Lawson Tournament: Top Standouts

<p>The Prep Hoops Missouri Magical Stream Machine ventured to NWMO to take in the action at the Lawson Tournament. Richmond took home the championship with a 48-36 victory over Chillicothe. West Platte defeated Gallatin in the third-place game.</p> <p>Here is a look at some of the top standouts at Lawson.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1161288" first="Isaac" last="Bird"] 6’5 Gallatin: The long and lean 2023 guard is a talented all-around player who was scoring 20 points a night in the tournament. He's a skilled combo guard who can score at all three levels. He had 19 points in the first half of the semifinal game against Richmond and he did it all. He can excel with the ball or play without the ball to get scoring opportunities. He also facilitates offense as the team's primary ball handler.</p> <p>Jack Gouge 6’8 Richmond: The 2023 post player was the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after leading the Spartans to the championship. He averaged 15 points in the tournament, including 17 in the championship. The big southpaw is a wide-body with a nice touch around the basket and good mobility. He uses his size very well to seal opponents and establish great position in the post. When he catches the ball, he's a problem.</p> <p>Keyshaun Elliott 6’3 Richmond: The 2022 forward earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the Spartans' championship team. He's a football standout with a big physical body and the athleticism to go along with it. He scores on tough power moves off the dribble and transition dunks. He and Gogue make a tough combination inside. He scored 15 points in the championship game victory over Chillicothe.</p> <p>Griff Bonderer 6’3 Chillicothe: The 2023 wing led the Hornets to a runner-up finish and made the All-Tournament Team in the process. He has a pretty good offensive package and a scorer's mentality to go along with it. He can create off the dribble with a nice step-back 3-pointer as well. He can also attack the basket strong and get himself to the free throw line.</p> <p>Ryan Pattison, West Platte: The 2022 guard earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after leading his team to a third-place finish. He wears several different hats to help his team succeed. He gets timely buckets, but he is also a solid defensive player who stays active on the boards. His motor and high basketball IQ always seems to keep him around the ball.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1162364" first="James" last="Mathew"] 6’4 Chillicothe: The 2024 forward is a solid inside player with good fundamentals around the basket. He has good patience with his moves and he finished well off the glass. I watched him last year early in his freshman year at the Savannah Tournament and was impressed with him back then. He is improving at a good pace.</p>