Live Action: Hope Christian vs Pojoaque Valley – 2/1/24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Hope 81 PV 56</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Co-Players of the Game:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2141488' first='Nathan' last='Saavedra'], Hope - 17 pts, 8 reb, and 1 blk &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1897896' first='Noah' last='Perry'], Hope - 8 pts, 3 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader in Points: [player_tooltip player_id='1534007' first='Serafin' last='Mendez'], Pojoaque - 27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader in Rebounds: [player_tooltip player_id='1534007' first='Serafin' last='Mendez'], Pojoaque - 12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader in Assists: [player_tooltip player_id='1897896' first='Noah' last='Perry'], Hope - 7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader in Steals: [player_tooltip player_id='1897896' first='Noah' last='Perry'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2141494' first='Ian' last='Koenigsburg'], Hope - 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leader in Blocks: [player_tooltip player_id='1717247' first='Brayden' last='Giron'], Hope - 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early on it looked as though the Elks could hang with Hope, but after the first quarter, they simply could not match Hope's level of play. The Huskies were automatic from beyond the arc, and their defense was suffocating, causing turnover after turnover to lead to a multitude of fast break opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After watching him in multiple matchups, I firmly believe <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1897896' first='Noah' last='Perry']</strong> is the best passing point guard in 4A. I have yet to see a player with the combination of patience and court vision that Perry possesses, and it's been one of the main factors in the Huskies' success. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2141488' first='Nathan' last='Saavedra'] </strong>was a beast in the paint and punished all who attempted to stand in his path. His offensive rebounding abilities are invaluable, and he's improved as a finisher around the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2141494' first='Ian' last='Koenigsburg']</strong> was as automatic as ever from beyond the arc. He finished with 15 points, all from 3-point range, and will continue to be one of the best sharp-shooters in 4A. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2022314' first='Xavier' last='Otero']</strong> has flourished in his role as a combo guard and is one of the best rebounding guards I've seen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was my first opportunity to see <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1534007' first='Serafin' last='Mendez']</strong> in person. After only being able to hear the hype for so long, he lived up to everything that I'd heard. He finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing a knockdown jump shot from all levels. Perhaps his most impressive trait was his touch around the basket, especially off offensive rebounds, and this will serve him well in the long run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Deondro Lopez</strong> showed creativity in getting the basket and was able to get to score to spark instant offense for the Elks. <strong>Nick Manzanares </strong>was able to cash in on his catch-and-shoot opportunities, and he showed what he can contribute to the Elks in the long run. All three of the aforementioned players are underclassmen, which is a sign of good things to com for the Elks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->