Playoff Watchlist: Senior Guards
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We are in the midst of playoff ball in Washington and to gear up for league and district playoffs I’ve got a handful of senior guards to know. Check out these players who will have a big say in how…
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Continue ReadingWe are in the midst of playoff ball in Washington and to gear up for league and district playoffs I’ve got a handful of senior guards to know. Check out these players who will have a big say in how their teams fare this postseason.
Sullivan has been huge down the stretch for the Blue Devils, notching five double-doubles in their last eight games and showing how that athleticism translates to the rebounding game. He shoots the 3 pretty well but has looked most effective getting to the rim where he has the bounce to finish high over the defense. He’s also a guy who can stretch out and make some acrobatic finishes around defenders, and does a great job anticipating rebounds to crash in and get tons of tip-ins. They’ve locked in the top seed out of the MCC 3A with just one game remaining before postseason play.
Tahoma is one of the more well-rounded teams in the 4A and have numerous guys who can step up to have big games. Plowman is a guard who plays smart ball, works within the offense to find the best shots, and has shown he can really get it going from deep. He’s got the size and strength to battle defensively and on the glass, and although he doesn’t score a ton he’s definitely not a guy you can forget about. The Bears move the ball around really well, have a great feel for each other, and Plowman’s a good example of selfless yet ready play.
The senior Curtis guard can score the rock, using midrange step-backs to create space, spotting up from 3Pt, and finding lanes to attack the hoop. And while his offense will be key to helping Curtis win the three games they need to advance to State, his opportunistic defense has also been a big factor recently. In a big league game against Sumner earlier in January Whitten racked up the steals, ending with at least four on the night, most of which led to fast break buckets. He’ll be a guy they look at to set the tone and hit the big shots as they tight rope through Districts to head back to the T-Dome.
Michael Reed Michael Reed 5'11" | SG Auburn | 2024 WA
Michael Reed Michael Reed 5'11" | SG Auburn | 2024 WA
Reed has been a key piece to Auburn’s dominant season and is a guy who can impact the game on both ends of the floor. He’s shown he can make some tough shots in the paint, capitalizes on trips to the line, and splash in open jumpers. He’s yet another Trojan guard who puts in the effort defensively and help his team get stops and get out on the break.
Seattle Academy heads into the Emerald Sound playoffs as the top seed after edging out King’s last Thursday night and Mccleery Brown has led them most of the way, picking up league MVP honors. He’s been able to score from different areas but looks most comfortable working to or around the basket and has been an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. He’s not the tallest guy on the floor but has great body control and feel for defenders, uses leverage to his advantage and has nice touch near the cup. He’ll continue to be a big factor for the Cardinals who could advance to the SunDome with two straight wins.
Highlights
The big Woodinville guard is already off to a good start this postseason, helping Woodinville advance to the district playoffs with wins over Skyline and Redmond. Blackmon has been an excellent scorer inside and out, burying 3s, attacking lanes and using his strength to finish through defenders inside. But he’s also been turning it up on the defensive end snuffing out drives, playing stout in the paint, and showing strong hands to strip ballhandlers. Woodinville lines up for a rematch with Redmond in their opening game of Districts and need just two more wins to seal a trip to the Tacoma Dome.