Rumble on the River: Hamilton Christian vs. Woodlawn (BR)

Hamilton Christian entered this season with big shoes to fill from a group that reached its fifth Division-IV semifinals in six years.   A pair of 2021-22 all-state guards, first-teamer Deion Ware and honorable-mention Mason Russell, both moved to Texas this summer — Ware to play his senior season at Killeen Ellison and Russell to begin college at East Texas Baptist.   But, at 5-2 following a 49-35 defeat of Class 5A Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) on Saturday, coach Dexter Washington and the Warriors have their best early-season record since 2019-20 despite facing a slate of entirely larger-school competition.   And an impressive mixture of veteran and young talent in the post and the backcourt should have the team in the mix among the best in its playoff division once again this spring.   "I think we let one get away Friday against Mandeville, so we knew this one was important," Washington said. "And I'll tell you this: Our kids game to play."   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtJdugZdkgU </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='2313822' first='Javon' last='Vital'] (5'9" | 2027)   The eighth-grader was one of the game's definitive standouts with impressive play on both ends of the court and feel for the game that should make him an intriguing player and prospect to watch for years to come.   "Just trying to control the ball, be tough with the ball and get my teammates open and trying to get what I can get," he said. "But I really don't have to score like that."   Vital led the Warriors out the gate with seven first-quarter points, showing the ability to finish through contact in the lane as well as hitting a 3-pointer, and finished with 10 for the game, the team's second-highest total in the lower-scoring contest. And on defense, he lived in passing lanes, including multiple second-quarter steals to help the team pull away before halftime, and also combined great closeout speed, timing and leap to block a 3-point attempt from the top of the key.   The young guard, sharing lead duties with senior [player_tooltip player_id='970128' first='Bryson' last='Colbert'], controlled the pace with maturity and handled stern coaching from Washington, whom he compared to a father figure, when the longtime coach emphasized cleaning up finer details along the way.   "He came in sixth grade, and you could see he was a competitor then," said Washington, who coached Vital's mother in AAU. "Last year, he dressed varsity. I played him in football, and he's probably even right now a better football player than basketball player. But his IQ and his toughness allows him to continue playing.   "What I knew I had to do with this kid was love him hard and make sure he respects that I love him, but then I'm gonna coach you as hard as I can so when the time comes over the next few years you'll be coaching everybody else. He's like my son, man."   Deray Vital (6'10" | 2026)   For everything [player_tooltip player_id='2313822' first='Javon' last='Vital'] brought to the Warriors' backcourt, his cousin Deray made a major impact inside.   The freshman, who finished with eight points, gave Washington another big body, rim-protector, shot-alterer and rebounder to rotate — or even pair — with veteran [player_tooltip player_id='970116' first='Malachi' last='Evans'].   "The thing about it is it's a coach's dream, in high school anyway," Washington said. "You see it all the time in college and the NBA. But in high school, it's a coach's dream to have two big guys like that. And one's older and one's younger, and they get along with one another and feed off each other.   "Once I get the younger one to know he can jump — because, as you can see, he blocks shots, so if he starts to jump on his shots like that, he's unstoppable."   Though the coaches are still working with Deray Vital to gain confidence and be more aggressive, Hamilton Christian was able to control the lane most of the game with either he or Evans on the court. And the duo also paired well together for stretches to create further matchup problems for the Panthers with enough mobility to close and block perimeter shots — as Vital did on a late corner 3-pointer — knowing the other could continue anchoring down low.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tLvvIOIXjU </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='970116' first='Malachi' last='Evans'] (6'9" | 2023)   In addition to the big men's defensive chemistry, Evans' flexibility on offense allowed the duo to be effective on that end of the court as well.   Evans finished with a team-high 11 points. And the senior was comfortable working from top of the key with the ball in his hands as a facilitator over the top of the Woodlawn defense and allowing Deray Vital space in the low post.   Tyler Knox (5'8" | 2024)   The quick, springy junior guard — a defensive back on Woodlawn's football team — scored all seven of his points in the second half to complement fellow multisport standout Cordale Richardson (6'3" | 2023).   Knox drained a third-quarter 3-pointer and showed physicality and fearlessness driving into the lane and crashing the boards against the bigger Hamilton Christian lineup. And Panthers coach Stefson Arnold drew up a prime opportunity to showcase his leaping ability with a fourth-quarter alley-top out of a timeout.

Hamilton Christian entered this season with big shoes to fill from a group that reached its fifth Division-IV semifinals in six years.