John Nobles Recap: Barber, Tramble and more shine!

The final regular season tournament of the week brings another buys weekend of action in Oklahoma. Thursday saw a pair of good match ups with Westmoore vs Millwood and tournament hosts Moore vs Putnam City. Check out recaps & top performers from the game below! Westmoore 61 Millwood 57 Westmoore’s early ball movement led to open shots on offense and the space for junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="981279" first="Evan" last="Barber"] to thrive. While their zone defense slowed down the athletic Falcons as Westmoore built a comfortable 36-27 lead. The Jaguars would enjoy a lead in the double digit range for much of the game. In the final frame, the Falcons turned up the pressure on defense and created easy transition points and finally made the Westmoore offensive attack uncomfortable. In the game final’s minute after a steal by senior Kobe Law, junior [player_tooltip player_id="967381" first="Rickey" last="Hunt"] would be fouled. He would drill both free throws to force the tie. Barber would calmly hold the ball with the clock ticking down. He would make his move when the clock got to 10 seconds,. Barber drove, stopped on a dime to create separation and smoothly drilled a midrange jumper to regain the lead and give the Jaguars the lead. A forced turnover and a pair of free throws later and Westmoore would successfully survive the Falcon comeback attempt. Top Performers [player_tooltip player_id="981279" first="Evan" last="Barber"], 6’2 Junior guard, Westmoore The junior has been one of the top scorers in the 405 this winter and put on a fitting display. In the second quarter he showed a variety of scoring abilities, from nailing threes, working in the midrange, along with crafty and strong scoring around the rim. The lefty guard also does a good job of using his strength to ward off defenders and maneuver to his spots. His game winning pull up was a fitting capper to a very strong individual performance. [player_tooltip player_id="967381" first="Rickey" last="Hunt"], 5’10 Junior Guard, Millwood The athletic football standout is the heartbeat for the Falcons. During their comeback charge in the final frame it was his energy on defense that was critical to causing havoc and leading to easy transition scores. He showed poise on a pair of game tying free throws in the final minute. Football is likely his future but for now he’s one of the more dynamic and active guards in the Oklahoma City area. Jayden Nickens, 6’3 Freshman Guard, Millwood Nickens’ ability as a scorer continues to be well beyond his grade. He’s an immediate boost of offense when he checks into the game for the Falcons. His silky jumper, opens up the rest of the game where he’s dangerous off the dribble as a driver or when pulling up. Perhaps the most promising sign for Nickens longterm is he has outstanding court vision and feel as a passer for a younger player. He continues to have one of the highest ceilings of any player in any class in Oklahoma right now. [player_tooltip player_id="1164896" first="Craylin" last="Liberty"], 5’10 Senior Guard, Millwood A quick defender, when the Millwood defense was struggling in the second frame the senior came into the game and gave them an important burst of energy with the willingness to cover an at the time red hot Barber. William Mays, 5’11 Junior Guard, Millwood The quick junior made his mark on the game with active hands leading to deflections, steals and even rebounding very well for a smaller guard. Unfortunately it was not his best offensive game, as he struggled with finishing and shooting. [player_tooltip player_id="1211257" first="Zach" last="Hays"], 6’4 junior wing, Westmoore. The second part of Westmoore’s scoring punch is this junior wing. He’s a strong and consistent finisher around the rim, and brings important balance to their attack when teams focus on Barber. Hays also is a crucial rebounder for a smaller Jaguar squad.   Moore 60 vs Putnam City 55 In a game filled with young talent, sophomore Chianti Tramble shined the brightest for the Moore Lions. To go along with his excellent feel for the game, Tramble was lights out from beyond the arc. Fellow sophomore guard Isaac Williams for Putnam City also had his moments in the game. His quickness off the dribble was impressive and Putnam City even built a third quarter lead. That’s when athletic sophomore Darian “Bubby” Grant helped turn up the pressure on the glass and on defense for Moore. Moore would rally and never giveback the lead in their opening win at the John Nobles. Top Players [player_tooltip player_id="1367215" first="Chiante" last="Tramble"], 6’2 Point Guard, Sophomore, Moore Savvy beyond his youthful years, Tramble is enjoying a super productive start to his high school career in Oklahoma’s highest classification. He proved this excellent awareness of the game when in the third quarter he successfully passed it to himself off a defenders back on an out of bounds play, leading to two easy points. The sophomore is seemingly always in control with the ball in his hands, excelling at dictating the pace of the game. Off the dribble he can use his strength to finish in traffic or set up teammates for open looks. And on the day, he was on fired from beyond the arc. Defenders contesting his shot didn’t impact his silky stroke and he filled it up from deep all game. [player_tooltip player_id="1367226" first="Darian" last="Grant"], 6’4 Wing Sophomore, Moore An intriguing athlete, Grant used his god given natural abilities to great effectiveness in the third quarter. With his team in a lull, it was his high energy play that helped turn the tide of the game. He was active as a slasher and got onto the offensive glass. Then played a key part of Moore’s disruptive full court press. That’s where his ability to cover ground really stood out. In the final frame, Grant sealed the game with a transition slam. Isaac Williams, 6’2 Guard Sophomore, Putnam City Williams already has one attribute that translates to the next level. Speed. He has a quick first step and is able to get by defenders while also being a blur in transition. Williams also flashed playmaking abilities by setting up his forwards with good looks in the half court. His combination of size and speed makes the Pirate sophomore a prospect with a high ceiling that needs to be monitored more going forward. Edward Nnonah 6’5 Forward Senior, Putnam City Productive around the rim, the senior plays with a great motor. He was good in pick and roll opportunities. His combination of a big wingspan and athletic ability allows him to play bigger around the rim than his listed height.