Holiday Hoopfeast Carl Williams Bracket Day One Recap + Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High School Basketball Feast Week continued on Wednesday with a stop in Columbia, South Carolina, at Keenan High School for the Columbia Basketball Group Holiday Hoopfeast. This event showcased twelve teams divided into three brackets. Next up in my coverage of the Holiday Hoopfeast is the Carl Williams Bracket which featured Indian Land, Marion, Heathwood Hall, and Orangeburg-Wilkinson.&nbsp;<strong>Check out some notable performances, game recaps, and the five standout prospects from Wednesday'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>Indian Land 66, Marion 36</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orangeburg-Wilkinson 53, Heathwood Hall 47 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1482610' first='Mike' last='Jones'] (Indian Land) - 19 Points + 8 Rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1955614' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] (Indian Land) - 16 Points + 2 Steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2406367' first='Jameir' last='Legette'] (Marion) - 13 Points + 6 Rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2292909' first='Nic' last='Nichols'] (Heathwood Hall) - 17 Points on 4 3PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2677202' first='Jordan' last='McGahee']</strong> (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) - 16 Points, 15 Rebounds + 2 Blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indian Land Runs Away From Marion in Tournament Opener</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first game of the day featured the Indian Land Warriors and the Marion Swamp Foxes. Marion struggled out of the gate, missing a couple of good looks from behind the arc and leaving from a couple of trips to the free-throw line empty-handed. Once Indian Land settled in with baskets from [player_tooltip player_id='1482610' first='Mike' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1955614' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'], they were able to set their press and cause even more problems for the Swamp Foxes. They ended the first quarter with 5 Points from [player_tooltip player_id='2630770' first='Donovin' last='Jones'] and then started the second quarter on a 7-2 run. [player_tooltip player_id='1482610' first='Mike' last='Jones'] used the free-throw line to find a rhythm and Patterson had a high-flying finish in transition along with a couple of impressive buckets in the paint as they built a double-digit lead. Marion did have a couple of nice moments from [player_tooltip player_id='2406367' first='Jameir' last='Legette'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1295811' first='Isaiah' last='Vereen'] throughout the game, but the combination of Jones and Patterson was too much to recover from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McGahee Leads Late Comeback as Bruins Win in Overtime</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In game number two of the bracket, the Heathwood Hall Highlanders matched up with the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Bruins. Both teams had a rough offensive start to the game as the score was just 3-1 in favor of Heathwood Hall before [player_tooltip player_id='2292909' first='Nic' last='Nichols'] hit a three in the final seconds of the first quarter. It took Orangeburg-Wilkinson 9:45 to score their first field goal in what was a low-scoring first half that the Highlanders won 18-7. In the second half, two players started to stand out amongst the others: Heathwood Hall's [player_tooltip player_id='1692417' first='Kamauri' last='Hunter'] and Orangburg-Wilkinson's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2677202' first='Jordan' last='McGahee']</strong>. Hunter had frequent success playing quickly and creating opportunities for his team while McGagee's size and athleticism allowed him to be a factor in the paint on both ends. Nichols and [player_tooltip player_id='2267854' first='Deuce' last='Claxton'] hit big threes in the fourth quarter, but <strong>Mark Jamison</strong> answered and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2887666' first='Jordan' last='Robins']</strong> knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game with under 0:30 to go. After the game got to the extra period, the Bruins separated thanks to clutch play from McGahee and [player_tooltip player_id='1706085' first='Keith' last='Smith'] to earn a trip to the Carl Williams Bracket Championship Game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Standouts: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2674286,"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-11-28-24-at-10.37-PM-1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-28-24-at-10.37-PM-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2674286" style="width:423px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1482610' first='Mike' last='Jones'] (Indian Land) - Leading off the biggest standouts from the Holiday Hoopfeast Carl Williams Bracket is [player_tooltip player_id='1482610' first='Mike' last='Jones']. Jones was one of the top scorers in the state last season and continued his strong early season performances with one in Columbia. He used the free-throw line to get in a rhythm early as the opponents were a little overeager to close out on threes. He also does a good job of navigating big bodies with the dribble and while in the air with quick and creative movements. Most of his production came in the first half, putting up 14 of his 19 Points in the first 16:00 before getting some rest at the end of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2674288,"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-11-28-24-at-10.38-PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-28-24-at-10.38-PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2674288" style="width:426px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1955614' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] (Indian Land) - Next up is the second Indian Land Warrior on the list, [player_tooltip player_id='1955614' first='Sequel' last='Patterson']. Patterson is a terrific athlete who looks to get out in transition and punish the rim and any defenders that stand in his way. Sequel helped out on the glass and was important to the Warriors' full-court pressure, hauling in 4 Rebounds and forcing a pair of turnovers. He too put up double-digit points in the first half before getting a break in the fourth quarter, finishing with 16 Points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2674289,"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-11-28-24-at-10.38-PM-1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/Image-11-28-24-at-10.38-PM-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2674289" style="width:426px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1295811' first='Isaiah' last='Vereen'] (Marion) - Isaiah was one of the bright spots for the Swamp Foxes in their loss to Indian Land. Marion struggled to score in the half-court, but Vereen was often there on the offensive glass to clean up misses and convert them into points. Listed at 6'6" with a good frame, his body is built to handle the paint at the next level. Isaiah is also smart with his positioning, filling the right lane when he runs in transition, finding space in the dunker spot, and having good rebounding instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2677202' first='Jordan' last='McGahee']</strong> (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) - Switching over to the second matchup of the bracket, McGahee left a great first impression on me in Columbia. The 6'5" Junior Forward is long but filled out, switchable on the defensive end, and versatile on the offensive end too. He was most active at the free-throw line in the middle of the Heathwood Hall zone, where he is capable of turning and hitting a jumper. However, he was also used as a screener and as a lob threat in half-court sets. Jordan was a pest on the defensive end with multiple steals, blocks, and double-digit rebounds. He was massive in the Bruins win, finishing with 16 Points and 15 Rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1692417' first='Kamauri' last='Hunter'] (Heathwood Hall) - Rounding out the standouts from the Carl Williams Bracket Day One is [player_tooltip player_id='1692417' first='Kamauri' last='Hunter']. He is a small but speedy guard who does a little bit of everything to help his team play well. In the Highlander's early runs, Hunter had a couple of flashy passes and dribble moves to help get the crowd into it and give his team momentum. Kamauri does a good job of splitting defenders in the pick-and-roll offense and can pull up with floaters and mid-range jump shots over rim protectors. He racked up 14 Points, 5 Rebounds, 5 Assists, and 2 Steals in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday Matchups: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2:30 - Heathwood Hall vs Marion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5:30 - Indian Land vs Orangeburg-Wilkinson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->