Sandusky vs Cincinnati Aiken State Semifinals Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a game of two halves. Sandusky continued their tournament trend of jumping out on the opposing team early but Arnold kept Aiken withing striking distance. Then after the half the Falcons took the game over and never looked back. They even extended the lead to 17 at one point in the fourth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cincinnati Aiken improves to 27-1 and will be playing against winner of Garfield Heights/Louisville in Dayton next Friday at 1 pm for the<a href="https://officials.myohsaa.org/Admin/Bracket/PublicBracket?TournamentId=4152"> Division 3 State Championship game</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432009"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2812822,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67d7458fc331d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arnold was phenomenal for Aiken. A player some feel was a Mr. Basketball snub showed why he should've been. In the first half when Aiken was behind, he was the player that kept them in the game. In the full-court man-to-man press, the first defender was a cone. He quickly got by them and made plays attacking with a head of steam. He knew he needed to attack Sandusky's pressure. He was always calm and played at his own pace. He is a confident player, and I get why. He makes every shot he takes it seems. He is a tough shotmaker. The defense doesn't matter when he elevates off the dribble. He scores at all 3-levels, but his midrange bag is deep. He does a good job of fading away to create even more separation on pull-ups. He has a nasty spin move to get by the defense. Sandusky had no answer to slow him down all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior Guard</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":2812828,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Antonio Hutcherson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cincinnati Aiken","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-67d7458fc33cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hutcherson played this game at an elite level in the second. When the offense needed to get going for them to win this game, he stepped up. He has an efficient 14 points. He made a massive three in the second half to give them the first lead of the game since a 2-0 start. He is a quick guard who understood that he needed to get to the basket to get going. Hutcherson played with great energy and competition. He stepped up when needed like a senior guard needs to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Energizer Bunny</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432023"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2812829,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67d7458fc3429"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I don't know if anyone showed more emotion on winning this game than Burnett. He was getting the crowd going, playing hard, and was truly not going to leave with anything left in the tank. He finished with 16 points and did a great job of getting the ball in transition and attacking the basket. He would finish through and with traffic. He is a strong and well-built guard that most don't want to meet at the rim over and over again. This was apparent and he took advantage of that. He did not settle and was tough to stop when he got to his right hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prospect of the Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2775797"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2812833,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67d7458fc347e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carr-Short is a prospect that you love. As soon as he checked into the game you see his height and length. He is listed at 6'7. He uses this length well around the rim. He grabbed nine boards in traffic. He also got a nice block I don't know how many could get. He is a good versatile athlete. He has a ton of potential and will continue to play big and strong in their game next Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mr. Do-It-All</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1672052"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2812832,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67d7458fc34d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Henlon has one of the best point guard skillsets I have seen this year in the high school season.  He does a great job of manipulating the game. He court maps for his teammates and puts them in the right spot. He always passes up good for great. He did everything for Sandusky offensively in the first half. He did a great job playmaking and scoring. He has great touch and control around the rim. He has incredible stamina. He does not sit in the game and is always moving on both ends of the floor. He got 2 blocks and 4 steals. He knows how to get his hand on the ball and affect you. He is a sneaky strong and physical player. He has incredible length. He is a really good player and the leader of this BlueStreak squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monster on the Glass</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2281014"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2812834,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67d7458fc3523"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bonner's effort on the glass is shockingly good. He attacks the rim so hard and jumps over everyone to get the board. He is always running to the rim on offense when the shot goes up. He is a great vertical athlete and has a nice length. He either grabs the rebound himself or knocks it around for someone else to grab. He had 9 rebounds and 6 of them were on the offensive end. He is a good finisher on the offensive end. He explodes to the rim and finishes strong. He has a great second jump. He is also a nice playmaker. He knows what to do with it when he gets the ball in the open courts and attacks the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sneaky Scorer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1672053"],"_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-67d7458fc3570"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown led all scorers in this game with 21 points. This was sort of shocking to see once I was given the final stat sheet. He played aggressively and knew he need to be a secondary scorer today. He showed great touch on his shot. Knocked down threes and the midrange. He was good at putting his head down and getting to the rim. He did a great job of not forcing and taking the shots that were given to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->