SEPA Thursday Night District Playoff Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the numerous PIAA District Playoff matchups taking place on Thursday night, gyms all over southeastern Pennsylvania were buzzing with hoops action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is review of seven players who posted standout performances during Thursday night's District playoff contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Yadiel Cruz </strong><strong>– 6'2” / Junior / Reading / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] Red / Shooting Guard:</strong> Cruz is a slashing style prospect who can play at the two spot or as a wing. His outstanding scoring performances this season have thrust his name on to the 2024 recruiting scene. Thursday night in the District 3-6A championship game Cruz posted 18 points including the game winning free throws with two seconds remaining in OT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Justin' last='Edwards'] </strong><strong>– 6'7” / Senior / Imhotep Charter / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] EYBL / Combo Guard:</strong> The No.1 player in the country and in our Class of 2023 rankings added more hardware to his trophy case last night. Edwards (Kentucky commit) netted 18 points in just three quarters of play as Imhotep defeated Archbishop Ryan in the District 12-5A championship game. Edwards left this contest in the late 3Q with an apparent head injury. He later announced via Twitter that he was doing “fine.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1185959' first='Nolan' last='Gilbert'] </strong><strong>– 6'5″ / Senior / Cumberland Valley / Nook Raiders / Wing: </strong>24 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks is an extremely impressive stat line during a regular season game. So, last night when Gilbert (Alfred Univ. commit) recorded that stat line against powerhouse Reading (2x defending District 3-6A champions) in the 2023 title game, he deserves the ultimate respect. Unfortunately, Gilbert's epic performance was not enough, as CV lost to Reading in the final seconds of OT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1481147' first='Madyx' last='Gruber'] </strong><strong>– 5'10″ / Sophomore / Wilson / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] Red / Point Guard:</strong> A playmaker at both ends of the court, Gruber racked up 23 points in Wilson's District 3-6A state tournament seeding game win over York. When he was out in transition, Gruber scored or distributed. Gruber also drained 2 threes Additionally, his effective change of pace moves enabled him to get to the cup. Gruber is a major plus defensive player as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Koch </strong><strong>– 6'4″ / Senior / Berks Catholic / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] Red / Shooting Guard:</strong> We have been telling you about Koch's high percentage three-point shooting since back in September. Last night this sniper drained 4 triples on his way to 20 points as BC successfully defended their District 3-4A title against Fleetwood. To prove he is not one dimensional, Koch (Univ. Pitt-Johnstown commit) also scored a couple buckets in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1281811' first='Izaiah' last='Pasha'] </strong><strong>– 6'4” / Senior / Cardinal O'Hara / [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] National UAA / Point Guard:</strong> If there is a “big guard” in SEPA who gets downhill quicker than Pasha (17 ppg. &amp; 7 rpg.; Iona commit) we have not witnessed that prospect play. In addition to fast break points, Wednesday night Pasha drained a three, hit mid-range floaters and worked the offensive glass during O'Hara's District 12-4A seeding game victory over Audenried,. When it was all over, Pasha had amassed a stat line of 34 points, 10 rebounds and 5 dimes. As a nice bonus, he surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career during this win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1192641' first='Darren' last='Williams'] </strong><strong>– 6'4” / Junior / Archbishop Ryan / [program_tooltip program_id='2078682' first='K-Low' last='Elite'] / Combo Guard: </strong>During the 2022-23 the regular season Williams (16 ppg. &amp; 5.7 rpg.) took his game to another level. So, it should come as no surprise that this 1^st Team All-PCL selection scored 22 points against Imhotep Charter, Pennsylvania's No. 1 ranked team. Last night Williams played some bully ball, used his dribble drive skills, and got out in transition. Plus, he sprinkled in a few jumpers. However, Imhotep still had too much for AR as the Panthers won this District 12-5A championship contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->