Clash of the Titans-Sunday Notebook

<p>The Clash of hte Titans is an event that has delivered year after year and 2025's version was no different. Mookie Dobbins of [program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill'] and company put on a great slate of games with premier matchups that never disappoint. We were courtside for Sunday's action and unpack what we saw in Sunday's notebook.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Phelps (PA) cruises against Calvert Hall (MD)</h2>   <p>Phelps School (PA) ran into a surging Mount St. Joseph team on Saturday and rebounded nicely with a dominant win over Calvert Hall to tip off Sunday's event. After a tightly contested first quarter, Phelps' outside shooting and efficiency in the open floor helped build what would eventually be an insurmountable lead as they'd go onto win by a final score of 74-60.</p>   <p>Leading the effort was one of the more intriguing 2028s that I've seen over the last month or so in Enmanuel Valero Melo. At 6-foot-6, he possesses an ideal frame for an off-ball guard/wing and combined with his ability to fill it up from beyond the arc, makes for a serious weapon both now and in the long-term. He'd go on to score 23 points that included four triples and account for seven rebounds. Hofstra pledge [player_tooltip player_id='2949318' first='Xavier' last='Blake'] left his imprint on the game both above and away from the rim. When he wasn't in transition throwing down dunks, Blake was finding open windows around the arc and quickly getting into his shot off the catch. Blake is one of those guys that whenever his feet are set and he has a clear look at the rim, you can count it. 2028 Brandon Martin Jr. is another underclassman to keep tabs on. At 6-foot-7 with plus length, the utility forward showed two-way impact around the bucket as well as soft touch stepping away from the paint for a three that he splashed with confidence. </p>   <p>For the hosting Cardinals, the game was well out of reach in the third quarter where they found themselves down by nearly 30 points. 2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731617' first='Ellis' last='Johnson'] showed fight and refused to throw in the towel as he went for 19 of his game-high 25 points in the final eight minutes of play. The smooth scoring southpaw got to his spots with balance and rose up over defenders with confidence playing off the bounce. Despite the loss, the effort from him especially when most kids would've packed it in, showed character to me.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">McDonogh (MD) overcomes slow start against West Nottingham (MD)</h2>   <p>It looked like West Nottingham had the formula to beat McDonogh as they got out to a 13-1 lead in the first few minutes. The Rams were dominating the offensive glass, forcing turnovers and quickly generating scores on fastbreaks that had all of the early momentum in their favor. One the Eagles started cherishing each possession and limiting West Nottingham to one-shot possessions, they'd fight back and eventually regain control in the fourth quarter and go onto win 58-51.</p>   <p>2027 hybrid forward [player_tooltip player_id='2455425' first='Carlos' last='Ferguson']'s effort in the final two frames proved to be pivotal and he had the stats to back it, finishing with 27 for the game, 21 of which came in the second half alone. The 6-foot-7 lefty operated the majority of his touches in the mid-post where he attacks on face-ups and after the defender adjusted to play him for the drive, Ferguson buried a few jumpers from around the floor 15-feet and in to keep his matchup honest the rest of the way. His size and versatility were key in helping halt the early production from West Nottingham's frontline. More promising signs were shown from 2029 forward [player_tooltip player_id='3072084' first='Christian' last='Rhodes']. The 6-foot-6 forward is an active mover without the ball, knows how to attack with his back to the basket on the block and did a nice job converting big free-throws in crunch time to seal the win. I'd be remiss to not mention the impact beyond the box score from 2028 duo [player_tooltip player_id='2549594' first='Ben' last='Orthwein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2548892' first='Maurice' last='Costley']. As the Rams got out to a big lead, it was Orthwein who knocked down two-straight three's to bring some positivity while Costley brought a secure ball-handling presence at the point guard slot.</p>   <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2441539' first='Mazari' last='Browne'] was the leading presence for the Rams. There's no questioning his long-term potential when he's dialed in at both ends and he can make his 16-point, 12-rebound performance routine in comparison to others. Sharpshooting 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2992619' first='Sam' last='Falko'] was the follow-up with 15 points and mixed up his scoring attack well within the flow.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Frances (MD) wins back-and-forth duel over Archbishop Carroll (DC)</h2>   <p>In the most anticipated game of the Sunday slate, St. Frances improved their record to 20-4 with a 72-70 win over Archbishop Carroll in a game that was well-worth price of admission. Already down one starting guard in 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2691786' first='Anthony' last='Smith'], it was questionable whether or not head coach Nick Myles would have 2027 Terence Jones as the talented scoring guard had been battling the flu for more than a week prior to Sunday. Jones showed up ready to play as did his backcourt mate, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2878470' first='Carter' last='Fisk'], as the two would combine for 45 points. Fisk was the high-scorer with 27 and put on a show as a scorer and high-level passer as he used his eyes to manipulate the Carroll defense before zipping no-look lasers to those running along the baseline. Jones' (18 points) gravity from deep opened up catch-and-drive scenarios where he exposed slow rotations from the weakside or created open shots for others such as 2027 Chance McCoy (13 points) and 2029 Michael Williams (7 points).</p>   <p>For Carroll, No. 1 ranked Anthony Brown backed our high praise of him to a tune of 33 points and seven assists. One of the more gifted guards in the nation, Brown's ability to get wherever he wants in almost any scenario is what makes him special. He can dissect a defense with ease and it all starts with the demand he receives from his matchup that extends well beyond the arc. In yesterday's game, his scoring came more off the bounce and in slashing fashion. He can finish scoop hook layups, double-pumps in the air while putting some english on the release or high-arching floaters. 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2353541' first='Bam' last='Bolding'] continued his ultra-productive week playing support to Brown with 19 points and showcasing his catch-and-shoot ability in front of a handful of college coaches. 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1963388' first='Bryton' last='Barrett']'s shooting from the mid-range and his length finishing at the rim in transition played key role in the heavyweight bout. He'd finish with 13 points and four rebounds. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SPIRE (OH) leaves Baltimore unscathed with win over Mt. Zion Prep (MD)</h2>   <p>Head coach Kevin Boyle and SPIRE Academy left their stay in Charm City with quality wins over Mount Carmel and Mt. Zion Prep. Sunday's game was never in question for the program out of Ohio as they delivered an early knockout punch and never looked back in their 79-46 win.</p>   <p>Alabama pledge and 2026 wing Tarris Bouie was the catalyst with 19 point and eight rebounds. His vicious finishing above the rim helped set an early tone along with future Providence Friar Aiden Derkack's reckless abandon in the open floor. Derkack, another standout 2026 prospect on this team, brought his usual grit, toughness and two-way ability in the dominant win. Another prospect off the board in 2026 Dorian Rinaldo (Iowa State) supplied a paint presence as he erased shots, closed down possessions quickly and ran the floor with purpose, all characteristics that will help him become a name in the Big 12 for years to come.</p>   <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1782591' first='Jasiah' last='Cannady'] (UMass Lowell) was the lead man for Mt. Zion with 16 points as 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2407095' first='Zion' last='Green'] followed with 10.</p>

The Clash of hte Titans is an event that has delivered year after year and 2025's version was no different. Mookie Dobbins of Team Thrill and company put on a great slate of games with premier matchups that never disappoint. We were courtside for Sunday's action and unpack what we saw in Sunday's notebook.