nose for the bucket and exploited the gaps in PVI's defense with his movement. He wasn't afraid to take and make big shots, including a couple of clutch free throws with his team clinging on to a 2-point lead late in the game. </p> <h5>RAYMOND WATTS' POTENTIAL</h5> <p><strong>Raymond Watts</strong> played limited minutes, but the freshman guard had some nice moments on both ends. He was solid at the point of attack defensively and communicated well from the help side. Watts also had a nice finish in transition where he showed his craftiness.</p> <h5>KENNY WOMACK'S INTANGIBLES</h5> <p><strong>Kenny Womack</strong>'s performance last night was one to remember. He was able to handle the ball well under pressure, get into the paint and finish from odd angles in the paint. Womack was often seen instructing his teammates and making sure everyone knew where to be. When the game got close late and McNamara stayed with their 2-3 zone, PVI would roll the ball inbounds to save time. Womack eventually caught on and did a nice job stepping up so they had to pick the ball up and run some clock. His performance personified the entire team's effort. </p> <h5>THE ATMOSPHERE</h5> <p>When I arrived at the gym, the JV game was still going on, and the gym was already nearly packed to capacity. There was palpable excitement about the game that was to follow. There was so much chatter in the gym that someone only 5 or 6 feet away from you could barely hear what you were saying if you weren't making eye contact. There's nothing like WCAC basketball, and these types of crowds are part of the reason why it's so exciting.</p>