Jefferson 61, Grant 50: Top Performers

<p>The Grant-Jefferson games the past couple of seasons have been must-see action in the Portland area. This year was no different. With the first game between the two held in front of a crowded house at Franklin High School on Saturday night in the finale of the PIL Showcase, Jefferson used a surge in the third quarter to overcome a first half deficit and defeat Grant going away, 61-50.</p> <p>Grant took control of the game early as the Generals pulled the air out of the ball and spread the floor, choosing to play at a more deliberate pace. Attacking the basket when given the opportunity, Grant got big contributions from senior Emanuel Steward and freshman Adrian Mosley to lead at halftime, 28-23. But Jefferson was not to be denied. Making an effort to control the backboards and get the ball inside, the Demos got their first lead halfway through the third quarter and eventually wore down the Generals for the victory.</p> <p>"We made some adjustments at halftime," said Jefferson head coach Pat Strickland. "So even in a slow-down game, we did a much better job in the second half in all aspects."</p> <p>Here's a look at the top performers in the game.</p> <p><strong>Nate Rawlins-Kibonge (2020 Jefferson)</strong> - Stats: 17 points, 14 rebounds, 8-12 fg</p> <p>Rawlins-Kibonge was our player of the game. He absolutely controlled the backboards and one of the things we really like about the 6-foot-7 big man is that he not only gets the boards in his area but he also effectively goes outside his area to get rebounds. Offensively, he mainly scored around the hoop along with a couple of mid-range jumpers. We only registered him with one blocked shots, but his ability to be a threat to reject attempts around the hoop certainly made opponents think twice about putting it up in the paint.</p> <p><strong>Marquis "Mookie" Cook (2023 Jefferson)</strong> - Stats: 17 points 6 rebounds, 8-11 fg</p> <p>Cook had an outstanding game, especially in the way he was super efficient. With Grant playing a zone, he focused on getting position inside and when he wasn't trying to post up he operated on the baseline and knocked down a couple of nice runners. He cut to the basket and used his athleticism to finish with a couple of dunks. There were a few instances where he struggled on the perimeter defensively staying in front of his man but that will improve.</p> <p><strong>Tai Warner (2020 Grant)</strong> - Stats: 14 points, 6-12 fg, 2-2 3pt</p> <p>While other times his shot selection is a bit iffy, that wasn't the case against Jefferson. Warner picked his spots, took good shots, and hit a pretty nice percentage. He hit the open shot and finished well around the basket, utilizing his strength. He largely played off the basketball but when he did have it in his hands, he made good decisions and took good care of the rock. In the end, he ended up as Grant's leading scorer.</p> <p><strong>KeShawn Hall (2021 Jefferson)</strong> - Stats: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5-13 fg</p> <p>Hall is slowly emerging as the top perimeter threat for the Demos. While other games he has performed more as a point guard, against Grant he looked more for his own offense, largely one-handed runners in the lane or along the baseline. One area where Hall is showing improvement is in knocking down the open three-point shot.</p> <p><strong>Emanuel Steward (2020 Grant)</strong> - Stats: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5-13 fg</p> <p>Steward had a decent game for his standards, especially in the first half. The 6-foot-2 senior was fairly solid with his outside shot and was able to use some penetration moves to get into the paint and he finished one drive off with a dunk. His shot selection from distance was a little shaky, especially in the second half.</p> <p><strong>Adrian Mosley (2023 Grant)</strong> - Stats: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists</p> <p>Mosley was the story of the first half. Spending his time running the point in the Generals spread offense, he was effective with beating his defender off the dribble, getting into the paint, and finishing with a variety of wild shots. Jefferson made some adjustments to limit him in the second half, but he's becoming one of the best creators on the team.</p> <p><strong>Lamar Washington (2022 Jefferson)</strong> - Stats: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists</p> <p>Washington has become one of Jefferson's top ball-handlers and passers. While his outside shot is currently in a funk, he spent a good amount of time attacking the basket where he was able to utilize his strong body to finish around the hoop. He also used said body to be a factor on the boards on both ends.  And it was a factor defensively as well as Washington was able to body up to help shut down Adrian Mosley in the second half.</p>