Five Themes: Station Camp-Mt. Juliet

<p>Tuesday evening Station Camp and Mt. Juliet met in the gym of Wilson Central to decide the 9-AAA District Tournament Champion.  After 32 minutes of basketball, Mt. Juliet is that champion for the third straight season.</p> <p>Here are five themes that emerged in the contest.</p> <p><em>Station Camp defended the interior wonderfully.</em></p> <p><strong>Cameron Gerlach</strong> helped with a shot-block early in the third quarter.  Much of the Golden Bear offensive struggles in the first half can be attributed to Station Camp's post defense. </p> <p><em>Mt. Juliet's players have no ego.</em></p> <p>During the tougher stretches of the game, Mt. Juliet still crisply passed the ball around the gym.  Shooting becomes immeasurably easier when a pass hits you before the defender arrives.  The Golden Bears are an unselfish team and the benefits are tremendous.</p> <p><em>Gerlach is an innovator.</em></p> <p>Cameron Gerlach (Station Camp) is one of the best big man passers in the state.  Because he is known to be a willing passer the Golden Bears bit hard on a pump faked pass that Gerlach concocted.  With the defense out of position he finished a high-effort and-1 on the low blocks.  Gerlach possesses a soft touch around the rim and ability to step out a touch.  </p> <p>The touches on the blocks are too rare for this senior star.  Good free throw shooter.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1232502667857088513?s=20</p> <p><em><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-pruitt/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-pruitt/">Will Pruitt</a></a> is Steay Eddie.</em></p> <p>Whether up, down, defending or attacking, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-pruitt/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-pruitt/">Will Pruitt</a></a> is consistently scrapping for more.  His team is more scrappy than in the last couple years and it probably is not an accident, considering Pruitt is the floor general and his effort appears contagious.</p> <p>After a fantastic pass and bucket from the Camp crew, Pruitt caught and finished a fluid mid-range jumper.  Not a bead of sweat.  After Mt. Juliet poked a ball loose defensively Pruitt buried a three-pointer to open the game's largest second half lead of 4. </p> <p><em>Station Camp features several weapons, and quality depth.</em></p> <p>Station Camp features plenty of talent.  Perhaps more importantly the talent fuses together...sometimes.  Unlike the Golden Bears of Mt. Juliet, Station Camp's guards can get "sticky hands."  The ball movement, when swift, showcases the many scorers on the team.  When it sticks, then the scorers take harder shots and the team's success lags.</p> <p>Eli Thurston hit some big shots in the game.  <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kavon-blankenship/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kavon-blankenship/">Kavon Blankenship</a></a> finds huge nights here and there.  Cameron Gerlach is a threat on each touch to either score or assist a score.</p> <p><em>Follow @AndrewForce8.</em></p>