Standouts: Moore vs Piedmont

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a tale of two halves in a big contest for 6A District 1 standings. Since watching Piedmont at scrimmages in November, their proficiency at perimeter shooting and crisp ball movement has been evident. Apparently Moore didn't get the memo to start the contest, as Piedmont made it rain throughout the first half. At one point the lead had even ballooned to 22 points, before the Wildcats would take a 35-17 edge into the break. In the second half the host Lions were able to chop away at the lead, but the visitors seemed to always have an answer. But Moore never wavered and leaned on the experience of [player_tooltip player_id='1367226' first='Darian' last='Grant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1391442' first='Tristan' last='Hankins'], two upperclassmen who were heavily involved their on back to back state tournament teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midway through the final frame, Hankins finally got the lead cut down to 5 via a steal and score. And it was game on. The Lions kept applying the pressure, finally rattling the Wildcats. Leading to Hankins eventually tying the game with 3 seconds left, forcing overtime. Moore would ride the wave of momentum and dominate the extra frame and eventual win 77-67. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1391442"],"_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 junior was the hero for the Lions down the stretch, the sharpshooter caught fire from deep hitting tough jumper after jumper to fuel the comeback and force overtime. But even before he got it going from distance, he made tough plays throughout the contest to keep his team's head above water. Since stepping on the court as a freshman, he's been one of the better shooters in the 2025 class. Now he's gradually added more to his game, as evident by tonight with his ability to be physical and get points even when not connecting from distance. And when he does heat up from deep, tonight was proof that he can string together game changing makes.rnrnA long term aspect to keep an eye does center around his athleticism. Last year, Hankins looked more explosive and quicker off the bounce. But tonight he was sporting a knee brace on his right knee, which could be why some of his movements looked stiffer and not as fluid. Still, he was the best player on the court down the stretch, and if he's doing that while playing through a minor injury that's all the more impressive.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1796295"],"_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":"Kennedy continued his rock solid junior campaign with a strong night in Moore. The lead guard always looks in control and rarely forces anything that could lead to a mistake. He plays at his own pace, relying on the defense over committing to ball fakes or other subtle movements, which creates openings and angles for him to get downhill. At the rim he's a very good finisher for a guard his size, with great footwork and outstanding touch.  When called upon, he'll knock down jumpers as well. Including one buzzer beat to end the third, which temporary stopped the momentum of a Moore run.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1367226"],"_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":"Along with Hankins, the senior was at the core and the heart of the heroic comeback. Grant is a tough and rugged wing, who does a lot of his work battling through contact at the rim. But he can hit the occasional jumper, which included a three in the closing minutes that really supercharged the Lions' rally.  The same ruggedness he displays when finishing around the rim is also evident on the defensive end.  He's often great at sitting down, moving laterally and harassing smaller guards. He picked up a couple fouls that were a mix of gambling and frustration when his squad was struggling, but overall he has quality defensive instincts and awareness.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1482826"],"_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":"When Piedmont really busted the game open late in the first quarter and in the second quarter, the senior guard was a key part of it.  He knocked down a pair of triples to extend the lead at first, then his quickness when getting downhill is a key part of the Wildcats' offense to create open look for shooters. And Lloyd is a willing passer to fire it out to his open teammates.rnrnThe senior remains more of a combo than a true point guard prospect, because there are the occasional lapses. There's times he can rely on his dribble too much, which led to a handful of turnovers late.  Still, when he's locked in and in attack mode, his combination of either scoring off the dribble (drives or threes) or driving and creating can change games.  Lloyd has the tools to help lead the Wildcats on a deep playoff run, it's just about raising the floor of his performances.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1978000"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The big man is a great change of pace option for the Lions. With his soft hands and size advantage, he feasted on the offensive glass or converting post entry passes into easy points. He even flashed some promise on the defensive end at one point in the first half when he rotated over and used great verticality principles to seal off the rim from a driving Wildcat.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2337847' first='Bryce' last='McConnell']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Piedmont","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The junior plays bigger than his size for the guard based Wildcat attack.  McConnell plays fundamentally sound defense, battling for boards and does a good job of contesting shots without fouling, An important aspect for him fitting into Piedmont's spread out attack is him not only finishing well around the basket, but he can hit the occasional three as well.  With the size and general physicality of Class 6A, the workhorse like forward would be a key part of potential Wildcat playoff run.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1293624"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"The senior is a change of pace guard off the bench, who's energy was a key part of the Lions turning the game around and causing havoc. He's quick and aggressive, which was most evident on the defensive end. But he had good moments (rather it be in transition or in the halfcourt) of getting to the rim and finishing well.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a759c25b0dd"} /-->