Elite QF Performances by Short Guards (sub 6’0″)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1317052' first='Colin' last='Ayers'] (Cookeville)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1317052' first='Colin' last='Ayers'] | Cookeville | '24 PG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1317052' first='Colin' last='Ayers'] played a tremendous first half against Maryville, with his Cavaliers in a desperate situation as [player_tooltip player_id='1236443' first='Joshua' last='Heard'] sat on the bench with three fouls. It is a great shooting team, sure, but Heard's absence (played 9 of possible 16 1H minutes) against Maryville could not have been more ill-timed. The season on the line. Facing the adversity head-on, Ayers scored 11 points including a pump-faked three-pointer as the horn sounded on the half. Ayers was not the pass-first point guard (0 1H assists) he tends to be with this squad. He was taking charge with the shot: 6-9 FG. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayers made 2 of his next three field goals, all in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Purifoy | Brentwood | '24 PG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing a great group of pressuring wolves, Purifoy successfully handled it. The 5-foot-10 guard was able to make patient, effective decisions against a near-constant trap. He did not look to score, probably because he was not going to be able to maneuver into high-percentage shots. What he did do was get Brentwood into offensive situations to maximize their possessions. This took the form of giving [player_tooltip player_id='1214939' first='Daniel' last='Cochran'] the ball with space to work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1923548' first='Jackson' last='McCutcheon'] | Brentwood | '26 SG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson did not do much the entire game until he hit an enormously timely three-pointer in the final minute to bring Brentwood to within three points. The Bruins were scrambling, in search of any three-pointer possible and Bartlett knew it. Because both teams were well aware of the game's dynamics, it was an extremely difficult spot to get a decent look. McCutcheon implemented a pump-fake, re-calibrated, and then released a successful three-pointer. Brentwood did ultimately lose, 51-45.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayers made 2 of his next three field goals, all in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin Jones | Chattanooga Prep | '27 PG</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones played wonderful against Union City and Mr. Basketball Finalist [player_tooltip player_id='2318087' first='Malaki' last='Brooks']. Jones scored 15 points in a blowout win. Good passer in traffic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->