Toledo-Area District Finals: Top Seniors

<p>This weekend we watched Antwerp, Evergreen, Start, and Lima Senior advance to the regional tournament. The scoring gap between those four games was a combined <em>15 points</em>.</p> <p>Friday night, Antwerp won improbably against Toledo Christian after a slow start where they looked outmatched early. It went back and forth several times. </p> <p>Saturday afternoon, Evergreen nearly saw the season slip away before a late run by their two seniors, [player_tooltip player_id="801805" first="Nate" last="Brighton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="917438" first="Mason" last="Loeffler"].</p> <p>Then, Saturday night, Start escaped Northview in the craziest ending to regulation we saw all season. Finally, Lima inched past Toledo St. John’s in their third meeting of the season. </p> <p><em>Crazy </em>weekend. Here were the stars of the show:</p> <h6 class="p2"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917585" first="Jayvin" last="Landers"] (2020) | 6-5 SF | Antwerp</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 11 points, 4 rebounds</em></strong></span></h6> <p class="p2">The Wittenberg commit contributed timely 3-pointers and consistent post-entry passes to set up easy baskets. Made 3-pointers in motion and pulling up after one dribble. Becoming more consistent playing through contact would help Landers at the next level, but he flashed that ability coming down-hill on a first-quarter and-one.</p> <h6><strong>Jared Lindke (2020) | 5-10 SG | Toledo Christian</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 13 points, 3 rebounds</em></strong></span></h6> <p>Lindke is a muscular, stout guard with a lot of quickness. He used his athleticism to defend guards all the way up the court and he was able to pressure every Antwerp ball-handler. Lindke can get his own shot if the play breaks down. Credible 3-point shooter. </p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917438" first="Mason" last="Loeffler"] (2020) | 6-4 SG | Evergreen</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 22 points</em></strong></span></h6> <p>Loeffler set the tone with four 3-pointers in the first quarter, including one from three-quarters court as the buzzer sounded. He also swung momentum down the stretch with an emphatic fast-break dunk. Overall, the unsigned senior impressed by hitting jumpers without much space. Loeffler, a D-II/NAIA level prospect, floated around to find soft spots against Archbold’s zone and shot it confidently even when a defender had a hand up. He’s a good athlete but he would benefit from playing less flat-footed on defense.</p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="801805" first="Nate" last="Brighton"] (2020) | 6-5 SF/PF | Evergreen</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals</em></strong></span></h6> <p>Brighton, another unsigned senior leading Evergreen, is a skilled combo forward with a lean frame and capable stroke from distance. He was clutch as a scorer and rebounder. Snagged several rebounds in traffic and flashed his face-up game, a strength of his. </p> <p>His defensive versatility, though, is Brighton’s best asset in our opinion. He can show and recover against the pick-and-roll. Very capable of sitting down and defending in space. Plus rebounder. Always in position. </p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917463" first="TaVaz" last="LawlerShowers"] (2020) | 5-11 PG | Start</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds</em></strong></span></h6> <p>Down late with his high school career in the balance, TLS went into takeover mode by attacking the rim. He’s a springy, dynamic athlete with elusive finishing moves. Extremely crafty left-handed player with the ball on a string. Lawler Showers played confidently and didn’t see too many shots he didn’t like. Good shooter from distance with a quick release. Very hard to contain in the open floor.</p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="712000" first="Adrian" last="Michael"] (2020) | 5-11 PG | Start</strong><br /> <span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong><em>stats: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals</em></strong></span></h6> <p>Michael was all over the place. He battled for rebounds and played aggressively on- and off-the-ball on defense. Michael won a <em>clutch</em> offensive rebound in transition at the end of the fourth quarter. The compact guard embodies the Start program with how hard he plays on every possession. The unsigned senior is also a terrific shooter from distance who plays unselfishly. </p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="588956" first="Jamir" last="Simpson"] (2021) | 6-5 PF | Lima Senior</strong></h6> <p>Simpson is a second guy Lima can run an iso for because he can score against good defense. Although Toledo St. John’s was in position, Simpson was able to bulldoze and pirouette from the elbow for high-percentage finishes. Even when he missed, the Pikeville recruit used his second jump to follow-up for second-chance points. Quick first step and good use of the jab step. He didn’t settle for many jumpers. </p> <h6><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="588887" first="Josiah" last="Fulcher"] (2020) | 6-2 SG | Lima Senior</strong></h6> <p>The Bowling Green signee’s one-on-one defense was even more impressive than his scoring on Saturday night. Fulcher is a wiry athlete who can sit down in a long stance. He stayed attached to SJJ’s top scorer and playmaker, Brady Lichtenberg, at the point of attack. Made hustle plays in transition defense. </p> <p>Offensively, Fulcher uses a quick first step to blow-by. He’s equally capable of scoring at the rim or pulling up for a consistent jumper after one dribble. Fulcher is the type of dominant figure all State Championship contenders need. </p>