Battle For The District Crown: Denton Ryan vs Richland (Pt. 2)

Denton Ryan traveled to Richland High School to battle it out for the district crown. This highly anticipated game featured multiple top 100 ranked players in the state of Texas, at every position. The crowd packed the gym, the energy was buzzing, and we got ourselves a hard-fought matchup that ended with the home crowd storming the floor. Richland Royals, 71 - Denton Ryan Raiders, 63 <hr /> Richland High School | Kyron Walton | Power Forward | 2022 | Kyron Walton brought outstanding energy during warm-ups, looking pumped up and ready to get a win. He got things going for the Royals immediately with a two-handed slam off a quick steal and assists from teammate Mark Rucha. Walton was a valuable asset on both sides of the ball, this quick leaper got off his feet very quick and easy, giving his teammates the perfect passing option to either throw a lob or drop the ball off to him when penetrating the lane. Kyron worked under the basket so well that he was consistently an open target on the block down low. The Richland forward showed just how threatening he could be in the post when he threw down a nasty contested dunk on the opposing center, then hustling down the court, and swatting away the next shot that went up off the glass, displaying an insane amount of effort. Defensively, Walton protected the rim and frustrated Denton Ryan’s offense with his long-standing reach. He put his hands up and altered shots without even jumping, finishing with 3 blocks, along with 6 boards, and 9 points. This young man has an abundance of potential, Kyron Walton is definitely a name to take note of. <hr style="padding-left: 40px;" /> Denton Ryan High School | Kerrington "Bam" Hughes | Small Forward | 2021 | Bam was a threat on the defensive end and from three-point range. Hughes’s anticipation for the pass was crucial in the throwing lanes and created fastbreak opportunities for him and his guys. From an offensive standpoint, Kerrington beat Richland in a variety of ways, his jump shot being the most notable. He really stood out as a knockdown jump shooter from deep with a beautiful shooting form, fluid release, and was someone who wasn’t phased by contesting defenders or a hand in his face. <hr /> | [player_tooltip player_id="889588" first="Marcette" last="Lawson"] | Center | 2022 | Lawson showed a menacing ability to protect the rim and dominate the boards with his incredible length. A truly dangerous defensive presence, Marcette made guys think twice before coming inside. No layup came easy for the Richland Royals when driving into his paint. His leaping ability was a sight to behold, Lawson blocked shots at their highest point, he jumped so high that he looked as if he could nearly touch the top of the backboard. [player_tooltip player_id="889588" first="Marcette" last="Lawson"] proved to be a tough individual with a lot of passion. <hr /> | Christian Lawson | Power Forward | 2022 | Christian Lawson was a major contributor off the bench for Denton Ryan, clamping down on the offensive glass hard and sticking to a man like glue on the defense end, even altering shots and passes with his long arms. Anytime Lawson was on the floor he affected the game, made impact plays, and changed things for the better. <hr /> Junior Varsity Standout: | Scottie Johnson | Forward | 2024 | This standout Freshman with phenomenal size, length, athleticism, and strength contributed heavily for the junior varsity squad, displaying good versatility on both sides of the ball due to his ability defensively to protect the rim and shut down ball-handlers out on the perimeter, while also creating second-chance shot opportunities and putting the ball on the floor to attack the basket on the offensive end.