Division 2 Region 7 Regional Semifinals Standouts

Tonight I was at Taft Coliseum for the <a href="https://officials.myohsaa.org/Admin/Bracket/PublicBracket?TournamentId=4144">Division 2 Region 7</a> Regional Semifinals games. The first game was a dominating win from Westerville North over Westerville Central 66-38 followed by Big Walnut beating Licking Heights 65-55. This article is the standouts from both these games.    Young was the best player on the floor on both ends. The impact he had on both ends of the floor was felt. He was a lockdown defender on the perimeter. North runs a match-up full-court press and Young excelled in that role. He was a pest on the ball. His size and length allow him to be a physical but legal great defender. He dictates what you do. He climbs into your space well. His effort on that end was great. I knew Young was going to give his all on defense tonight, what impressed me was his ability to get buckets. He created a shot for himself well in the half-court. He broke guys down got to his spot and scored. Takes his game to another level. Young plays the game the right way on both ends and has a massive impact on winning. Tough to stop.     McCruter played huge for Big Walnut in the 2nd half. He was so good in spots offensively tonight. Big Walnut has a lot of kids who can score the ball and need to get their shots up. McCruter did a great job of being efficient with his touches and shots. He got a couple of buckets and a dunk. During this stretch of the game, you could see him gain confidence and get in a rhythm. He got to his right hand well and finished. He hit shots. His length is a huge factor on the defensive end. He can guard a lot of positions and got a couple of blocks tonight.     Stumpf is a confident kid. He has a good skill set and can shoot the ball; he has the belief in this skill set. When you have confidence as a huge scorer. You are more aggressive, and more shots will go in for you. Against Licking Heights, they played a zone, and Stumpf found his spots well. He was able to get his shots up and knock them down. He did a good job of cutting to the middle of the zone and creating for himself and others.     Hatfield is a winner. He has a high motor and knows how to win the game. He has a talent for playing his best in the times of the game when it is needed the most. He played well all game but in the 4th his impact was felt the most. The ball was put in his hands and plays were being called from him. Even though these plays were called for him it was for his playmaking ability. He created for others so well. Then when the ball came back to him, he knocked down the shots. He knocked down multiple big 3s to increase their lead in the 4th.     Spiva was really good tonight for Westerville Central. He got buckets and was not afraid of the pressure for Westerville North. The best way to handle pressure is by attacking it. This is what Spiva did well tonight. He got to the rim in transition and in the half-court. He has god touch and knows how to use the rim for protection. He is a strong player that contact does not bother him much. Tough kid who fought hard all night.     Lovinsky is a player you want because he is a competitor. He seems easy to coach because he is very fundamentally sound. He is engaged on the court on both ends. He is best with his back to the basket on the block. He did not get the ball much in that position tonight due to Big Walnut's game plan but his effort did not waver. He impacted the game in different ways.  He was a good rim protector. He is a strong and big-bodied kid. He was attacking the glass hard. He showed leadership tonight as well. He talked a lot to his teammates throughout the game.

Tonight I was at Taft Coliseum for the Division 2 Region 7 Regional Semifinals games. The first game was a dominating win from Westerville North over Westerville Central 66-38 followed by Big Walnut beating Licking Heights 65-55. This article is the standouts from both these games.