No. 6 Mount St. Joseph vs No. 24 St. Maria Goretti Evaluations

Colby Giacubeno February 17, 2022 @ 10:04 AM

Last night I was in attendance for a DMV Top 30 matchup between the No. 6 Mount St. Joe Gaels and the No. 24 St. Maria Goretti Gaels. After a lackluster first quarter showing, Mount St. Joe found their groove in the second frame and never looked back where they would eventually capture a 78-52 win. [player_tooltip player_id="957018" first="Amani" last="Hansberry"] | Mount St. Joseph ’23 Hansberry made his presence felt in the second quarter when he began scoring inside and out. That’s when his team started rolling as a unit. After knocking down a three, the 6-foot-7 forward baited his defender into aggressive closeouts and used quick sweep-throughs to make his way to the rim for finishes. He did a nice job of sealing his defender after setting down screens for post-up opportunities. Hansberry ran the floor with consistency and limited Goretti to many one-shot possessions thanks to his rebounding. Hansberry continues his double-double ways with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win. [player_tooltip player_id="1127305" first="Bryson" last="Tucker"] | Mount St. Joseph ’24 Tucker and Hansberry make up one of, if not the, most dominant duo in the DMV. Tucker’s command on the ball is unmatched when you consider his size at 6-foot-6 to go with it. He made his routine array of mid-range jumpers after breaking his defender down off the bounce or simply using his size to shoot over the top as he faded away. He had a couple of high-level reads operating off of ball-screens as shooters in the opposite corners lifted up to open windows. Tucker was efficient as usual with his look and conducted his team in half court play, which resulted in sound execution. Tucker’s stat line of 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists gives clear indication of his involvement in the effort. [player_tooltip player_id="1219865" first="Dionte" last="Alexander"] | St. Maria Goretti ’23 Alexander did his work in the first have and was largely the reason that Goretti had a strong start coming out of the gates. The 6-foot-2 southpaw nailed two early triples from the corner and paired those with a couple of nice drives and finishes at the rim to record 10 points. There are many reasons to be intrigued with Alexander’s long-term potential, but his shot-making and smooth operating ability off the bounce headline. Tyonne Farrell | Mount St. Joseph ’24 Farrell missed a chunk of the season for various reasons and for me personally, it was my first time seeing him in action this high school season. His size, motor and raw skill set are all things that contribute into being an intriguing prospect. He was persistent on the glass, used his body to his advantage on his touches around the rim and ran the lanes with purpose for scores in transition. On a couple of occasions, he cleaned up his own close misses with quick second jumps. Farrell could be a key piece for the Gaels throughout the playoffs within the next two weeks. [player_tooltip player_id="904627" first="Jordan" last="Green"] | St. Maria Goretti ’22 Abessolo was the high scorer for Goretti with 14 points and scored it in a different way than he usually does. 9 of his team-high 14 points came from beyond the arc, an area that a lot of programs have been hoping for improvement throughout the last couple of months. Many defenders guard Abessolo as a driver, so on the catch he’d hit them with a quick jab-step, reset his feet and let the shot go with squared shoulders. His shot-making, high motor and versatility defensively is why he is gaining high Division II and low Division I interest.