Prep Hoops Analysis: Park Center (1) vs Totino-Grace (1)
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Last night it was 1AAAA Park Center versus 1AAA Totino-Grace. Who won and why! That’s what we look at today in our Prep Hoops Analysis. We are doing things a little differently today, it’s analysis of the game every five…
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Continue ReadingLast night it was 1AAAA Park Center versus 1AAA Totino-Grace. Who won and why! That’s what we look at today in our Prep Hoops Analysis.
We are doing things a little differently today, it’s analysis of the game every five minutes of game action. Our thoughts on the flow of the contest, who is playing well, and player prospect thoughts as well.
Pregame
- CCX is doing the broadcast and they always do a fantastic job
- Minnesota Gopher Braeden Carrington is in the front row
- Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN is back in the starting line-up for this game as is Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN
- I see Max Wagner on the floor with his video camera!
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE (13 Minute Mark Thoughts)
- I have Park Center for 2 of 5 from the field but six turnovers, Totino-Grace Defense has been excellent, especially Tommy Humprries
- Park Center Defense has been just as good if not better. Their ball pressure is their trademark and it has forced the Eagles into four turnovers and 1 of 6 shooting.
- Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN has a lot of special qualities but that ball pressure might be the one I love the most. He could be an elite high major ball pressure defender if he continues focus on making it even better, and it’s pretty elite right now.
- This is a common situation of nerves in a big game. Neither team has established anything on O as the defense is playing at a high energy elite level. What will happen when players settle in, and get a bit tired? PC 4 TG 3
Forward Match-Up – Humphries vs Ware (8 Minute Mark Thoughts)
- I really like this JJ Ware JJ Ware 6'6" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN vs Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN forward match-up and feel that both have done good things both ways. Ware had a nice drive taken away on a horrible, horrible call where he was said to be out of bounds and he wasn’t even close and the official didn’t even look at his feet. Ware did hit a pretty 15 footer and a putback plus made some good plays in pressure. Humphries has had a tough time finishing but has scored twice but even more important is his defense as he has forced three turnovers
- Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN , the defense, again, has a chance to be an ELITE defender in college, has more potential as a ball pressure guy than anybody in this state.
- Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino Grace | 2023 State MN has a quick four boards, he is averaging 19 points and 14 boards a game.
- Want some strategy talk? LOL. This is teams going after it full court, the strategy I can give you so far is that athletes are playing basketball very hard and it’s been tough to get much offense. PC 13 TG 10
Elite Hustle (3 Minute Mark Thoughts)
- Hustle plays all over. Give all these kids credit, we are 15 minutes in and this game has such little strategy, little sets, little this and that that have been key because everybody is just competing so hard. Every board has four bodies trying to grab or tap. Every attack has help flying to it. Every shot by a good player is massively contested.
- Jackson Fowlkes Jackson Fowlkes 6'4" | SG Park Center | 2024 State MN has made a difference off the bench. Attacked to score on a mismatch and hit an open three on a reversal.
- Chavis again with a steal, Chavis finish. He is Al Nolen special on the ball. Maybe the best on ball D guy I have seen around here in 15 years. He just hit a step back three too. Best player on the floor so far. PC 24 TG 17
Ware, Chatman, Bath Step Forward (Half Time)
- Off ball, Joe Burgess Joe Burgess 6'5" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN with the back screen on the opposite wing, Bath and Stewart don’t react, wide open lay-up for CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN . Second CJ score, remember he is a second half guy, always gets more comfortable finishing around the basket when players get tired.
- Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino Grace | 2023 State MN , wow. What a spin move dunk on the baseline after the fake and an aggressive shoulder turn. Some might say hook but defender, if you don’t go for the fake shifting your weight, he isn’t in position to turn and use his weight to shoulder you. Great move, And1.
- Impressive drives from Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN to finish. Best half I have seen from him this year (had a huge fourth quarter recently in Wisconsin too). TG needs Chatman to handle versus this pressure, since he has just taken the ball the Pirate pressure has not been as game changing.
- JJ Ware JJ Ware 6'6" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN with the transition three against the late returning D. Ware has eight points and four boards with two assists. Playing well. Really like him as a three man shooter. PC 29 TG 22
Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN At His Best! (13 Minute Mark Thoughts, Half 2)
- Why is Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN considered the highest potential talent his class? Those four scores right there to start the half: 1) the blitzing attack off a bad switch, 2) double separation move into the pretty pull-up, 3) the attack forcing a foul, 4) the pretty jumper at the arc. We have a tie game and it’s Taison having the best game I have seen from him this year
- Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino Grace | 2023 State MN is the best rebounder in the game and we just saw another pretty post move finish on the block
- Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN , wow that steal!. Just a one step explosion to take the ball and go the other way. The Class AAAA MVP so far this year I would say, maybe the state MVP right now.
- Nice set there starting posts high and then getting a good screen from O’Hara to get Chiang Ring Chiang Ring 6'8" | C Park Center | 2024 State #276 Nation MN the post touch after he stepped down.
More Chatman! PC Takes Lead Back (8 Minute Mark Thoughts, Half 2)
- Taison with another nasty move getting middle and hitting a fall away and then an And1 on a step through. He’s made six straight field goals and three straight foul shots allowing TG to take the lead.
- Big momentum swing. Taison misses a transition finger roll (after his great run) and PC goes the other way and gets a second transition three of the game from JJ Ware JJ Ware 6'6" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN . That feels like a huge five point swing.
Clutch Time! (3 Minute Mark Thoughts, Half 2)
- Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN is doing a lot out here: big block, couple late game creations for teammate jumpers, rebounding, just had two scores at the cup
- Casmir Chavis Casmir Chavis 6'2" | PG Park Center | 2024 State #170 Nation MN . TG is giving up the jumper to him and I would too. He is so insanely explosive off the bounce so hard to move with that and his jumper does not have good percentages when I have watched. That said, Casmir stepped up and hit a clutch jumper right there and had one earlier too.
- And Chavis hits a third! Clutch threes given the space, pry have to step out after three although he is going to blow by a closeout that is over closed or a defender that gets leaning too much.
- Back to back jumpers from Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN to match the Chavis back to back threes.
- Totino-Grace is not recognizing what Park Center is doing when they stick the two forwards at the elbows and then getting a post to post screen for a timed entry. Third time they have ran this in the second half, second time for a lay-up. Ring scores it again. Eagles not talking this screen out and the defense not recognizing this repetitive action.
- After being so hot Chatman has missed all his attempts since that transition miss.
- Joe Burgess Joe Burgess 6'5" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN had had some key passes in this second half. PC 62 TG 59
Park Center Wins. (Final Thoughts of last 3 minutes)
- Clutch foul shot makes form Chavis. Just impossible at the high school level to defend him one on one in space and he forces them to foul.
- Clutch three from Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN . Clutch shot maker downt eh stretch with the jumper.
- Chavis steal from Chatman, open floor dunk. Man, MVP of AAAA like play in the clutch there. He has been fantastic. That puts PC up four with a minute to go.
- Patrick Bath Patrick Bath 6'9" | C Totino Grace | 2023 State MN making big foul shots down the stretch, has hit all six, has a double-double.
- Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN was on Chavis for 8 seconds on the game clock, that should have been a five second violation as the announcers pointed out too. Humphries was within the distance to me too. Feel for Humphries there, he did the job good enough to get the call.
- Chavis with two more clutch foul shots down the stretch.
- Chavis played some big D on the final two possessions vs Chatman, Ring helped too.
- Open shot for Johnson to tie the game that missed. He has been hot, he was open, can’t ask for more than that.
- Park Center 68 Totino-Grace 65