Grace Brethren vs Rosedale Christian-Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last night I made my way over to Rosedale Christian for an MPSC matchup as the hosting Panthers took on Grace Brethren. It was tough, physical battle by which easy buckets came at a premium for either side. The Eagles from Grace Brethren would end up walking away with a 50-41 win to improve to 13-6 overall. Let's check out some takeaways from this contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hawkins logs double-double</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1579095' first='Tremayne' last='Hawkins'] came out from the opening tip looking to impact the glass. The 6'6 forward did just that and sustained his energy and mindset throughout the game as indicated by his double-double of 14 rebounds and 11 points. Hawkins did his work early on establishing inside position before shots went up where he feasted on the offensive glass for second-chance opportunities. He pursued the ball outside of his area on the defensive end using his instincts and size to help track them down, quickly locate a guard and initiate a fastbreak. His effort was vital as the game tightened up in the last five minutes. He had strong composure stepping to the free-throw line during a fouling situation and helping ice the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williams scores with efficiency</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1127301' first='Isaiah' last='Williams'] led the way for Rosedale and was critical in the late comeback effort with his shooting off the bounce. The 6'2 guard started playing more off of the ball late in the game, but remained aggressive on any catch with a quick first step to gain an edge on the closeout defender. He got to his spot in 1-to-2 dribbles before rising up with good balance, rhythm and confidence. Williams registered 12 points in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnson battles through foul trouble</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1367745' first='Kris' last='Johnson'] is one of the more active and tenacious defenders you'll find in MD/DC, but sometimes it gets the best of him when the refs are calling a close game. He'd end up getting into early foul trouble that restricted some of his game and usual approach, but he didn't allow it to keep him from being an impact. He had numerous strong drives the rim where he drew contact and earned visits to the charity stripe. Along with Hawkins, Johnson came through at the end hitting some clutch free-throws to keep Rosedale's hopes to a minimum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sowell shows upside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Bryan Sowell had a few occasions where he showcased some intriguing potential as a long-term prospect. The 6'6 junior brings good size and a decent frame to the four position, but can play with skill and finesse as shown in a coast-to-coast finish after corralling a rebound in the fourth quarter. Along the way, he dodged two defenders with a behind the back dribble and a hesitation before getting to the rim and finish strong with his right hand. Sowell also did his due diligence on the glass in crunch time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other notes from the game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Grace Brethren guard [player_tooltip player_id='1413515' first='Damien' last='Jones'] didn't have his best shooting performance, but what I liked most about it was he didn't allow it to impact his energy on the defensive end. He also didn't let his body language get the best of him despite his struggles. Jones' shot selection was good. He was in rhythm, they came within the flow of the offense and he let it go confidently. Some days, they just don't drop and it's important to find other ways to help your team win like he did.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Rosedale Christian forward Donovan Flamer created opportunities for himself with getting involved on the offensive boards. He possesses great timing on misses and follows up with tip dunks like he had last night that can help swing the momentum of a run. Flamer has great length that helps him collect rebounds at their peak.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When 2024 Rosedale Christian guard Jaylyn Kennedy got downhill, good things happened. Whether he's going the length of the floor or quickly denying a ball screen and attacking baseline, the 6'1 junior uses his brute frame and mindset to get to the basket and initiate contact wherever necessary. He has the body control to finish through bumps, but often times puts the defender in a tough position and draws a foul.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 duo of Dauoda Traore, Robert Wiggins and [player_tooltip player_id='2231765' first='Isaiah' last='Buckley'] all contributed in the win. Traore is a 6'5 wing who uses his wiry frame to grab rebounds and finish lobs in transition. He had a couple last night that brought the Grace Brethren crown to their feet. Robert Wiggins came off the bench and drilled two big three's to help gain advantage of the game early and Buckley switched off playing on and off the ball pushing tempo, getting to the rim and making tough defensive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->