Totino-Grace vs Monticello 3A Section 5 Championship

<!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ3NfQtzFZUu0026amp;ab_channel=StreetHistoryVideos","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ3NfQtzFZU&amp;ab_channel=StreetHistoryVideos </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early, everything seemed to be going the Monticello Magic's way. The Totino-Grace Eagles couldn't buy a bucket, and [player_tooltip player_id='2103379' first='Jackson' last='Soroko'] was canning 3-pointers and scored 10 of the Magic's early 12 points and it was an early 12-2 lead. The Monticello fans were really into the game at this point and it sounded like a Monti home game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126117' first='Malachi' last='Hill'], the 2027 sophomore guard, picked up two early fouls that forced him to the bench and already without 2026 junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560835' first='Tian' last='Chatman'] the Eagles seemed out of sorts for much of the 1st half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once Hill returned in the first half Totino started to find their balance, and at about the same time their defense got more stringent. Down 22-9 slowly Totino fought back and Hill picked up his third foul, and again to the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time however it didn't impact the Eagles as they closed the half on a 15-2 run including a [player_tooltip player_id='2126166' first='Jaylan' last='Hynes'] corner 3 that tied the game at half. The play started by [player_tooltip player_id='1574227' first='Chace' last='Watley'] from the right side of the floor passed to [player_tooltip player_id='1560740' first='Dothan' last='Ijadimbola'] who skipped it to the corner perfectly. For Monticello before the game you'd have taken a tie game at half, but momentum shifted in those last five minutes of the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To say the second half was all Eagles would be an understatement as Totino outscored the Magic 54-28 behind big second halves from 2026 top ranked Ijadimbola, 2025 Wofford committed Watley, and 2027 speedster guard Hill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watley's momentum started at the end of the first half as he drove over and over and got to the rim for lay-ups. That play continued to start the second half and throughout the rest of the game. Hill anytime a transition opportunity happened, either rebounds or because the Eagles defense ramped up a turnover, he was beating everyone down the floor for scores. Hill is one of the fastest guards with the ball in the state of Minnesota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ijadimbola after a slow start figured out to attack Soroko with speed and quickness as Soroko used his frame to slow Ijadimbola down in the post. Ijadimbola had a few scores inside and showcased his ability to hit shots from the perimeter. Ijadimbola's ability to handle the ball is what makes him separable as a prospect especially with his size and growing strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Totino got good minutes from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1956268' first='Shay' last='Jackson'], and 2025 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1617806' first='Will' last='Fariss'] found himself open a few times around the basket for scores. 2028 Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1895712' first='Daniel' last='Zoa'] had a late dunk off a pass from a drive from Ijadimbola.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125143' first='Brayden' last='Dollard'], fellow senior to Soroko scored 11 points. The six-foot-one-inch senior guard hit two 3-pointers. Senior Tre Singer and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2140576' first='Carson' last='Deibele'] scored 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prospect Spotlight</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2126166"],"_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-67d4408a17f76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2126166' first='Jaylan' last='Hynes'], a 2027 sophomore guard, showed me another side of his game playing for Totino. In the summer I watched Hynes with [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB as the main offensive starter passing and getting his teammates going while also hitting timely shots. For the Eagles, as he plays much more off the ball offensively, he spread the floor very well and was ready when the ball came to him. Hynes played good on-ball defense and off-ball. He used quick hands to deflect passes or reach in to create turnovers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2103379"],"_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-67d4408a17fd3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2103379' first='Jackson' last='Soroko'], 2025 six-foot-six-inch uncommitted senior forward was very effective for the Magic from the perimeter. Soroko hit four 3-pointers and his shot looked very fluid and natural, quite an improvement from a couple seasons ago when Soroko seemed much less confident in his shooting ability. Soroko has solid size, and some of the actions for shots the Magic ran him in showed more than just a pick and pop type player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/streethistory/status/1901070978894930244?t=jN13G8HThCA30ME3kUeMhg&amp;s=19">https://twitter.com/streethistory/status/1901070978894930244?t=jN13G8HThCA30ME3kUeMhg&amp;s=19</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->