San Diego Tip-Off Challenge: Event Standouts, Part 2

<p>The final day of the San Diego Tip-Off Challenge gave us two instant-classic games. Cathedral proved that the show will go on even after graduating four of five starters, upsetting San Ysidro on a last-second layup by senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="748757" first="Jaden" last="LeBel"]<br /> . Saint Augustine, San Diego’s preseason No. 1 team, gave a shorthanded Sierra Canyon all it could handle before bowing out 51-46 in one of the hardest played games you’ll see.</p> <p>Here were some standouts from the final day of action.</p> <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="994926" first="Angelo" last="Gil"], Mission Bay</h3> <p>The 6-1 guard was scintillating in the win against the Norsemen, scoring 24 points and doing it on both ends. The physical guard has underrated quickness and burst to his dominant hand, and can finish through contact at the rim. He has made big strides shooting from three, becoming a reliable spot-up shooting threat from three. Defensively, his pressure on the ball was part of the reason the Buccaneers were able to turn the game around in the fourth quarter. </p> <h3>Martin Flores, 6-8 2022 F, San Ysidro</h3> <p>The big wing had big scoring games all weekend for the Cougars. He did most of his damage slashing to the basket and finishing around the basket or with the midrange pull-up, and he runs the floor and fills lanes effectively in transition, where he does a lot of his damage. He’s one of the better 3/4s available in the 2022 class. </p> <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="954225" first="Shy" last="Odom"], 6-5 2022 F, Sierra Canyon</h3> <p>Odom was part of a 1-2 interior punch that overpowered teams all weekend for the Trailblazers. At times, Odom floats on the perimeter, and while he has solid ball skills and can knock down open threes, he is best bruising opponents in the paint, where he is an exceptional rebounder on both ends and can finish through contact with the best of them. </p> <h3>Ian De La Rosa, 6-4 2024 G, St. Augustine</h3> <p>De La Rosa opened the three-day tip-off with an impressive 27-point performance against San Ysidro, knocking down 6 threes in the contest and scoring big buckets for his team in the third quarter, helping them establish a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. De La Rosa’s best attribute is his motor. Despite giving up 3-4 inches in the paint, he is an excellent rebounder and an underrated defender. </p> <h3>Sebastian Medina, 6-4 2022 G, San Ysidro</h3> <p>Medina continues to be a steadying force for the Cougars, on both ends. Offensively, he is the team’s leader and doubles as a capable game manager and a dynamic scorer off the bounce. He shoots it capably from three, and really can score it from midrange off the pull-up. Defensively, he gives maximum effort and is a physical presence on the ball. </p> <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="994949" first="Jaden" last="Matingou"], 6-2 2023 G, St. Augustine</h3> <p>The 6-2 lead guard had a well-rounded weekend, scoring, distributing, defending and rebounding with equal aplomb for the Saints in a win over San Ysidro and a narrow loss to Sierra Canyon. He’s a streaky perimeter shooter, but unafraid to take big shots. He has improved his midrange scoring and has a very solid package of runners and floaters. But perhaps the biggest surprise, was his rebounding on the offensive glass, including a couple of highlight putbacks against the bigger Ysidro squad. </p> <h3>Shea Fitzgerald, 6-2 2023 G, Cathedral Catholic</h3> <p>Fitzgerald doubled with his teammate [player_tooltip player_id="748757" first="Jaden" last="LeBel"] as the two-headed scoring monster in Cathedral’s win over San Ysidro. He can score it from three levels, and is especially good at getting downhill to his dominant hand. An underrated passer, Fitzgerald had a couple of beautiful assists during the game. </p>