Desert Ridge at Higley: Breaking Down the Game's Top Performers

On February 4th, I traveled to Gilbert to watch Higley take on Desert Ridge in an exciting 6A Fiesta match-up. Higley came out strong with a fast start but faced a tough challenge from Desert Ridge, who fought hard to stay in the game with full-court pressure and sporadic traps. In the end, Higley held off the comeback and secured a 74-64 victory.    He showcased a tight handle on the ball and was lightning-fast in transition. His ability to change speeds kept defenders off balance, making it tough to stay in front of him. Despite his size, he had an impressive rebounding performance. His shooting range extended to the parking lot, with great elevation on his mid-range jumper. He attacked downhill relentlessly, consistently getting to the rim and drawing contact—earning 10 points from the free-throw line alone against Desert Ridge. Defensively, he read the passing lanes well, disrupting several passes. He finished the game with a strong 21-point performance.       He displayed a really good handle on the ball, operating confidently while bringing it up the full court. This isn't a guy you're going to just bump off his dribble—he's strong with the ball and plays through contact with ease. He really stood out when attacking the rim in transition, using his strength to finish through defenders. A strong and physical finisher inside, he's a truck in transition but still maintains good body control on his finishes around the rim. On the defensive end, he made an impact by altering and blocking multiple shots, making it difficult for Desert Ridge to get any clean looks in the paint. His presence on both ends of the floor was felt throughout the game.     He covered a lot of ground on offense, showing his ability to get to the basket with three dribbles or less in the half-court setting. With his solid frame, he absorbed contact with ease—even after hard fouls, he still managed to finish through contact. His play making stood out as he made high-level passes in both transition and the half-court offense. His mid-range jumper was consistent, especially from the high post, where he operated effectively as both a scorer and a passer. He displayed patience when finishing inside, using a well-timed pump fake that had defenders jumping all game. His great body control and spin move allowed him to create space and finish efficiently around the rim all game.     A true marksman from beyond the arc, he displayed great elevation on his jump shot and a quick release. He excelled as a catch-and-shoot threat, consistently knocking down shots under pressure. One of the standout aspects of his game was his hustle, he always sprinted back on defense, showing discipline and commitment to the defensive end of the court.     He showcased a quick release from beyond the arc and demonstrated impressive range on his three-point shot, making him a constant threat from deep this game.     A speedy ball handler with a quick, shifty crossover that consistently created space for open looks. He showcased his ability to get downhill and finish at the rim multiple times against Higley, keeping defenders on their heels.

On February 4th, I traveled to Gilbert to watch Higley take on Desert Ridge in an exciting 6A Fiesta match-up. Higley came out strong with a fast start but faced a tough challenge from Desert Ridge, who fought hard to stay in the game with full-court pressure and sporadic traps. In the end, Higley held off the comeback and secured a 74-64 victory.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (FL)