Patriot vs. Landstown Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>GAINESVILLE, VA</em> -- Patriot advanced to the state semifinals with a win over Landstown on Friday night. Here are some observations from that postseason battle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='1748199' first='Kaden' last='Bates'] | Patriot ‘23</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bates is an athletic wing who loves to run in transition. He made multiple hustle plays. Bates scored off second-chance points. He played good on-ball defense. Bates takes away air space at the point of attack. He rebounds in traffic and is a smart off-ball mover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Nasir Coleman | Patriot ‘23</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coleman applied pressure on the ball defensively. He reacts quickly. Coleman jumped the passing lanes multiple times. Coleman was at his best offensively when getting downhill and seeking contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='2232362' first='Mekhi' last='Dillard'] | Patriot ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dillard is a responsible help defender. He hedges screens alertly and with aggression. Dillard forced a turnover. He also helped clean the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='2333780' first='Kjohn' last='Fletcher'] | Landstown ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fletcher applied good ball pressure. He was a threat from 3. Fletcher is a corner specialist with a quick release. He also hit a runner in the lane. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='1580730' first='Dezmond' last='Hopkins'] | Patriot ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopkins has an automatic set shot that is very repeatable. He has good range on his three-point shot. Hopkins showed the eye for a good pass. He also stole a pass and scored in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Ryan Keenan | Patriot '24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan is a set shooter who hit a standstill 3 from the wing. He showed that he will go into traffic and rebound the ball.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Demeir Pollard | Landstown ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pollard is a long-limbed guard who has active hands in the passing lanes. He recorded multiple deflections. Pollard is an assertive, vigilant defender. He is a threat from three who can shoot on the move. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='1483024' first='Jay' last='Randall'] | Patriot ‘23</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Randall routinely jumped the passing lanes and was dangerous in transition. He made smart cuts off the ball, and found his teammates for open looks upon receipt. Randall took a charge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Shawn Spelman | Landstown ‘26</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spelman is a promising freshman. He has length at 6'5" and is shifty with the ball. Spelman crossed over from right to left and pulled up from mid-range. He likes the floater in the lane off two feet. Spelman is very athletic. He is a solid two-footed leaper who rebounds the ball in traffic and scores off second-chance points. Spelman finished through contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Derell Stephens | Landstown ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephens pressured the ball well defensively. He took a charge and hit a pull-up jumper from 15 feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='1489085' first='Isaiah' last='Vick'] | Patriot ‘24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vick's block and coast-to-coast dunk in transition was the most memorable highlight of this game. He is getting stronger physically. Vick rebounded the ball in traffic. He caught the ball with soft hands and finished in the lane. His off-ball movement was commendable. Vick had an assist. He is also a threat from three. Vick knocked down a trey ball during a well-executed after-timeout set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='979321' first='Ethan' last='Ward'] | Landstown ‘23</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ward is an explosive two-footed leaper who demonstrates a high motor. He dove on the floor and ran the floor with purpose. Ward rebounded relentlessly out of his area and in crowds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->