Calvert Hall vs Severn: Takeaways

Last night Calvert Hall improved to 3-0 on the season with a 63-59 win over a tough Severn team. Over the years, we've seen a distinct difference in talent when comparing the MIAA A and B conferences, so the fact that Severn nearly snuck away with a victory is a testament to their preparation and barring any injuries, should be a competitive squad in their league this season. For this article, I'll break down some takeaways:   Johnson's huge night   2024 Calvert Hall guard [player_tooltip player_id='1366890' first='Brendan' last='Johnson'] exploded for a game-high 29 points that included six triples in the win. The 6'3 junior continues to build off momentum gained from over the summer and is proving to be one of the better shooters in the Baltimore Metro area. He did a great job playing off other's penetration where he'd relocate for quick catch-and-shoot opportunities. As defenders began closing out on him aggressively, he drove hard to the rim where he'd draw contact along the way and convert at the charity stripe. What was most impressive about Johnson's shot making was the three's he hit in transition off the bounce. As the defense sprinted back and attempted to locate their matchup, Johnson quickly got to his spot around the top of the key and made them pay for not stopping the ball.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/11/IMG-0910-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/11/IMG-0910-300x225.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1677203"/></a></figure>   Price's admirable effort   2024 Severn point guard Kingston Price carried the load for the Admirals last night and did so productively on both ends of the floor. Price is the primary ball-handler for his team with good reason, but when 2023 Nas Sturvidant got ejected from the game just five minutes in after receiving two technical fouls, Price had to man the ball for the remainder of the contest. He scored 26 points, nine of which came from beyond the arc. Price was effective in semi-transition where he'd use change of pace dribbles to get by his defender. From there, he finished a bevy of shots around the rim with either hand. As the defense adjusted and starting packing help side defenders into the paint, Price would settle for mid range jumpers that he converted with good balance. He was a nuisance defensively and generated a handful of turnovers due to his persistent ball pressure.   Bizzelle steps up when needed   It was a rough first half for the 2024 floor general. Some nights your shot just isn't there and that was what kind of night it was for Bizzelle, but he made the necessary adjustments in the second half when his backcourt teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='1366890' first='Brendan' last='Johnson'], fouled out in crunch time. The southpaw guard slithered his way to the bucket where he got lay ups or forced the refs to call fouls by drawing contact. Severn made a major push in the final four minutes and could've gained a late lead, but Bizzelle's ability to overcome adversity allowed his team to seal the victory. All of his 11 points came in the final two quarters.   Severn's defensive gameplan   Severn overcame a double-digit deficit a couple of times throughout the course of the game and did so with their defense. Their aggressive approach to blitzing ball screens had an impact early on and helped spark easy run out opportunities following deflections. Their backside defenders were in place in case the double-team was split or quickly passed out of and for the most part, they did a nice job of closing out hard and forcing guys to put in on the floor after the catch. Film spreads quickly and I'd expect to see many teams take a similar approach that Severn did moving forward.   Other key role players   Calvert Hall:   2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1413514' first='Jonah' last='Biggers'] was steady as usual acting as an anchor in the paint. He used his size to establish position on the block and muscled his way to the basket, picking up fouls in the process. Seven of his nine points came in the final frame and he was also a factor on the glass where he quietly collects rebounds by the boatload.   2023 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1585962' first='Troy' last='Tinch'] was a factor thanks to his ability to spread the floor. You'll often times see Tinch make his shots from the corner where Johnson or Bizzelle deliver whip passes as they drive-and-kick. He nailed three triples on his way to 10 points in the win.   Severn:   2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1370508' first='Jacob' last='Randall'] has been on our radar since the summer with his solid play for New World. He continued his ways last night following up Price with 11 points. Seven of his 11 points came in the fourth quarter when Severn made their late run to pull close. He was relentless as a slasher and helped produce second chance points on multiple occasions.   2023 Elijah Bryant scored six points, but his impact was felt beyond the scoring category. His defensive versatility and overall athleticism were key in Severn's traps. He was also a factor in transition in the second half and his one-handed flush helped swing the momentum in favor of the Admirals for a few minutes late in the game.

Last night Calvert Hall improved to 3-0 on the season with a 63-59 win over a tough Severn team. Over the years, we've seen a distinct difference in talent when comparing the MIAA A and B conferences, so the fact that Severn nearly snuck away with a victory is a testament to their preparation and barring any injuries, should be a competitive squad in their league this season. For this article, I'll break down some takeaways: