Class 3A Championship Game Standout Players

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The class 3A championship game was played at a high level, but in the end, Plainview HS captured the Blue Map. Several players made their impact, and here are a few…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3A State Champions: Plainview HS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1346221,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/PH-Luke-Smith.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/PH-Luke-Smith.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1346221" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385925' first='Luke' last='Smith']&nbsp;</strong>(6'5/SF/'23/Plainview HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: olukesmith14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @lukesmith_14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Luke was hands down the best player on the floor during the championship game. He displayed a brilliant floor game, and his impact on both ends of the floor was a huge reason Plainview lifted the trophy. You could see his experience and maturity as he looked like he was playing at a completely different pace than everyone else on the court. As expected, you can tell the high school game has slowed down, and he sees things well before others around him can. He was a playmaker the entire game. Whatever his team needed, he provided. He scored the rock, facilitated, defended in open space, defended in the paint, and was active on the boards. His play was absolutely dynamic. I have put a lot of ink on Luke throughout his career, so if you want to view the intricate details of his game, feel free to search his name and look back at previous articles.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>18pts (8-14 [2-2 3-Ptr]), 9rebs, 2Blks</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Levi Brown </strong>(6'2/G/'23/Plainview HS)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">When you think about a glue guy, look no further than Levi. He was the guy that kept everything together on both ends of the floor. I liked his unselfishness in giving up his body and taking the number of charges he did throughout the game. You do not see that in the stat line, but the number of charges he drew was key throughout the game and key to helping get some of the Patriots players in foul trouble. He was efficient with his offensive opportunities and made timely baskets, even a trey late in the game that helped stretch the lead going down the stretch. He played with a lot of grit and was a high-energy and effort guy that played his role.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>7pts (3-4 [1-2 3-Ptr])</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jonah Williams </strong>(6'0/SG/'23/Plainview HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: _jwill23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter:@JonahWill23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jonah did not shoot the ball in the manner in which we have come to know, but he did make his presence felt as he orchestrated the offense and defended well against some aggressive Midfield guards. I liked that even though his shots were not falling, he did not allow that to take him out of the game. He stayed mentally locked in and made plays that contributed to winning outside of scoring plays. The numbers may not have been there in the championship game but make no mistake; Jonah's value in this game could not go unnoticed. He provided what his team needed in order to accomplish the goal.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>7pts (1-7 [1-6 3-Ptr])</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2257885' first='Landon' last='White'] </strong>(6'6/F/'24/Plainview HS)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: landonwhit5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Landon is one of the most athletic players I saw throughout the week, regardless of classification. He is explosive off the floor and impacted the game on the glass as well as on the defensive end as he challenged and altered shots. He has his footing on the defensive end as he can definitely defend in the paint and showed that he can step out in space and hold his own. His low-block post-up game is still developing, but he can finish near, at, and above the rim when he receives drop-off passes. He still has a ways to go in developing and polishing his game and playing at a consistently high level. His offensive repertoire should be a primary focus this off-season because he will be needed to produce in the scoring column next season. He's a hard worker who can be on a very good trajectory as a prospect if he can add some tools to the bag.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>7pts (3-4), 5rebs</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Midfield High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1715066,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Dalvin-Dawson-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Dalvin-Dawson-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1715066" width="256" height="256" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knight Eady Knight Eady</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1564927' first='Dalvin' last='Dawson']</strong>&nbsp;(5'11/SG/'23/Midfield HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Dj_dawson316</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Dalvin15Dawson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Dalvin is an absolute sniper from behind the arc. Plainview had a well-designed game plan for Dalvin, and they were intentional in not allowing him to get going. They always knew where he was and kept a body near him. Well, how did he make his way as a standout in this article, and the answer is because of his presence on the floor. Defenders were unable to help off him, which created driving lanes and gaps for his teammates to operate. He moved without the ball, which caused the defense to have to make adjustments which opened other opportunities for teammates to put in work. The threat of Dalvin getting off played a significant difference on the huge BJCC court that helped Midfield stay attacking gaps off the bounce and put pressure on the Plainview interior defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>5pts (2-7 [1-4 3-Ptr])</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1632037,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/PH-Shannon-Jones-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/PH-Shannon-Jones-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1632037" width="256" height="256" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knight Eady Knight Eady</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1565977' first='Shannon' last='Jones']</strong> (5'11/PG/'23/Midfield HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Glee.shannon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @3Gleeshannon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Shannon finished with 11pts, but they were all earned as nothing came easy against the Plainview D. He provided a balance between scoring and facilitating as well as a steady control of pace for the Patriots. The Patriots have a stable of guards who are interchangeable at the lead and off-guard spots, so Shannon was able to impact the game with the ball in his hands as well as without. Even though the numbers are not indicative of his offensive impact, his points were vital in a low-scoring contest. He was excellent getting to the paint, but as I said, nothing came easy with Midfield struggling to knock down outside shots.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>11pts (4-14 [0-1 3-Ptr])</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1712459,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Armonie-Franklin-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Armonie-Franklin-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1712459" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600038' first='Armonie' last='Franklin'] </strong>(5'10/PG/'25/Midfield HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: iammonie3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Armonie is a sophomore who showed he could handle his own on the season's biggest stage. You will notice that his stat line is not listed because it is one that will not just jump off the page at you, but his impact on the game was key. He controlled pace, got the ball into the hands of his playmakers, and was a tough match-up on the defensive end of the floor. He orchestrated the offense well and was like a coach on the floor. On the biggest stage of the year, he was trusted with the ball in his hands and the freedom to create, and he delivered for his squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Armonie is a sophomore who showed he could handle his own on the season's biggest stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1632039,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/PH-DeMarreon-Baldwin-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/PH-DeMarreon-Baldwin-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1632039" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DeMarreon Baldwin </strong>(6'4/G|F/'23/Midfield HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Beezy2_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @DemarreonB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Every time I have seen Midfield this year, Shannon and Dalvin did most of the scoring load, but I remember watching DeMarreon at Shades Valley before bringing his talents over to Midfield. One thing that stayed in my mind about DB was his ability to score the rock and score in volumes. His offensive output in the championship game was not a surprise to me, and what a luxury to have that caliber player who can score the rock. He's a well-built 6-4 wing who can score inside and out. He is a terrific athlete who also has excellent basketball instincts (passing, reading plays, defending). He was efficient with his attempts, and just because he did not put up the numbers he did when he was at Shades Valley, let me make one thing clear, DB can still score the rock and could help a program at the next level.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished the game with the following stat line:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>17pts (7-9), 9rebs</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote -->