2024 Rippy’s Tipoff Classic Day Two Recap + Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High School Basketball Feast Week continued on Tuesday Evening with another one of my annual stops: the Rippy's Tipoff Classic. This tournament was held in Union County, South Carolina at the home of the Yellow Jackets featuring Union County High School, Strom Thurmond High School, Boiling Springs High School, and Catawba Ridge High School. All of these teams lost their fair share of production from the 2023-24 Season, so it was good to see them and their new faces in action on the tournament's second day. <strong>Check out some notable performances, game recaps, and the five standout prospects from Tuesday Night's action:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Scores:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strom Thurmond 52, Union County 47</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boiling Springs 67, Catawba Ridge 58</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2306328' first='Eric' last='Gray'] (Union County) - 14 Points, 3 Assists + 4 Steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2469369' first='AJ' last='Walker'] (Strom Thurmond) - 4 Points, 10 Assists + 4 Steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1848085' first='Mark' last='Caslaru'] (Catawba Ridge) - 9 Points, 7 Rebounds + 3 Blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1465116' first='Isaiah' last='Atkins'] (Boiling Springs) - 22 Points, 11 Rebounds + 2 Blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1985871' first='Reese' last='Walter'] (Boiling Springs) - 16 Points + 5 Assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Strom Thurmond Holds Off Late Run From Hosts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first game up on Tuesday Evening featured the hosts, Union County High School, and Strom Thurmond High School. The home team started strong, opening up on an 8-0 run getting a pair of buckets from their leader [player_tooltip player_id='2306328' first='Eric' last='Gray'] after early pressure caused the Rebels trouble. However, Strom Thurmond began to settle into a rhythm as they got their best player, [player_tooltip player_id='2469369' first='AJ' last='Walker'], more of the ball. Walker was terrific with the ball in his hands tonight, racking up 10 Assists and putting his teammates in good positions all night long. <strong>Jaden Fleming</strong> produced throughout the night for Union County, putting up 17 Points including multiple and-ones. After a couple of misses to start, <strong>Griffin Thompson</strong> heated up for the Rebels putting up 12 Points on 4 3PM including some big ones on a run to go up double-digits at the end of the third quarter. Gray stepped up again in the fourth quarter for Union County as they went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 1, but the connection between Walker and <strong>Daley Hitt</strong> resulted in three late buckets which sealed the Rebel win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Boiling Springs Win Championship Game Over Catawba Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After that was the Championship Game between Boiling Springs and Catawba Ridge which showcased a matchup between two Top 25 Junior Bigs, [player_tooltip player_id='1465116' first='Isaiah' last='Atkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1848085' first='Mark' last='Caslaru']. It was an even start to the game with the Copperheads getting 7 first-quarter points from <strong>Elijah Peters</strong> and Boiling Springs getting 4 points and 3 steals in the period from <strong>Braylin Gilliam</strong>. Boiling Springs opened up a lead after going on a mini-run to start the second quarter getting good play from [player_tooltip player_id='1985871' first='Reese' last='Walter'], but after Atkins got in foul trouble Caslaru dominated the vacant paint sending us to the break tied. After an even third quarter and start to the fourth mostly in part to the guard play from Catawba Ridge's [player_tooltip player_id='2469368' first='Isaiah' last='Thomas'] and <strong>Miller Shelton</strong> and the energy off the bench from Boiling Springs's <strong>Jymire Wright</strong>, a clutch Walter three just inside the 1:00 mark pushed the Bulldog lead to 8 - big enough to hold onto and win the 2024 Rippy's Tipoff Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Standouts: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672800,"width":"423px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM-1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672800" style="width:423px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2306328' first='Eric' last='Gray'] (Union County) - Leading off the standouts from Day Two of the 2024 Rippy's Tipoff Classic is [player_tooltip player_id='2306328' first='Eric' last='Gray'] from the host school Union County. Eric put up 14 Points, 3 Assists, and 4 Steals in the Yellow Jacket's loss to the Strom Thurmond in the Third Place Game. He started the game off strong forcing multiple turnovers, knocking down a step-in three, and finishing in transition at the cup. His fast feet and physical but legal use of hands made him difficult to get past in full-court pressure. He displayed good vision in the half-court and some high-level shooting while knocking down 3 of his 4 attempts from behind the arc. However, Gray lacked confidence in breaking down the defense at times, something he will need to work towards if the Yellow Jackets are going to be successful this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672802,"width":"426px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672802" style="width:426px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2469369' first='AJ' last='Walker'] (Strom Thurmond) - Walker was also impressive from Tuesday's first matchup. He was a calming force during the early wave of Yellow Jacket pressure, often bringing the ball up and running the offense. He can play either position in the backcourt, but when he does get minutes at the Point Guard he brings good positional length to it. Walker is also the vocal leader on this Strom Thurmond team, dragging his guys together during their opponents' runs. AJ displayed good feet and a knack for using his pivot foot well but is also a terrific passer, rangy defender, and an all-around smart player. He put up an impressive 10 Assists in the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672803,"width":"425px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM-2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.36-PM-2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672803" style="width:425px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Peters</strong> (Catawba Ridge) - Switching gears to the Championship Game, Elijah Peters was a new name to me and a player who impressed at the Rippy's Tipoff Classic. Elijah started off strong putting up 7 first-quarter Points off a pair of free throws, a transition layup, and a spot-up three. He showed skill in shooting the ball from the perimeter all night long, knocking down 4 triples on the night. He is also creative in attacking the rim and comfortable finishing with either hand. At 6'2", the Senior Guard put good size on the Boiling Springs ball handlers and had length to affect their shots as well. Peters finished with 20 Points on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672805,"width":"423px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.37-PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.37-PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672805" style="width:423px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1465116' first='Isaiah' last='Atkins'] (Boiling Springs) - Atkins is the first of two standouts from the championship-winning Bulldogs. He stuffed the statsheet on Tuesday putting up 22 Points, 11 Rebounds, and 2 Blocks. In the first half, Isaiah was not the most aggressive and had some foul trouble, but in the second half, the switch flipped. He was much more active, worked for positioning the post, was engaged on both sides of the glass, and protected the basket. Isaiah's length and mobility are a major factor in patrolling the paint and he is one of the better pure-shot blockers in the state with a high floor on the defensive end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672806,"width":"427px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.37-PM-1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-26-24-at-10.37-PM-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672806" style="width:427px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1985871' first='Reese' last='Walter'] (Boiling Springs) - [player_tooltip player_id='1985871' first='Reese' last='Walter'] was named the 2024 Rippy's Tipoff Classic Most Valuable Player after Boiling Spring's win over Catawba Ridge in the final. Walter is a very experienced player but one of only two Seniors on this Bulldog roster. Walter understands the team's offense extremely well and will be used playing on and off the ball. When playing as the Point Guard, he looks to read the game, find holes in the defense, and make unselfish passes. But while playing as an off-guard, Reese is a major threat from behind the arc and a premier shooter from the corners. He finished with 16 Points and 5 Assists in the Championship Game win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->