Ten Best: Fairmont Prep vs. Capistrano Valley Christian

<p>SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — It might’ve been a game between two small schools when it comes to enrollment numbers, but there was plenty of big game on the floor for a San Joaquin League battle between Fairmont Prep and Capistrano Valley Christian.</p> <p>In what looked to be trending toward a blowout with Fairmont Prep holding a 60-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter quickly turned into a valiant comeback effort on behalf of CVCS. The Huskies’ two star players and top scorers, [player_tooltip player_id="954258" first="Chol" last="Deng"] and Myles Che, picked up their fourth fouls early in the final period, sending Deng to the bench while Che played through the foul trouble.</p> <p>The Eagles took advantage of the missing pieces and sparked a run behind Mac West, [player_tooltip player_id="970271" first="Kaih" last="Williams"] and Ariik Mawien to pull the game within three points, 68-65, with under a minute to play. CVCS tried to extend the game by fouling and sending Fairmont to the free throw line, but senior forward Krisitan Jemerson closed out the Huskies’ win with four makes at the charity stripe down the stretch.</p> <p>Deng led all scorers with 28 points and added 13 rebounds, Che added 16 points and Acheampong had 14. West led CVCS with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Williams and Mawien each added 17 points.</p> <p><strong>Best Prospect: [player_tooltip player_id="954258" first="Chol" last="Deng"]</strong>, Fairmont Prep - The 6-foot-5 wing did a little bit of everything to propel the Huskies to victory. His 28 points were huge, but it was his 13 rebounds that told the story of his impact. Deng crashed the offensive boards for second chance opportunities and cleaned the defensive glass to get Fairmont out and running in transition where it is at its best. Deng has all the physical and athletic tools to be a Division I wing and the "unsigned" senior tag won’t last for much longer.</p> <p><strong>Best Athlete:</strong> <strong>Ariik Mawien</strong>, Capistrano Valley Christian - Using the descriptor "bouncy" doesn’t quite give enough credit to how athletic Mawien is. The 6-foot-4 Pepperdine-commit runs like he’s floating on the court and has a combination of speed, quick twitch and explosiveness off the floor that makes him a transition scoring threat and a guy who can posterize a defender on a half-court drive to the rim.</p> <p><strong>Best Passer:</strong> <strong>Myles Che</strong>, Fairmont Prep - Che has displayed his impressive basketball IQ over the last couple of years and he has only upped his smart play this season. The senior has full command of the game when the ball in is his hands. He picks the right spots on when to advance the ball in transition and can play out of ball screen action and make the right reads. Che is an unselfish playmaker whose timing and accuracy on his passes are what makes Fairmont’s offense go.</p> <p><strong>Best Combo Guard:</strong> <strong>Ma[player_tooltip player_id="970271" first="Kaih" last="Williams"]</strong>, Capistrano Valley Christian - Williams is another unsigned senior who stood out in this game as a guy who can really fill up the scoring column. The 6-foot-1 guard has the ball skills, pace and feel to play on the ball, but also has the shooting ability and scoring mindset to bring a different look to the CVCS offensive attack.</p> <p><strong>Best Big Man: [player_tooltip player_id="994904" first="Collins" last="Acheampong"]</strong>, Fairmont Prep - Acheampong does a ton of things that are important for a big man to embrace. The 6-foot-9 center contests shots around the rim, rebounds the defensive glass and runs the floor hard looking to get his team a potential transition advantage. The junior has made positive strides in his offensive game as far as his hands, footwork and touch around the basket go.</p> <p><strong>Best Motor: [player_tooltip player_id="970257" first="Mac" last="West III"]</strong>, Capistrano Valley Christian - There’s no questioning if West is playing hard because his effort and energy jump off the floor. The 6-foot-4 guard/wing had 24 points and 12 rebounds and was the catalyst on both ends of the floor in the Eagles’ attempt at a fourth quarter comeback. West is yet another unsigned senior who played well in this game - and has all season - and showed that he’s an inside-out scoring threat with defensive and offensive versatility.</p> <p><strong>Best On-Ball Defender:</strong> <strong>Scotty McDowell</strong>, Capistrano Valley Christian - McDowell was another major spark in CVCS mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter. The senior guard checked in off the bench and really worked hard on the defensive end. McDowell drew the assignment of slowing down Che and used his speed, scrappiness and full-court pressure to make Che work to get the ball up and helped stagnate the Fairmont Prep offense.</p> <p><strong>Best Shooter: Myles Che</strong>, Fairmont Prep - The thing a shooter likes to see most is a small gym with a small backdrop behind the basket and the CVCS gym sets up perfectly for that. Che knocked down four three-pointers, en route to his 16 points, and stepped into those shots with confidence and zero hesitance. </p> <p><strong>Best Clutch Performance: [player_tooltip player_id="974061" first="Kristian" last="Jemerson"]</strong>, Fairmont Prep - With Che having fouled out leaving a hole in the point guard/primary ball handler spot for the Huskies, Jemerson was the guy who stepped up and guided the team down the stretch. Not only did the senior wing handle the CVCS pressure well, but he also stepped to the free throw line late in the game and knocked down some clutch free throws to seal the victory.</p> <p><strong>Best Glue Guy:</strong> <strong>Eli Arthurton</strong>, Capistrano Valley Christian - Every high school team needs a glue guy like Arthurton on its roster. The 6-foot junior knocks down open three’s, applies great on-ball defensive pressure and is always willing to sacrifice his body when taking a charge or diving on the floor for a loose ball.</p>