Central Section Championships: Day 1 Players to Watch

Fresno, CA - Today kicks off the annual Central Section Boys and Girls Basketball Championships, hosted at Selland Arena in Fresno, CA. Today, Day 1, features games from Divisions 6, 4, and 2 (the headliner game) from both the boys and girls side. This article takes a look at the players to watch from the boys Divisions 2, 4, and 6 games slated for today, starting at 12:00 p.m.   Division 2: #1 Atascadero Greyhounds v. #2 Clovis Cougars   6'4 [player_tooltip player_id='2843567' first='Anthony' last='Smith'] PG 2028 (Clovis)   Smith has been one of the top sophomores in the state this season, as far as his contribution and leadership are concerned, playing beyond his years at times to lead the revamped Cougar squad to the Section title game. Smith poured in 29 points in the semifinal win over Bakersfield last Thursday, and connected on some big shots down the stretch to show his poise in the crunch time. Smith has become the primary ball handler for Clovis and his ability to make plays for others, as well as create his own scoring opportunities, makes him difficult to defend and predict. Smith is active on the defensive end and turns defense to offense routinely. Smith will need to keep his composure in the biggest game of his high school career to date, and he has shown he has the pedigree to be that player in crucial moments.     6'5 Damon Jackson CG 2027 (Clovis)   Jackson has been one of the best pure jumpshooters in the Section this season, and has been on a heater of late, showcasing his ability to connect on the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the dribble or the catch, and is active on the boards to help his team get out and run in the open court. Jackson is at his best when hunting the mid-range shot, as this opens up the 3-pointer and lanes to attack off the pump-fake or the hezzy. Jackson will be relied upon to keep up his accurate shooting and timely scoring.    6'3 [player_tooltip player_id='2954272' first='Sier' last='Harbin'] CG 2027 (Clovis)   Harbin has been a welcome addition to the Cougars this season, after transferring from Central East, as he has added another high-level primary ball handler, as well as a player that can score the ball from 3-levels off the bounce or the catch. Harbin was in the D2 Section title game last season with Central East and wants to avenge a tough double-overtime loss to Mission Prep with his new team. Harbin may be called upon to calm the team if Atascadero gets out to an early lead, as the experienced players on this team.    6'9 Jackson Scarborough (Clovis)   Scarborough has been the anchor on both ends in the paint for the Cougars this season. After spending a year at San Joaquin Memorial, Scarborough returned back to the school he spent his first two years of high school and it couldn't have worked out better for the senior bigman. Scarborough will have a significant height advantage over most of his defenders for the Greyhounds and will need to take advantage of that by controlling the glass and protecting the basket. It would be an ideal way to end his high school basketball career in the Section, but it will be a dog fight to the finish line, as the Cougars look to get back an early loss this season which is why it had the #2 seed.    6' [player_tooltip player_id='2920237' first='Shea' last='Buckley'] CG 2026 (Atascadero)   Buckley has been the driving force scoring the ball for the Greyhounds this season, who were able to capture the top seed in the Division 2 Section playoffs, despite being a base D3 team. Buckley has averaged over 20 points per game this season, and is able to score the ball from 3-levels. His scoring will be imperative to help keep Atasacerdo close in a rematch game from early in the season, which saw the Greyhounds defeat Clovis by a score of 70 to 50, which is what earned it the top seed in D2.    5'9 Steven Ernst CG 2026 (Atascadero)   Ernst is one of the primary ball-handlers for Atascadero, as well as a proficient shooter from beyond the arc to help space the floor. Ernst will be tasked with defending some athletic and lengthy perimeter players from Clovis, so it is imperative that he stays out of foul trouble and makes good decisions with the ball, either to find the open teammate or score the rock himself.    6'2 Damon Mitchell WF (Atascadero)   Mitchell has been an interior presence for the Greyhounds this season, as one of its top rebounders and post defenders, as well as the ability to score the ball around the basket. Mitchell will be tasked with defending players with more height and length, so it will be imperative for him to use his athleticism and physical style of play to get his opponents in foul trouble, and shorten the depth of the Cougars.    