3 takeaways from Briarcrest’s win over Memphis East

Courtney Smith January 6, 2023 @ 11:06 PM

Briarcrest (21-1) protected its home floor Friday night by defeating Memphis East (13-6), 78-61.   No Jaye Nash. No Max Carroll.    No problem for the Saints.   Here are 3 takeaways from Briarcrest's win over the Mustangs.   Jacob Gazzo was a matchup nightmare for Memphis East   In the first half, Gazzo carried the Saints' offense and simply got anything he wanted inside the paint. Briarcrest didn't do anything new that the Mustangs didn't see before when the two programs battled one another in the Tournament of Champions Final Four on Jan. 2 when the Saints won the first meeting, 62-54.   The only difference between the two meetings was the absence of junior point guard Jaye Nash, who missed Friday night's matchup due to an ankle injury. Nash's presence is definitely important to Briarcrest's success, but the Saints didn't have a problem getting great looks on offense.   Gazzo, a 6-foot-8 power forward, did a great of rolling to the basket off the high ball-screens he was setting for junior guards Cooper Haynes, Connor Mancell, and Whit Altmyer at the top of the key. Each time either guard was in pick-and-roll action with Gazzo, either Gazzo got an easy score at the rim or one of the guards got a great look from the perimeter.   In short, the Saints feasted on a Memphis East squad that couldn't stop Briarcrest's dribble penetration.   “After I made the first shot, I just felt good today,” said Gazzo, who led the Saints with 25 points and had the Mustangs' freshman forward Ethan Gatewood in early foul trouble in the first half. “My teammates, they were awesome getting the ball in there. They did a really good job of that.”<a></a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1140778' first='Cooper' last='Haynes'] gets into rhythm with ease   Whether it was a layup or a jump shot, Haynes had it going in the second half after Gazzo cooled off. Haynes came alive in the third quarter, draining two big 3s late to give Briarcrest a comfortable 63-45 lead heading into the final eight minutes.   The junior made a one-handed pass to Gazzo for an easy score as he penetrated to the middle of the paint – with all eyes from the opposing team on him – as Memphis East simply forgot about the Ole Miss commit waiting patiently for the ball to come his way.   Haynes, one of the best scorers, and probably, the best shooter in the 2024 class, seems to get into rhythm at the right time, and when he does, every shot tends to fall.   It's safe to say that the basketball is Haynes' magic wand.    “As a shooter, after one goes in, it feels good,” said Haynes, who scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half. “Seeing those shots go in just gives me more confidence. And I know when it's going up, it's going in every time.”   Curry remains on a hot streak   Junior power forward Alijah Curry led the Mustangs with 24 points and 10 rebounds and has posted a double-double in Memphis East's three games this week. Thus far, he's been the Mustangs' best offensive weapon and most reliable one, while Memphis East's backcourt hasn't been quite as productive.    Senior guards LJ Hickman and Jamarion Harvey combined for 19 points Friday night, three nights after combining for 25 points on 8 of 20 shooting in a double-digit win over Whitehaven. Around this time last season, Harvey was a consistent, reliable double-digit scorer alongside E.J. Smith (16 points) and Billy Richmond III (11 points). Both prospects are gone, so Harvey's production, along with Hickman's, will have to pick up if the Mustangs want a chance at having any type of postseason success.

Briarcrest (21-1) protected its home floor Friday night by defeating Memphis East (13-6), 78-61.