AP’s Day 2 Passion Region Finals Notebook

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Bracket play began on Saturday with a few more favorites falling before championship Sunday. Whether it was injury or another team’s late game heroics, we’re that much closer to crowning three new Passion Region winners.</p> <p><strong>Continuity Wins</strong></p> <p>National Spotlight is competing with a team of 2024s in the 17U division. The IMG based group has played with each other for the better part of three years and it shows. They all know their roles and play them extremely well. They’re headed by three lead guards with diverse skill sets. [player_tooltip player_id="1300764" first="Myles" last="Kirby"] is an athlete that can flat out play. He has a great first step that allows him to get downhill and opens up passing lanes for his shooters. Kirby has become a reliable spot up shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="1457200" first="Eli" last="Zimmerman"] is the defensive specialist of the group with the foot speed and strength to contain ball handlers. His willingness to sacrifice his body and find shooters on offense are drivers of the offense. <strong>Jorge Cardenas</strong> is lightning quick with an extremely crafty floor game. When he’s on the court, he increases the pace leading to the other team turning the ball over.</p> <p><strong>Shooting Stars</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1306085" first="Austin" last="White"] of PSB Tampa was one a heater until a quiet game. He’s made over three threes a game as the lone 2024 on a 17U squad. His teammate <strong>Will Willard</strong> joined him in his splash brother activities with at least 4 threes a game of his own. They’re a pair of talented spot up shooters whose percentages don’t drop when they take a dribble or two.</p> <p>PSB Tampa’s 16U had another strong shooter. 6’2 <strong>Christian Brown</strong> was nearly perfect from the field as three trifectas fell through the net. He hits perimeter shots from both wings and gives his penetrators a consistent outlet weapon.</p> <p>National Spotlight’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1457206" first="Eric" last="Baldassarre"]</strong> shot 50 from three on eight attempts. It was an off day for the 6’2 shooter that made every other attempt instead of his normal stream of three in a row. His length and body filling out have helped him become a better defender with quick hands.</p> <p><strong>Big Games</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1463438" first="Sam" last="Wolff"] is a heady guard with a combination of athleticism and fundamentals that shredded teams. He’s a good passer with a tight handle. He uses those skills to get where he wants on the floor and find his teammates as defenses crash onto him. The 2023 guard scored in transition and grabbed boards against a physical team. Wolff won a great battle against another talented floor general.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="709222" first="Karmello" last="Branch"] has grown a lot as a player over this summer. He’s gone from off ball swiss army knife to a 6’5 combo guard that can run an offense. His tightened handle allows him to create for others and shoot off the dribble in space. Branch is still a switchable defender that can cover all three perimeter positions.</p>