Toms River East vs. Jackson Memorial: Top 5 Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division play is up and rolling as teams across the Garden State are looking to take home a division title. Toms River East and Jackson Memorial squared off in an A-South showdown with the Jaguars walking away with a 59-40 victory. Here are the top 5 takeaways from this pivotal A-South showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013066' first='Respect' last='Tyleek']</strong> is crucial to the Jaguars' success</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyleek had a good all-around game against the Raiders as he did a little bit of everything for them. The 6'1 guard made some crisp passes in the half court as he was able to find his teammates cutting to the basket and ran the offense smoothly. Tyleek attacked the basket with a purpose and finished nicely around the basket. He used his length to make plays on the defensive end and guarded multiple different players throughout the game. Tyleek's versatility is key to Jackson Memorial's success as he does so much for them at both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933644' first='Samir' last='Padilla']</strong> is a microwave</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Padilla did not play until halfway through the third quarter, but was still able to put up a team-high 15 points. The 5'10 guard was electric with the ball in his hands as he was able to get into the paint and finish around the rim. Padilla played with supreme confidence as he drilled a near half-court three to close out the third quarter. He showed a quick release on his jumper and was not rattled by on-ball pressure. Padilla has the ability to put up point in bunches, which will be key for Jackson Memorial this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154998' first='Jason' last='McKelvey']</strong> is an underrated player to watch in Ocean County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKelvey had a strong game for the Raiders as he was a big part of their offense during the game. The 6'2 wing made strong cuts to the basket and was able to finish nicely around the rim. McKelvey set his feet before he shot and showed his range by knocking down a triple in the first quarter. He fought for rebounds on both ends of the floor and made good decisions with the ball in his hands. McKelvey is a hard-working wing prospect who has the potential to open eyes in 2023 for Toms River East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025355' first='Keith' last='Adame']</strong> complements Padilla and Tyleek nicely in the backcourt</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adame started the game aggressive for the Jaguars as he was their go-to guy on offense with Padilla on the bench. The 6'1 guard was at his best attacking the basket as the Raiders had trouble keeping him out of the lane. Adame finished well around the basket and rose up with confidence on his jumper from the perimeter. He moved well without the ball in his hands and showed good chemistry with Padilla and Tyleek. Jackson Memorial has one of the top guard trios in the Shore Conference, which should help them make a deep run in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1469939' first='Dylan' last='Russell']</strong> is an under the radar 2023 guard to watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Russell struggled to hit shots throughout the game, but his impact could be felt at both ends of the floor. The 6'3 guard handled the ball nicely on the perimeter as he was not rattled by the Jaguars' press and was able to get into the lane. Russell used his size to see over his defender and was unafraid of drawing contact in the paint. He fought for rebounds on both ends of the floor and hustled for loose balls throughout the game. Russell is a high-energy guard prospect who will be one to watch for Toms River East throughout the rest of the season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->