Scouting Report: Marsh Madness Lake Charles Standouts (Day 3)

The action was fast-paced in the early games at the semifinals edition of Marsh Madness. Games that include schools like Rayville, Franklin, and Lakeview usually have plenty of action with plenty of possessions and a ton of shots. In this scouting report, I will take a look at players who were standouts during the early games in Lake Charles. [player_tooltip player_id="765941" first="Kashie" last="Natt"] (6’2" / Rayville / 2021) Natt was the best player on both ends of the floor during the Rayville semifinal against Franklin. He will definitely play the perimeter on the next level; however, he controlled the paint on both ends during this game. Natt had a 27 point, 20 rebound game which definitely got him player of the game honors. He rebounds like a power forward and snatches everything he gets his hands on. Layups and mid-range jumpers were his method of scoring and he did it effectively. Natt is a force for the Hornets and will be important in the Rayville effort to win another state title. Damerion Hedgemon (5’11" / Rayville / 2022) Hedgemon might not have had big numbers in the box score. However, he was the led guard who kept the Hornets on schedule during their win against Franklin. Hedgemon directed the offense and the pace with which the Hornets played. He pushed the ball up the floor that allowed his team to get easy scoring opportunities or forced situations that made the Franklin defense rotate and create an advantage for the Hornets. Hedgemon may not have scored but he filled the stat sheet in many other areas. He played the point as well as you can play it on this day. [player_tooltip player_id="1051631" first="J’Michael" last="Gray"] (6’0" / Franklin / 2022) Gray displayed why he was a previous district MVP with his performance against the Hornets. He was the primary threat in the Franklin attack in the second half and helped the Hornets stay connected. His 23 points were on a combination of drives and short jumpers while his assists were from drawing and kicking or dropoffs in the paint. Gray knows how to operate from the free throw line to the baseline and hurt Rayville in that manner. He is as good as it gets at the point in 2A. Despite their loss, Gray showed he is a very guard point guard. [player_tooltip player_id="981600" first="Kim" last="Provost"] (6’0" / Franklin / 2022) Provost was Franklin’s best three point shooter during the game against Rayville. The lefty guard has a quick release and will shoot it from all areas behind the arc. He is also a solid defender who is able to keep guards in front of him because he is agile with his movement. Provost scored 17 points and helped Franklin make a good push at defeating Rayville. Provost will be one of the top shooters to watch next season as he helps the Hornets try to get back to this spot next year. [player_tooltip player_id="781843" first="Tawasky" last="Johnson"] (6’0" / Port Allen / 2021) Johnson is one of the top point guards in the 2021 class and he displayed that during the Pelicans victory over Lakeview in the 2A semifinal. He was able to adjust to the early pressure from Lakeview and began making plays that got his team going. His two big threes at the end of the 1st quarter righted the ship for Port Allen and allowed them to keep the lead from then on out. Johnson can score at all three levels and knows how to penetrate effectively. The Pels will need another big effort from him offensively (16 points led the team) if they are to become back-to-back champions. [player_tooltip player_id="781845" first="Jalen" last="Knox"] (6’3" / Port Allen / 2022) Knox was a difference maker in the paint for Port Allen as they pulled away late from Lakeview in their 2A semifinal. Knox led the team with five rebounds and acted as a facilitator as well when the ball went to the post. When he received the ball on the block, he was able to kick it to shooters because of the attention he caused. Knox scored his 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting using his strength to score at the basket. He will need a similar effort to help the Pelicans win the 2A title against Rayville. [player_tooltip player_id="1051643" first="Javonte" last="Howard"] (5’9" / Lakeview / 2022) The Lakeview junior played his heart out in their loss to Port Allen. Even in the loss, Howard showed how he constantly places pressure on the opposing team. He led both teams in scoring (17 points) by putting the ball on the deck and shooting the ball from deep. Howard is a lefty but can drive right or left. He knows how to attack at angles and put himself in position to score. On defense, he puts pressure on the ball no matter whoe he is guarding. With Howard coming back and another year of experience by his young teammates, I can see Lakeview in this position again next year. Rayville and Port Allen will play for the 2A title on Friday at 5 pm. This will be a rematch of the 2020 2A final that Port Allen won in overtime.

