Puyallup vs. Curtis – 5 Key Questions
After suffering a 20 point road loss against Curtis High School in December, the Puyallup Vikings protected their home court and beat Curtis by a score of 67 to 55. Leading the way for the Puyallup Vikings was junior Cobi…
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Continue ReadingAfter suffering a 20 point road loss against Curtis High School in December, the Puyallup Vikings protected their home court and beat Curtis by a score of 67 to 55. Leading the way for the Puyallup Vikings was junior Cobi Campbell Cobi Campbell 6'2" | PG Puyallup | 2021 State WA . He finished the game with 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half, helping Puyallup outscore Curtis by 12 points after being tied at halftime. Senior Joseph Dwyer was also impressive in the win, adding 12 points and several impressive assists under the basket. For the Vikings of Curtis High School, Senior Josiah Miller and freshman Tyce Paulsen Tyce Paulsen 6'5" | SG Curtis | 2023 State WA accounted for 42 of the teams 55 points. Miller controlled the boards for much of the game, and Paulsen was very impressive moving off the ball and knocking down quick, confident jumpers en route to a game-high 26 points. Below are five questions about these teams and athletes as the season continues.
What is the Ceiling for Tyce Paulsen Tyce Paulsen 6'5" | SG Curtis | 2023 State WA ?
This was my first opportunity to watch Tyce Paulsen Tyce Paulsen 6'5" | SG Curtis | 2023 State WA , and I went into the game with high expectations for what I was going to see out of the class of 2023 guard. Paulsen is the younger brother of Zack Paulsen, who is currently a freshman at SPU, and Jase Paulsen, a sophomore at Northwest University, and it looks like Tyce is on track to follow in his brothers’ footsteps. Paulsen is a wiry, 6’2″ sharpshooter. He has great activity off the ball, and he has an incredibly quick release to his jumper that allowed him to knock down shots even when defenders were working hard to get around screens and contest. Puyallup tried a variety of defenders and tactics against the freshman, but they were mostly ineffective in slowing him down as he scored 26 points in the loss. So, how good can he be? Paulsen still has some time to mature physically, and when he can add a little more strength, I’m curious how that will influence his play. Of his 26 points, maybe 4 came under the basket, but the rest were threes and elbow jumpers. Defenders will continue to try running him off the line, and if he can develop his driving game, he will put defenders in a really difficult position. His defense will also continue to improve as he gains strength. He’s a hard worker, and he was able to be an effective defender just based on his effort, but a little bit of strength will go a long way in his ability to make an impact. *Featured Image
Does Puyallup have Enough Size?
Looking at the roster for Puyallup, they are pretty much in-line with what other teams have in terms of size, but they had a lot of trouble dealing with Curtis’s 6’5″ senior Josiah Miller on the boards. In their starting five, LJ Lemalu is Puyallup’s tallest athlete at 6’5″. Luke Holcomb Luke Holcomb 6'4" | PF Puyallup | 2021 State WA is 6’4″, but he is more of a wing than a forward. Then you have Cobi Campbell at 6’3″, and both Taki Uluilakepa Taki Uluilakepa 5'11" | CG Puyallup | 2023 UT and Joseph Dwyer under 6 feet. They were still able to pull off the win, but I’m unsure if they are physical enough to deal with teams that have a strong post presence such as Federal Way who the Vikings lost to back in December at the T-Town Throwdown. I will say that Luke Holcomb Luke Holcomb 6'4" | PF Puyallup | 2021 State WA stepped up his efforts in the second half, and his increased physicality helped to limit Curtis to only 25 points in the second half. If Puyallup is going to be successful, Holcomb will be called upon for more of the same.
How do you Stop Cobi Campbell Cobi Campbell 6'2" | PG Puyallup | 2021 State WA ?
This is my second time seeing Cobi Cambell this year. In the first game, his three-point shooting was on full display, but in this matchup, he had only one three, and the majority of his 20 points came off of drives to the basket. He’s an excellent ball-handler, and he is so good with his off-hand, that he can surprise defenders by attacking and finishing with his dominant left hand. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by physical defense as evidenced by playing through contact all game against Curtis. He knocks down free throws if you put him on the line, he can distribute the ball, and he uses screens well with or without the ball. The best option for opponents may be to run him off the line and make him finish over shot blockers. Teams with a strong defensive presence below the basket could be effective in forcing difficult shots, and, in fact, that’s how Curtis was successful in the first half of this matchup. Even so, Campbell adjusted his play in the second half and showed off a floater that he can use against shot blockers.
Does Puyallup have a Reliable Second Option?
This is the same question I asked when I watched Puyallup at the T-Town Throwdown earlier this year. First, let me say that Puyallup is not just “Cobi Cambell and Others.” Joseph Dwyer is among the most impressive point guards I’ve seen this year with his ability to drive and dish out passes. Luke Holcomb Luke Holcomb 6'4" | PF Puyallup | 2021 State WA can knock down outside shots and finish at the rim. Freshman Taki Uluilakepa Taki Uluilakepa 5'11" | CG Puyallup | 2023 UT is continuing to develop, and he has a good touch from three and a seemingly unlimited amount of hustle. Even though they will be losing some key seniors in Dwyer, Lemalu, and Ethan Lockard, I expect Puayllup to be an even stronger team next year with Campbell, Holcomb, and Uluilakepa. But the question remains whether or not Puyallup has enough firepower for some of their tougher opponents down the road. Joseph Dwyer and Luke Holcomb Luke Holcomb 6'4" | PF Puyallup | 2021 State WA are the best candidates, but as impressive as Dwyer is getting to the basket, his jumper isn’t quite reliable enough, and he went 0 for 4 from the free-throw line against Curtis. I think Holcomb is Puyallup’s best option behind Campbell, and he is, in fact, second in points and leads the team with an average of around 7 rebounds per game. On nights when Luke Holcomb Luke Holcomb 6'4" | PF Puyallup | 2021 State WA is knocking down outside shots, the Vikings will be very tough to beat.
How Will Josiah Miller’s Injury Impact Curtis
The waning seconds of this game were filled with drama. Puyallup had the game in hand with fewer than 10 seconds remaining when Curtis senior Josiah Miller headed for the hoop on a breakaway. It was hard for me to see exactly what happened, but Puyallup’s Joseph Dwyer fouled Miller, and Miller went down hard grabbing his knee and vocalizing his pain. The crowd, already dissatisfied with the reffing, erupted with anger as did both teams and their coaches, and each head coach received a technical foul. Miller did not return to the floor with his team. The senior had 16 points and 9 rebounds in the loss. It’s uncertain how long he will be out for, but Curtis will sorely miss their second-leading scorer and most reliable post presence.