Mustang Holiday Classic: Championship Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A look at the standouts from the third day of the Bank7 Mustang Holiday Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the consolation championship, Southmoore would hold off a spirited effort from Marlow. The third place game featured a Mid-Del rivalry, with scrappy Del City having a chance to win it late vs Carl Albert. But the Titans would hold on for the win. Then the title game saw host Mustang run away with it to defend homecourt and claim the title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1391441"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The MVP of the tournament with a 24 points and 11 rebounds championship game performance, Miller put on a show from distance in the second half.  He also got out in transition for an impressive two handed u0022head tapu0022.  The dunk was a good long term sign, as his foundational skill work on drives is among the best in the state.  And while he does a great job of dictating the pace when driving, especially as he has counter moves, Miller does still need to become a stronger and more explosive finisher in the halfcourt.  Once he has more pop to his game when attacking the rim, it will be a real u0022look outu0022 moment for the rest of the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1987388"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The Johnson twins both provided energy, toughness and attitude that helped Mustang to the title on Saturday. Jaytee in particular off the bench really broke the game open with hustle plays. Then he caught fire from deep, and Mustang would never look back in their blowout victory. The Broncos have an interesting core of two skilled scoring guards, some size. If the two-sport standout Johnson twins can bring game changing energy and occasional scoring punch like they did vs PCN, they'll have a chance to make some serious noise come February.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6591d8a0c7259"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1367219"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Following Hopkins' 20 points and 5 rebounds performance he earned All Tournament team honors.  In the first half against Del City, he really had it rolling. Hitting tough shots in the mid-range, and his burst when getting by people and getting to the rim has few peers in Oklahoma.  But like his team, some of his impact tapered off in the second half. One play in the second half particular stood out. After a great move to get to the rim, he left it just short. While there was some contact, it's the type of play a player with Hopkins' power and frame needs to play through. Especially when projecting out to the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2223689"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Similar to his older brother, Hopkins was a terror from the jump. He combines burst with great agility on drives and ended up scoring 19 points for the contest.  He remains a hunter on the defensive end, always looking for opportunties to cause havoc. The box score backed that up with 2 steals and 2 blocks. The sophomore nearly punched one home on a drive, which in a few months time it wouldn't be shocking to see him regularly terrorizing rims with his rapidly improving athleticism.  One area of concern was turnover issues, Del City is a good defensive team but as the youngster continues to get more varsity reps he must be tighter with his handle and improve his decision making.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2310069"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"McCalister made a strong case for the quickest hands in the state, as there was a stretch in the second where it seemed like every other possessions he was ripping the ball out of someone's hands or deflecting a pass. Officially he was recorded with 6 steals. While most of his impact came via the defensive side of the ball and transition, he did hit a big corner three during the Eagle's fourth quarter rally. His defensive awareness and gritty mindset personifies this tough Del City team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2135005"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Southmoore's lead guard duo of Brammer and Ledbetter are well known, but the way freshman Ankrah closed out the game for the Sabercats might see him have more opportunities the rest of the season.  He started playing within himself, hitting the occasional jumper and not forcing it. But in the closing frame he was making plays in ball screen situations, making the correct passing reads and shooting it well off the bounce. The freshman finished with what felt like more than 12 points and 2 assists, thanks to when the impact occurred.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Hezekiah Darbon","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Southmoore","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The senior for Southmoore was feared lost for the season with a preseason leg injury, but has made a recovery to play a key role on a younger Sabercats squad.  He caught fire from deep in the first half and would finish the day going 6-8 from three, for a team high 18 points.  Southmoore is a team full of shooters, and the impact of Darbon will make them even more dangerous as the season progresses.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6590c59c7823e"} /-->