NEO District Tournament Standouts
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The Northeast Ohio district tournaments continued this week and I was able to catch two games at the end of the week. The first game was Dover Vs Massillon Jackson in a Division I district semifinal, the second was Fairview…
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Continue ReadingThe Northeast Ohio district tournaments continued this week and I was able to catch two games at the end of the week. The first game was Dover Vs Massillon Jackson in a Division I district semifinal, the second was Fairview Vs Cuyahoga Heights in a Division III district final. In this article I’ll break down the top performers from the pair of games.
Massillon Jackson has a deep 2025 class with Monterrubio, Mitch Finefrock Mitch Finefrock 6’1″ | SG Massillon Jackson | 2025 State OH (who has shown considerable growth with his body since the summer) and a player we’ll discuss next, but make no mistake Monterrubio is the straw that stirs the drink for the Polar Bears. A wing who impacts the game in a variety of ways, Monterrubio makes quick decisions and snaps the ball across the court with passes. He’s also able to post up and has soft touch with his left hand on acrobatic layups and post moves. One of my favorite kids to watch in the 2025 class, Monterrubio is a kid who flat out helps you win games. A bit undersized positionally and doesn’t really shoot the 3-ball yet, Monterrubio has ways to expand his game as a senior.
Highlights
This was my first-time taking notes on Weekley and he stood out as an off guard who could attack a closeout and score going to the rim. He moved well without the ball in his hands and showed patience when attacking off the bounce. His best drive was when he took an extension step to get by a defender and finished past a shot contest. Also a capable shooter from the outside, Weekley knocked down multiple 3-pointers when his feet were set. I like a lot of the pieces Massillon Jackson has as they should be district title threats again with this core of 2025 prospects.
Highlights
Dover is a small-town program fighting an uphill climb in Division I but they play such a good brand of basketball. They take care of the ball and get quality shots, plus they are tough. Once every couple years they have a stud prospect who can make a big difference at the college level and Coletti seems like that guy this year. I was really impressed with the shot making ability he showed from the wing. Hitting perimeter shots off the catch and pull-ups off the bounce. He has solid size from the wing as well and played with good pace when attacking the rim. Dover also executed well on BLOB plays and Coletti was the recipient of an easy look from a well-designed play. If Coletti wants to play at the next level, he has a role at the small college level as I could see his body and confidence with the ball improving at the next level.
Fairview won their first district title in school history and Allen played a big part. Despite Cuyahoga Heights sitting in a zone the entire game, Allen was able to use the dribble drive game to get into the lane and make acrobatic layups or find cutters for layups. Shifty with the ball in his hands, Allen’s highlight was a buzzer-beating pull-up to go into halftime with momentum. If Allen grows a couple inches he’ll be even tougher to stop when he gets downhill, he already shows soft touch on floaters and other shots from the 5–10-foot range of the court.
The other part of Fairview’s stud 2026 duo, Lowry is also known for his talents on the gridiron. Fairview’s guards did a nice job getting Lowry the ball in the middle of the zone defense where he shot a high percentage from the free throw line and even 3-pointers from the top of the key. Once Lowry caught the ball in the middle of the zone, he was patient and left alone a couple times to fire away easy jumpers. He also made good passing decisions if the shot was taken away from him. If Lowry can stay out of foul trouble, he’s a consistent producer for an underclassman and makes an impact on both ends of the court with his athleticism and defensive instincts.