Eight Elite: Hertford County vs Currituck

<p><em>Hertford County made the trip over to Currituck County on Thursday for a matchup that we figured would be a solid battle. HC got off to a quick start using their defensive pressure to force turnovers which allowed them to get out into transition for buckets. Currituck would battle back and cut the lead down to three but it wouldn’t be enough as Hertford County would hold on to get the win. </em></p> <p><strong><em>Player Of The Game</em></strong>: Hertford County Senior Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="932146" first="Daylan" last="Askew"]</strong> is the name that you already know. He put up monster numbers over the summer and fall at Big Shots events as well as with his high school squad this season. In this game he showcased the ability to score from multiple levels, which is never in question, but he also showed some unselfish, not forcing too many plays and getting his team involved. </p> <p><em><strong>Best PG:</strong></em> Hertford County Junior Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="577880" first="Keondre" last="Rodgers"]</strong> is a floor general that understands how to control the tempo of the game. He does a nice job of getting his squad into their sets and facilitating before he looks to score the ball. On defense he applied pressure all game long and knows how to use his body to make things difficult for opponents. </p> <p><em><strong>Best Big:</strong></em> Hertford County Senior Center <strong>Quadre Douglas</strong> provided a nice interior presence for his team. Battling in the paint for rebounds, setting hard screens and finishing inside were all things we saw from him.</p> <p><em><strong>Best Junior:</strong></em> Currituck County Junior Guard <strong>Carmillo Burton</strong> is one of those players that scores the ball with ease. Time and time against throughout this game he blew by defenders for easy buckets using his quick first step. </p> <p><strong>Best Pick &amp; Pop Big</strong>: Currituck County Senior Forward <strong>Josh Rupert</strong> is not your traditional big as he only stands about 6’3 but he understands how to get the job done. His ability to play inside the paint and knock down shots from three point land makes him a dangerous player in pick and roll situations which we saw quite often on Thursday night. </p> <p><em><strong>Best Young Talent</strong></em>: Hertford County Sophomore Wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="854912" first="Israel" last="Powell"]</strong> will be one to keep a close eye on over the next few years. The lefty provided a nice spark for his team, showcasing his shooting and slashing ability while taking advantage of different mismatches. </p> <p><em><strong>Best Leader:</strong></em> Currituck County Senior Guard <strong>Trevor Davis</strong> brings the leadership for the squad not only with his play but with his voice and intensity. He competes on both sides of the ball, and late in the game he came up with some big plays to keep the game close. </p>