Prep Over Papio La-Vista South: Standout Performers and Evals

<p>Tuesday evening’s snowstorm pushed back the Omaha Creighton Prep vs Papillion La-Vista South game to the following night.  The Jr Jays defended their home court with a 66-54 victory over the Titans Wednesday (1/27/21) evening in a game of two completely different halves.</p> <p>In the game’s first half it looked like both teams were still stuck in the previous night’s snow. That first half saw both teams struggle to get anything going offensively, combining for just one made three-point shot; by Prep’s reserve guard Casey O’Malley, before intermission. With the outside shots not falling, the interior scoring leaders for both teams took center stage in the game’s first 16 minutes. Both Prep’s [player_tooltip player_id="890472" first="AJ" last="Rollins"] and PLVS’s [player_tooltip player_id="945976" first="Danair" last="Dempsey"] led their respective teams with 6 points at intermission, as Prep took a 22-14 lead into the locker room.</p> <p>As dismal as the shooting performances were in the first half, like the snow outside, the cold-shooting began to melt away. Prep opened the second half with a three-point field goal by junior [player_tooltip player_id="981701" first="Luke" last="Jungers"], and two possessions later, PLVS’s [player_tooltip player_id="959376" first="Josiah" last="Beckenhauer"] connected on the Titan’s first long-range shot; finally lifted the lids from both baskets.  By game’s end, Prep would hit on five three-point baskets in the second half, while South would connect on eight buckets from long range in the game’s second frame.</p> <p>The Jr Jays would seal the deal at the charity stripe after La-Vista South got as close as 6 with .55 seconds to go, after a 21-7 Titan run late in the contest.</p> <p>Players of Note:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1007526" first="Justin" last="Sitti"]  PG  Senior 6’0  Omaha Creighton Prep</p> <p>The Morningside University commit is a quality get for the Mustangs.  The 6’0 guard made key plays in various times throughout the contest. His defensive attention was present several times. Whether simply helping teammates defensively, hounding the ball, or in several key moments stealing the ball outright and triggering the Jr Jays break. Sitti scored 11 points on midrange pull-ups, three-point shots, and even an explosive backdoor jam; he also had team-highs in assists and steals on the evening. The #32 ranked senior in Nebraska, according to Prep Hoops, made key plays to stem South’s final run late as well, displaying a confidence he will surely take with him to Sioux City next fall.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="890472" first="AJ" last="Rollins"]  PF  Senior  6’5  Omaha Creighton Prep </p> <p>As mentioned before, with the first half shooting woes from the perimeter. Rollins, a University of Nebraska football commit, was a key component to building the Jr Jays first half; and ultimately game long, lead.  The #13 ranked senior, according to Prep Hoops, tallied that number of points for the evening: 13 points. Rollins is a consistent anchor inside, setting up his defender nicely with a one-two dribble approach then turning over either shoulder for a soft hook with either hand.  His physicality is as good and as controlled inside as anyone in the state.  On a night when South began to hit multiple three-point shots, the 6’5 power forward, and future Husker tight end, was the x-factor the Titans had trouble matching.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="890580" first="Daniel" last="Brocaille"]  SF  Junior  6’4  Papillion La-Vista South</p> <p>The most complete performance of the evening for either team came from the Titan’s 6’4 junior.  Brocaille has had a productive a junior campaign as nearly anyone.  The #7 ranked junior in Nebraska, according to Prep Hoops scored on all three levels finishing with a game-high 18 points. His game is unique in that he shows great patience offensively for a trusted scorer.  He knows when to attack, when to simply move the ball quickly, when to get the ball inside, and when to kick out. He also takes on the defensive role of stopping players at nearly every position if needed.  His strong frame and grit can move taller players off the block inside, while his quickness and understanding of defensive angles can slow down faster perimeter foes.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="981701" first="Luke" last="Jungers"]  PF  Junior 6’8  Omaha Creighton Prep</p> <p>Saddled with fouls in the first half, Jungers started the second frame with the aforementioned opening three-point field goal to begin the second half.  From there the #8 ranked junior, according to Prep Hoops, hit two more from downtown (3/5 from 3pt range) and ended the evening with a team-high 14 points, all coming in the second half. The 6’8 power forward shows the feet mobility, shooting range, combined with length that has garnered him offers and interest from several NCAA D1 programs.  The next step in the maturation process for Jungers will be to utilize his length on both the offensive and defensive glass more consistently.  Something he will get every opportunity to do his senior campaign with the graduation of the current interior presence for Prep, [player_tooltip player_id="890472" first="AJ" last="Rollins"].</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="959376" first="Josiah" last="Beckenhauer"]  SG  Senior 6’1  Papillion La-Vista South</p> <p>Beckenhauer’s performance epitomized the shooting efforts of the Titans.  The 6’1 senior missed on every one of his first half three-point attempts, but then caught fire in the game’s second frame.  The lefty hit a game-high four shots from behind the arc, including the final three in a late fourth quarter 21-7 run that made the homestanding Jr Jays take notice.  Beckenhauer is a shooting specialist with a solid and confident three-point stroke. </p>