NE DI Playoff Standouts
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I’ve attended two games from the northeast district playoff action and in this article I’ll break down the standout performers from Eastlake North @ Mentor and Brecksville-Broadview Heights Vs North Canton Hoover. Matt Biddell OH #42 SG #9 HEIGHT 6'4"…
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Continue ReadingI’ve attended two games from the northeast district playoff action and in this article I’ll break down the standout performers from Eastlake North @ Mentor and Brecksville-Broadview Heights Vs North Canton Hoover.
A tier above athletically on the wing from the Eastlake North defense, Biddell got where he wanted all game long off the bounce with his burst and first step. Knocking down in rhythm shots on the outside, Biddell hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, a trail 3 and two from the wing in the first half alone. As a slasher, Biddell had an and-1 layup, a righty transition layup and a two foot finish with his left in the first half. With 25 first half points and Mentor cruising, Biddell took most of the second half off as the Cardinals rested up for a game against Uniontown Green which they won to advance to the district finals.
Highlights
Ioppolo shot the ball at an efficient clip from downtown, making some deep 3-pointers. The freedom that Coach Krizancic allows his players to play with creates a free flowing offense and the top scorers on his team always play with a ton of confidence. Ioppolo was making shots from the top of the key, the wing, one dribble pull-ups, drives to the basket. However you wanted buckets served to you, Ioppolo was handing them out. The fact that Mentor’s star duo each scored 25 first half points is incredible and they are playing their best basketball of the season right now.
Highlights
This was actually my first chance to see Register in person, after being one of the top scorers in northeast Ohio the past two season, I saw his last career high school game. A load to handle in the paint, Register has the body and size to move you in the paint when backing you down. A decent vertical athlete for his size, Register had a couple open dunks when the high pressure Mentor defense left the paint wide open. Finally, Register showed touch with a few 15-18 foot jumpers off the bounce and catch. Easy to see why he dominates his conference and averaged almost 30 PPG this season, Register will make his debut in our final 2024 rankings update that comes immediately after the OHSAA state championship weekend.
I was impressed with what Ganley showed me on Wednesday night as Brecksville got a comfortable win over NC Hoover to advance to the district finals. Ganley showed the ability to attack a closeout and knock down pull-up mid-range jumpers. The free throw line area of the court was a spot where Ganley looked comfortable rising up and knocking down shots from. With Luke Skaljac Luke Skaljac 6’2″ | PG Brecksville-Broadview Hts | 2024 State #162 Nation OH fighting foul trouble in the second half, the Ganley led offense continued to keep pace with the Vikings and once Skaljac returned to the game the door was closed on any potential comeback. Defensively, I thought the zone that Brecksville threw at Hoover was a smart idea. They didn’t let Hoover run their sets and Ganley and Skaljac got their hands on a handful of passes that resulted in deflections or steals. A solid win for Brecksville as they look to win a district title with a solid core around a star in Skaljac.
It’s amazing how similar Steven plays to his big brother Eli. Between their shot form, the way they move on the court and how they act, it’s crazy how similar they are to each other. If you ever saw Eli play, you know his role was to knock down shots off the catch and Steven did that at a high level on Wednesday evening. In the first quarter he hit one from both corners and then hit multiple from the right wing area. His fourth 3-pointer of the game was a huge shot to give Brecksville some needed breathing room when Hoover was in the middle of a run. If Brecksville is knocking down shots from the outside, they are a tough team to beat.