Sunday Championship GameChangers

This content series is sponsored by <a href="https://gc.com/home/football?utm_source=prepredzone&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=2022prepredzone&utm_content=gamechangeroftheevent&utm_term=partner" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GameChanger</a> – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops!   Prep Hoops' Oklahoma State Tournament was home to three championships on Sunday afternoon, here's a look at the players that changed the game in all three contests.   17U: Team L.O.E. 63 [program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] EYBL Select 59   Team L.O.E.'s tempo setting point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2210418' first='Omar' last='Gayle'] was instrumental in building an early lead. He did it all in the first half, getting to the rim in the halfcourt, making good feeds in pick and roll, along with playing up tempo, aggressive defense. Despite his thin fame, he's a strong finisher at the rim. While also being able to break out some fancy finishing ability as well. In the second half he picked his spots more, but still popped up in key moments. Including nailing a tough mid-range jumper and a stepback three pointer shortly after, which helped halt a run by the opposition.   Partnering with Gayle to keep [program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] EYBL Select at bay, was scoring guard Gavin Davis. The talented shot making started with some quality scores in the mid-range and at the rim in the second half. And really got it rolling in the second half with a great shooting performance.   [program_tooltip program_id='2078402' first='Team' last='Griffin'] EYBL select has a balanced and deep team, with seemingly new faces stepping up every contest. A constant for them is [player_tooltip player_id='1295734' first='Jeremiah' last='Deering'], who anchors their front court. An explosive athlete, the Deer Creek Antler plays bigger than his size with huge slams, blocks and general physical play. His assault on the offensive glass and highlight reel finishing were often key parts of any push by his squad.   In the backcourt today, Deering's Deer Creek teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1807981' first='Hudson' last='Linsenmeyer'] had it going early from beyond the arc. He hit some big and tough shots early. The 2024 guard has a tight handle, and can catch fire even when taking difficult shots. While fellow guard [player_tooltip player_id='1678455' first='Ciaran' last='Pedulla'] matched the physicality of L.O.E., often mixing it up on the defensive end, helping out on the glass and tough finishing at the rim.   16U: Flash! Elite 62 Nike ProSkills San Antonio 37   Three point shooting broke open the game in the first half for Flash! Elite. After that huge barrage, they would never look back, dominating the contest with a wire to wire victory.   Shooting changes games and in this case they're one specific standout for Flash! Elite that changed the outcome. The ringleader of the three point bombers was electric lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1542069' first='Derrick' last='Brown']. The Mansfield Summit standout caught fire and by the early second half he had at least 6 made three pointers. He has a smooth shooting stroke, that looks like every shot is going on. Which in this case, seemingly every shot did in this game.   While Brown's shooting was crucial, he wasn't the only game changer for Flash! Elite. Skilled big man DJ Hall was active on the glass, grabbing defensive boards and looking to push it as an outlet passer. Then he was a force on the offensive end, converting tips in and putbacks. He flashed some skill as a shooter. At times his offensive game was a little raw, with a little much on his passes. But overall the promising forward has good upside with his feel and how he sees the game, he just needs some more refinement.     15U Flash! Elite 66 Oklahoma Mindset 58   At one point, Flash! Elite looked ready to run away with the title game in the 15U division as well. To close out the first half and start the second they built a huge lead, often via the ballhawking disruptive defense of [player_tooltip player_id='1778982' first='Kensington' last='Candler']. The lanky lead guard was a terror, ripping the opposition for easy transition scores. He even started the second half by picking a ball handler's pocket, racing to the other end and skying for a slam. In the half court, Candler's first step was effective to get by defenders. While also looking comfortable from beyond the arc when draining a catch and shoot opportunity.   It was a team effort in Mindset's comeback, which did cut the deficit into single digits. But one of the more impressive performances was from bulldog like guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552315' first='Evan' last='Gunn']. The strong framed lead guard first got it going in transition, hitting a 15 foot pull up. Then a three pointer soon after. Late in the game, he was like a bowling ball attacking the lane, drawing fouls or finishing well himself. There were a couple moments where the defensive collapsed on drives, and he could improve to make the right reads in finding open teammates. Overall, the youngster showed some moxie as a scorer, and the Classen SAS standout will require future viewings.

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops!