2028 Guards Takeover Male vs. Manual Rivalry Matchup

A sold-out gym, huge student sections, and acrobatic cheerleading battles set the stage for this season's Old Rivalry matchup on the hardwood. In a high-energy game that featured a lot of veteran talent on both sides of the ball, a pair of sophomore guards managed to standout. In the end, a well-balanced attack willed Manual (19-6) to a win over their 7th Region foe, Male (15-10). Here's a look at some of last night's most impactful players:    Harper was the most consistent and arguably the most valuable player on the floor on Friday night. He controlled the tempo as Manual's lead facilitator and executed the pick and roll to perfection throughout the game. He also gave his squad huge scoring sparks, showcasing his abilities to finish at the rim and knock down long range shots. He finished with a team-high 18 points in addition to grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 4 assists in the win for the Crimsons.     In his first game back after missing the last 4 weeks due to injury, Mitchell reminded everyone why he's one of the top prospects in the state. He showed great flashes, including lightning quick downhill handles and rising up off two feet for a one-handed slam late in the 2nd quarter. He filled up the stat sheet and finished with a game-high 19 points in addition to 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Mitchell's return is a promising sign for Male heading into the post season.     Shelton has been on a tear this season as one of the most improved players in the state and he didn't let up last night. After a deceivingly slow start, Shelton took over and scored all 17 of his points in the 2nd half of the contest. Not to mention pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds. In an absolutely loaded 7th Region, Shelton might be the best kept secret heading into the post season.     Braziel is a high-energy guy who plays much bigger than he actually is. He doesn't shoot the most shots for the Bulldogs but he's very efficient when his number is called. He entered last night's matchup with impressive 56/40/71 shooting splits. He showed toughness from start to finish in the Old Rivalry and finished the game with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.     Woods was the most efficient volume scorer on the court, finishing with 15 points on 6/9 shooting from the field. He did most of his damage in the 1st half, showcasing some extremely smooth handles and footwork. Creating space and getting to his spots in the midrange seemed easy for the senior forward in addition to executing the pick-and-roll very well with Harper. Woods is a legit on ball threat looking ahead at Manual's post season.     Although only an 8th grader, Calhoun is playing in his second year of varsity basketball with Male. With an advanced combination of skills and strength for his age, he's been a true asset for the Bulldogs and had some key impact moments in last night's matchup. He was the next man up after 2029 big man [player_tooltip player_id='2851856' first='Jaden' last='Johnson'] went down with an injury. Unafraid of the moment, Calhoun finished with 8 points and 2 assists in a tough road environment.     Njogu was the focal point of a modified 1-2-2 defense that was extremely effective when deployed by Manual. His intensity, lateral quickness, and active hands caused problems for the opposing offense and led to several fast break opportunities for the Crimsons. He also showcased some mature court awareness and tough finishing around the rim to end the night with 13 points on 6/11 shooting from the field.

A sold-out gym, huge student sections, and acrobatic cheerleading battles set the stage for this season's Old Rivalry matchup on the hardwood. In a high-energy game that featured a lot of veteran talent on both sides of the ball, a pair of sophomore guards managed to standout. In the end, a well-balanced attack willed Manual (19-6) to a win over their 7th Region foe, Male (15-10). Here's a look at some of last night's most impactful players: