Davidson Day vs. Burlington Christian – Recap/Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With an NCISAA 2A semifinal happening in my backyard yesterday evening, I made the quick trek over to Davidson Day to watch the Patriots take on upstart Burlington Christian for a place in the state finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots started up early 11-4, with two threes from [player_tooltip player_id='1990411' first='Isaiah' last='Denis'] and another from [player_tooltip player_id='2043210' first='Mason' last='Smith']. The Patriots played a stifling 3-2 zone that had their opponents flummoxed, but BCA began to trade baskets and got to the first quarter break with the score 18-11 Patriots. DDS continued to extend their lead with great ball screen play between Denis and [player_tooltip player_id='2238223' first='Brady' last='Kester'], but [player_tooltip player_id='2320684' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2382865' first='Ian' last='Bush'] hit some big buckets to keep the game in check. Manny VanHook had a great putback layup to make the halftime score 32-26 to the home team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second half, Denis and Smith were determined to take over the offensive load, as Denis scored 14 in the third quarter alone, while Smith had a pair of threes and a poster dunk in front of the home student section that almost brought the roof down. That late quarter burst put the Patriots up 17, as well as putting [player_tooltip player_id='2287864' first='Charles' last='Chienggen Pur'] for BCA on the bench with four fouls. BCA began to press in the fourth quarter and cut a 17 point lead to as little as 10, but couldn't get enough buckets on their forced turnovers in order to make a comeback of significance. The Patriots ran down the clock and with a 70-57 final score, the turnaround with Coach James Long's first season at the helm was almost complete, advancing DDS to the state championship Saturday. WIth the Patriots never trailing in this game, it cements them as a very tough out against Greenfield in Raleigh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1990411"],"_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":"Denis was a gamechanger for DDS last night as the 6'5 guard continued to create, score, and defend for his group all 32 minutes. His size creates mismatches where he can exploit and use his physicality to get downhill and finish around the rim. Shot the ball very well last night on a high difficulty level, and will be a legitimate HM recruit if he can continue to shoot the ball consistently. Will be excited to see him in the grassroots season on the EYBL.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2043210"],"_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":"Smith brought energy all night long, whether it was shooting the ball or playing above the rim. He's great in the pick and pop, where he was able to find pockets of open space and slip out of screens to get open looks time and time again. Also put the ball on the floor and missed his first dunk attempt, but converted the second one into a poster dunk that brought the house down. He's going to be immediately impactful offensively for Mercer next season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2238223"],"_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":"Kester continues to show why he's an unsigned senior for lower level schools to gain traction on, with a college ready frame and impressive rim protection instincts. He patrolled the paint well, altering and rejecting shots around the rim and cleaning the glass. Offensively had his moments, especially in the second quarter where he attacked BCA's drop coverage and played well as a roll man, getting to the rim for some easy dunks. Also able to stretch the floor at times too.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2320684"],"_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":"Smith is going to have a massive debut in our rankings after the season he's had, and his ability to score the ball at multiple levels yesterday was evident. He knocks down tough mid-range jumpers consistently, and also shoots the spot up or off the dribble three well. His length and physicality defensively made him a tough matchup to have, especially in the fourth quarter when he began to help harass the ballhandler in the BCA press. His grassroots performances should almost certainly turn more eyes his way this spring.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2382865' first='Ian' last='Bush']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Burlington Christian","_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":"Bush was most effective in the first half, scoring 10 of BCA's 26 first half points, but showed all game long he's a wing to monitor for local college coaches. He found holes early on in the Patriots 3-2 zone and shot nice 12-15 foot jumpers for easy looks. Also had a size disadvantage against some of the bigger forwards he was matched up on, but fought hard and looked to impact them in the post whenever they tried to catch the ball or rebound it.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d9363a8f14e"} /-->