6A State Tourney Game Report: Father Judge vs. Spring Ford

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who impressed during Father Judge's defeat of Spring Ford (55-41) in the 2^nd Round of the PIAA 6A state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Father Judge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197608"],"_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-67d2e997ec984"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kennedy was simply electric during the 2^nd half of Judge's win over Spring Ford. Coming out of the locker room after halftime, Kennedy simply took over the game. He scored 14 of his 24 points in the 3^rd quarter. The bulk of those points came via dribble drive attacks on the rim. Kennedy's quick first step and deep bag of moves got him into the lane for floaters, lay-ins, and runners. He also scored repeatedly in the open court. Merrimack laned am absolute gem in the three-level scoring guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194372"],"_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-67d2e997eca34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tyler is a multi-skilled guard who excelled in the open court as a ball handler and lane filler. In both scenarios, Tyler got to the rack and finished through contact. He also popped a couple mid-range jumpers. Tyler notched 11 points in Judge's win last night. However, what really impressed about Tyler was his ability to play suffocating defense for 94-feet. College coaches will love his active hands and quick lateral movements.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611959"],"_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-67d2e997eca99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morton-Rivera's attacking stye and elite scoring abilities were on display again last night. As I said before, his offensive skill set reminds me of a taller version of Tyrese Maxey. Still, what jumped out about Morton-Rivera (10 points) last night was his high IQ and unselfish nature. In the 2^nd half, Morton-Rivera was quick to recognize that Kennedy was cooking and kept feeding him the rock. In fact, Morton-Rivera and Kennedy executed a couple smooth DHO actions in the contest. The DI offers should come pouring in for Morton-Rivera (18 ppg.; 1^st Team All-PCL) this spring / summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1460634"],"_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-67d2e997ecae2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In this 6A 2^nd Round game Barnes (Loyola commit) had a significant size advantage on the interior and took advantage of it. Barnes dominated the glass at both ends and registered 12 rebounds (unofficially). At the offensive end, he cleaned up Judge's missed FGAs and turned them into buckets. Barnes (7 points) also finished with authority from the dunker spot. Defensively, Barnes provided intimidating rim protection.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Ford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2833845' first='Syaire' last='Barnes'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Spring Ford ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Next Play","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67d2e997ecb84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During the 2024-25 season, Barnes has become one of the biggest 2026 stock risers in the region. In the 6A 2^nd Round, Barnes (7 pts.) showed that he can work as a primary ball handler even in the face of intense full court pressure. When the rock was in his hands, Barnes scored of dribble drives and delivered well-timed dimes to teammates. His quickness and elusive handles were impressive too.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1867331"],"_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-67d2e997ecbcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spring Ford's “glue guy” did an incredible job in this contest of competing at both ends against the much larger Judge front line. Kelly (9 points) crashed the offensive glass for put backs and popped a mid-range jumper or two. At the other end of the floor, Kelly's positioning skills and non-stop motor led to numerous defensive rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1460771"],"_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-67d2e997ecc12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nguyen has been torching the nets of late. He posted 26 points (3 threes) in Spring Ford's 1^st Round state tourney win as well as 29 points (5 threes) and 27 points (4 triples) in the District 1-6A tournament. Thus, when Nguyen opened this game with 8 points (1 three) in the first quarter it looked like he was headed for another big night. But then Judge changed their defensive strategy for Nguyen. From the second quarter on, Nguyen (1,400+ career points) was faced guarded for 94-feet and saw double teams on every touch. His high IQ and unselfish nature enabled him to handle that defensive strategy with poise and move the ball to an open teammate. However, Judge's defensive changes limited Nguyen to just 2 points over the final three quarters. Nguyen holds several DI mid-major offers and more coaches should be texting this guard prospect.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->