Division 4: #1 Sanger West Hornets v. #2 McLane Highlanders   6'3 Kharon Parks CG 2027 (Sanger West)   Parks has been the leading scorer and driving force for the Hornets this season, the best in school history, and he will be called upon today to lead the charge against North Yosemite League rival McLane of Fresno. Parks has averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals this season and will be a candidate for league MVP. The Hornets will need his firepower and skill to show up in a major way today.    6'5 Jordan Ruffin F 2027 (Sanger West)   Ruffin has been the force in the middle for Sanger West this season and should be an advantage for the Hornets against the Highlanders, who do not have much height on the roster. The Hornets will need him to put near season averages in order to capture the schools first Section title for the basketball program, which is 13 points and 7 rebounds per game.    6'1 Aedan Norton PG 2028 (Sanger West)   The standout sophomore has been key to the Hornets success this season, and Sanger West will need him to produce against the guard-heavy Highlander roster that plays tough on-ball defense. Norton has been a floor spacer for the Hornets and he will be relied upon to connect on the 3-ball today in the D4 title game. He has averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game.     5'10 Keyvon Burcher PG 2026 (McLane)   Burcher has led the Highlanders the last few seasons and he now has a chance to solidify his high school resume with a Section title. The Highlanders will need him to put up the numbers he has all season long, with averages of 6 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game. Burcher plays a physical style of basketball mixed with a shifty skill set that makes it tough to keep him out of the paint when on the attack. I expect him to show up in a big way.    6'2 Demetrius Simon WF 2026 (McLane)   Simon has been the athletic and versatile player that impacts both ends of the court in a major way. Simon has averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.6 steals per game, highlighting his ability to control both ends of the court. He will be relied upon to crash the boards, as well as put up good scoring numbers.    5'11 [player_tooltip player_id='2953953' first='Keshawn' last='Langenfeld'] CG 2028 (McLane)   Langenfeld has been the scoring punch needed to go with the upperclassmen on the roster, and he has been consistent all season, with averages of 10 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. He will need to play at a high level and be active on the boards in the D4 title game. His 3-point shooting will be key as well to pull Ruffin away from the basket and open up driving lanes.   Division 6: #1Orosi Cardinals v. #10Summit Charter Bears   5'11 Michael Corrales PG 2026 (Orosi)   Corrales has led the Cardinals this season in scoring with an impressive 15.8 points per game. He averaged 3 assists and 2 steals per game to go along with that, as he will look to lead his team to the D6 championship.    6' Ramiro Garcia WG 2026 (Orosi)   Garcia has been a double-double machine this season and will be called upon to bring those same numbers in today's kick-off Section championship game for the Boys side of the weekend. Garcia has averaged 12 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2 steals per game to showcase his all around impact on the game.    6'3 James Beltran PC 2027 (Orosi)   Beltran has been another player that has averaged a near double-double this season per game, and will be looking to bring this same energy in the D6 title game. Beltran has averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game, and will need to be active on the boards to limit Summit Charter to single shot possessions.    5'7 Shawn Smith CG 2026 (Summit Charter)   Smith has led the charge for the #10 seed Summit Charter this season, as it will be the only team seeded outside of the top two for the boys championships. Smith has averaged 17 points, 4 assists, and 4.6 steals per game. Smith will need to put up near his season averages in points and steals, to limit Orosi's guards from scoring the ball.    6'4 Hayden Miller PF 2027 (Summit Charter)   Miller has averaged a near double-double for Summit Charter this season, and he may need to add to the scoring column in Friday's D6 championship game. With averaged of 9 points and 8 rebounds per game, Miller has the numbers to make an impact and needs to use his height advantage to control the glass and get easy points on putbacks.

Fresno, CA - Today kicks off the annual Central Section Boys and Girls Basketball Championships, hosted at Selland Arena in Fresno, CA. Today, Day 1, features games from Divisions 6, 4, and 2 (the headliner game) from both the boys and girls side. This article takes a look at the players to watch from the boys Divisions 2, 4, and 6 games slated for today, starting at 12:00 p.m.