Mike’s Monday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Monday I caught two games in northeast Ohio with Fairview @ Avon and Warren G Harding @ Youngstown Ursuline providing two exciting contests. In this article I'll break down the standout performers I saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2328306"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b25b252b47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allen got off to a fast start that allowed the Warriors to get out to a 20-3 lead to open the game. A tough guard to defend on the ball, Allen can get to the paint with his shiftiness. Allen can use a hesitation move, in and out or spin to get past his defender. I thought Allen did a nice job using the floater as a shot to avoid bigger rim protectors when he beat the primary defender. In the fourth quarter with Fairview hanging on to a small lead, Allen helped ice the game with free throws to bring the Warriors record to 5-1 heading into the new year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2705211"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b25b252bcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Warriors start no seniors so their younger players have gotten thrown into the fire early in their high school careers. One of those players is Reagan who impressed as a perimeter shooter with seven first quarter points to help the Warriors develop an early lead. Reagan has good size for a wing guard at his age and shoots a clean basketball out his hands. If Reagan can improve in the weight room this off-season, he could be a player who makes a big jump from freshman to sophomore year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2705205"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b25b252c38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avon turned a double-digit deficit into a double-digit lead in the third quarter and Ziegler was a key reason for the massive run. Ziegler is a strong wing guard who was able to score at the rim and stretch the floor with a couple 3-pointers from the top of the key. Maybe the play I was most impressed by Ziegler all game was a lefty bounce pass to a cutter that resulted in an easy layup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2144204"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b25b252c9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most skilled point guards in Ohio regardless of class, Gunther can kill you attacking with either hand at the rim and changes speeds and directions in a blur. I was really impressed with Gunther's ability to get defenders off of him on the dribble, creating space when the defense tried pressuring him on the ball. When Gunther found openings to fire away from 3-point range, he shot the basketball at a high percentage and these shots were extremely timely for Ursuline to put away rival Warren G Harding. One of our top prospects in the 2027 class, Gunther is hoping to lead Youngstown Ursuline back to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2377846"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b25b252d00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the strongest wings in the 2027 class, few players use their body to score at the rim better than Bell does. When Bell caught the ball at the rim, he finished off two feet and went into the contact before finding ways to finish around the defense. Many players could learn from watching Bell finish at the rim over taller players. Few players impact winning as much as Bell does right now in the 2027 class and every time I watch Bell I'm never disappointed in his motor on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->