Five Key Questions: Loyola vs Boys’ Latin
It was the first game I’ve attended since the passing of Kobe Bryant. Man…that still is such a weird thing to type. But for a guy my age, he was my era’s Michael Jordan so losing him hit not only…
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Continue ReadingIt was the first game I’ve attended since the passing of Kobe Bryant. Man…that still is such a weird thing to type. But for a guy my age, he was my era’s Michael Jordan so losing him hit not only myself, but the world like a mac truck. As I looked around the gym as the two teams warmed up at all the people in attendance whether it be parents, staff or college coaches, it just reminded me how much impact this game can have on people’s lives. From here on out, I’ll be more grateful every time stepping into a gym to watch these kids compete and chase their dreams.
I know there was a game to cover here, but I just felt like I needed make that point known. I feel confident that I can speak for everyone when I say that we’ll dearly miss Kobe. Both as a player and as the man who the world was just beginning to really see. He did so much for this game and his legacy will forever live on.
Now to the game. In a very confusing MIAA A Conference, Loyola traveled to Boys’ Latin last night to take on the top-seeded Lakers of the black division. At this point in the season every win is crucial for Loyola staying alive in the playoff picture. The Dons played as such by putting together a solid three quarters of defense and walking away with a 65-54 victory.
Here are five key questions from the contest:
Who stood out for Loyola?
’20 foward Mitchell Fischer led the way for the Dons from start to finish. The 6-foot-8 unsigned senior established himself as an inside presence against the much smaller Laker squad and went to work. He finished with a game-high 23 points and set the tone in the first quarter by scoring 13 of those 23. ’21 guard Jordan Moore took the spotlight in the second half as Loyola began turning Boys’ Latin over more often. Moore thrives in the open floor and allows his quickness and athleticism to help finish around the rim. The 6-foot-1 guard was efficient with his shots last night on his way to 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.
Who stood out for Boys’ Latin?
The Lakers came out of the gates executing well on the offensive end and enjoyed a 25-20 advantage after the first quarter. From there, they struggled to get into a groove and missed a ton of shots that they usually make. ’20 guard Lorenzo Donadio led the way with 16 points, 10 of which came in the first frame. From there, Donadio had trouble finding rhythm as he battled foul trouble mid way through the third quarter. ’20 guard Kendall Walker played a well-rounded game as usual from the point guard position. The 6-foot guard was efficient on his attempts throughout as he followed Donadio with 11 points. Walker was also doing a great job of penetrating and finding open teammates on the weak side for open three’s.
How did Loyola rally back and gain control?
The Dons relied heavily on their effort defensively to spark an eventual run and they never looked back. The Lakers operate the majority of their offensive attack from dribble hand-off actions. Loyola was doing a nice job of denying anyone off the ball and forcing the hand-off guy into tough positions. As they denied, the hand-off player would move as a result of contact, which encouraged the refs to call for illegal screens. Not only that, but multiple times the denying Loyola defender would use his deny hand and disrupt the hand-off to create turnovers. They were extremely effective in finishing shots off of those turnovers to help swing the momentum. Moore and ’21 guard John Dixon were two players who made concerted efforts on the defensive end of the floor.
What role players caught my eye?
’21 Boys’ Latin guard Riar Schell had a solid performance with 10 points for the Lakers. He did a nice job finding his looks within their offense and connecting on a couple of three’s. Schell is a player that opponent’s tend to help off of too much, but Schell can have immense impact on a game if he gets going from deep. ’21 Loyola guard Josh Dixon also put together a nice outing for Loyola off the bench. At 6-foot-3, Dixon has a solid frame and good strength that helped him finish around the rim last night. Dixon pitched in with nine points. ’21 forward Cam Smith had eight points on the game and while he had multiple strong takes to the basket, it ended up being the reason he would foul out. Smith has a ton of athleticism to go with a 6-foot-7 frame but must be more cognizant of weak side rotations from the defense on his drives.
What’s next for both teams?
Boys’ Latin will host Pallotti on Friday. Similar to Loyola, every game from here on out is huge for the Lakers if they want to hold on to the top spot in their division. Following the game against Pallotti, they’ll set off on six-straight away games to end their season. Loyola will play host to Spalding on Friday, a game that will hold heavy playoff implications. Then the Dons will travel to Mount St. Joe before hosting Calvert Hall and McDonogh to round out next week.