The action was fast-paced in the early games at the semifinals edition of Marsh Madness. Games that include schools like Rayville, Franklin, and Lakeview usually have plenty of action with plenty of possessions and a ton of shots. In this scouting report, I will take a look at players who were standouts during the early games in Lake Charles.

Kashie Natt Kashie Natt 6'2" | SG Rayville | 2021 State LA (6’2" / Rayville / 2021)

Natt was the best player on both ends of the floor during the Rayville semifinal against Franklin. He will definitely play the perimeter on the next level; however, he controlled the paint on both ends during this game. Natt had a 27 point, 20 rebound game which definitely got him player of the game honors. He rebounds like a power forward and snatches everything he gets his hands on. Layups and mid-range jumpers were his method of scoring and he did it effectively. Natt is a force for the Hornets and will be important in the Rayville effort to win another state title.

Damerion Hedgemon (5’11" / Rayville / 2022)

Hedgemon might not have had big numbers in the box score. However, he was the led guard who kept the Hornets on schedule during their win against Franklin. Hedgemon directed the offense and the pace with which the Hornets played. He pushed the ball up the floor that allowed his team to get easy scoring opportunities or forced situations that made the Franklin defense rotate and create an advantage for the Hornets. Hedgemon may not have scored but he filled the stat sheet in many other areas. He played the point as well as you can play it on this day.

J’Michael Gray J’Michael Gray 6'0" | PG Franklin | 2022 State LA (6’0" / Franklin / 2022)

Gray displayed why he was a previous district MVP with his performance against the Hornets. He was the primary threat in the Franklin attack in the second half and helped the Hornets stay connected. His 23 points were on a combination of drives and short jumpers while his assists were from drawing and kicking or dropoffs in the paint. Gray knows how to operate from the free throw line to the baseline and hurt Rayville in that manner. He is as good as it gets at the point in 2A. Despite their loss, Gray showed he is a very guard point guard.

Kim Provost Kim Provost 6'0" | CG Franklin | 2022 State LA (6’0" / Franklin / 2022)

Provost was Franklin’s best three point shooter during the game against Rayville. The lefty guard has a quick release and will shoot it from all areas behind the arc. He is also a solid defender who is able to keep guards in front of him because he is agile with his movement. Provost scored 17 points and helped Franklin make a good push at defeating Rayville. Provost will be one of the top shooters to watch next season as he helps the Hornets try to get back to this spot next year.

Tawasky Johnson Tawasky Johnson 6'0" | PG Port Allen | 2021 State LA (6’0" / Port Allen / 2021)

Johnson is one of the top point guards in the 2021 class and he displayed that during the Pelicans victory over Lakeview in the 2A semifinal. He was able to adjust to the early pressure from Lakeview and began making plays that got his team going. His two big threes at the end of the 1st quarter righted the ship for Port Allen and allowed them to keep the lead from then on out. Johnson can score at all three levels and knows how to penetrate effectively. The Pels will need another big effort from him offensively (16 points led the team) if they are to become back-to-back champions.

Jalen Knox Jalen Knox 6'4" | SF Port Allen | 2022 State LA (6’3" / Port Allen / 2022)

Knox was a difference maker in the paint for Port Allen as they pulled away late from Lakeview in their 2A semifinal. Knox led the team with five rebounds and acted as a facilitator as well when the ball went to the post. When he received the ball on the block, he was able to kick it to shooters because of the attention he caused. Knox scored his 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting using his strength to score at the basket. He will need a similar effort to help the Pelicans win the 2A title against Rayville.

Javonte Howard Javonte Howard 5'8" | PG Lakeview | 2022 State LA (5’9" / Lakeview / 2022)

The Lakeview junior played his heart out in their loss to Port Allen. Even in the loss, Howard showed how he constantly places pressure on the opposing team. He led both teams in scoring (17 points) by putting the ball on the deck and shooting the ball from deep. Howard is a lefty but can drive right or left. He knows how to attack at angles and put himself in position to score. On defense, he puts pressure on the ball no matter whoe he is guarding. With Howard coming back and another year of experience by his young teammates, I can see Lakeview in this position again next year.

Rayville and Port Allen will play for the 2A title on Friday at 5 pm. This will be a rematch of the 2020 2A final that Port Allen won in overtime.