Parham Perspective: Pontiac Semis and Final

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday was the last day of holiday tournaments so naturally I made the drive to central Illinois to catch one of the best tournaments in the state Pontiac. I was able to watch the two semis and the late niht Championship game. Here are the results of a great day of basketball.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Semifinals</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joliet West- Benet&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet jumped put on Joliet West early, hitting some long-range bombs coming from [player_tooltip player_id='1371085' first='Brady' last='Kunka'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1537986' first='Brayden' last='Fagbemi']. I think what confused Joliet West so much in the first quarter was the off ball action that seemed to get players wide open shots. I think the real momentum changer was Niko Abusara amazing dunk over a West player who had everyone going crazy and definitely gave the Redwings more courage in the game. Joliet would get some offensive production from [player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair']. He made strong plays at the rim and hit some shots from mid-range. Beginning the second half Benet was up double digits and that's when [player_tooltip player_id='1385291' first='Jeremiah' last='Fears'] started to assert himself as he scored 12 points with strong change of pace moves and knocking in a few stop and pop jumpers. He helped get Joliet West within 4 points before Fagbemi took over again. Brayden took a lot of pressure but made the right reads, and before you knew it Benet was back up double digits and Joliet West ran out of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet 56 Joliet West 47 Final&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet:<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1537986' first='Brayden' last='Fagbemi'] 14 pfz</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joliet West <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair'] 15 pts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Simeon - Curie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first semifinal Simeon's Rubin twins got things started early. [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] scored the first three buckets for Simeon all of them dunks. Curie followed up with strong play from [player_tooltip player_id='1056104' first='Chikasi' last='Ofoma'] who made strong moves in the paint and even hit a three to keep the game close. In the absence of [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] (injured) senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1371076' first='Shawn' last='Brown'] stepped up his play as he sliced and scored over the towering Simeon duo for buckets. Keeping this close until halftime.&nbsp; By the start of the second half the Wolverines came out hot getting a much needed lift from [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] who would push the lead back up to nine. Curie's Brown scored a couple more times to narrow the lead before [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'] started to cook and scored around the rim as well finishing missed shots and getting fouled in the process. By the fourth Simeon was up double figures and&nbsp; put the ball in [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] hands to secure the lead and ultimately win the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon 67 Curie 58 Final&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon <br>[player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] 16 pts 8 reb.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] 15 pts <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] 13 pts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Curie:<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1371076' first='Shawn' last='Brown'] 19 pts<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1056104' first='Chikasi' last='Ofoma'] 12 pts 15 reb</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Championship Game</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Simeon - Benet&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines came prepared to guard all the off ball action that Benet killed Joliet West with earlier in the day. [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] got it going early getting to the rim. As Benet struggled to score, Jalen also hit two big threes, one to close the half. In the second half, [player_tooltip player_id='1215311' first='Nikola' last='Abusara'] turned things up and went on run that cut Simeon's lead down to two points. Another Simeon run came from [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] who was able to force turnovers and get to the foul line. In the fourth quarter Benet would finally get some production from [player_tooltip player_id='1537986' first='Brayden' last='Fagbemi'] who didn't shoot it well in the first half. He made some tough shots in the lane and hit a big three in the corner to cut the lead back down to two which got the Benet crowd up cheering. Simeon would put the ball back in Griffith's hands who would ultimately seal the win with his own one man press break where he found [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] for a dunk. Fagbemi did hit another three to give Benet an ounce of hope, but it wasn't enough as Simeon would win the game and championship sending off legendary head coach Robert Smith with one last Pontiac title</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon 52 Benet 49 Final&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon: <br>[player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] 17 pts 6 reb<br>[player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] 15 pts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet :<br>Niko Abusara 17 pts 6 reb 5 ast<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1537986' first='Brayden' last='Fagbemi'] 13 pts </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hope you all enjoyed the Holiday Tournament coverage this week. Can't wait to do it again next season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->