Round Three Recaps: ALA Dominate, Ridge View Prevail

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoff basketball continued in South Carolina early this week with SCHSL action on Monday and Tuesday night. I stayed in the Columbia area for third-round action, as American Leadership Academy matched up with Clinton, and Ridge View hosted Dorman. Both contests featured tons of talent, but it was ALA and Ridge View who advanced to the Upper State Championships this weekend. Check out six impact players between these two games: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2175530"],"_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-699f0e505937c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The man running the show for American Leadership Academy on Monday night was [player_tooltip player_id='2175530' first='Brice' last='Newton']. He flirted with a triple-double in this one, putting up a very impressive 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists. Newton got going early with a pair of nice cuts in the flow of the Patriot offense, but after that, everything he did revolved around getting his teammates the best possible shot. He consistently created penetration through the opposing defense and had success playing off two feet or a reverse pivot. Brice recently announced his commitment to Columbia International University, but he has plenty of unfinished business being two wins away from a State Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2173670"],"_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-699f0e5059439"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perimeter shooting was a huge reason why the Patriots comfortably advanced to the Final Four, and Justin was the guy who led the way with four made threes. He did so on an efficient seven attempts, but he was also effective finishing at the rim. He had a loud transition dunk that was a part of an early 9-0 run, along with several other creative layups across the rest of the night. The shooting should be both what opponents game plan for and what should excite college coaches, so if ALA keeps winning, don't be surprised if Richburg ends up on a next-level roster in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2815871"],"_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-699f0e5059516"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Redding, the lone non-senior on the entire ALA roster, has really taken big strides with his game since I last saw them in the season opener. His length was a major presence defensively for the Patriots, racking up 10 rebounds and 6 blocks, but the jump shooting and ball handling were what I was most impressed by with Braxton. Not only has he developed a comfortable handle, but now he is also a knockdown mid-range shooter with more room for growth into a three-point shooter. This team doesn't need him to be a high-volume offensive player because of their two elite guards, but when he adds double-figure scoring, it makes them a very difficult team to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2367667"],"_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-699f3aaa97774"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Switching over to Tuesday's highly-anticipated matchup between Ridge View and Dorman, JT was a player who stepped up for the Blazers. He did a little bit of everything for them, tallying 7 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, by my count. Although his rebounding was huge, particularly as Dorman's interior defense began to wear down, the biggest play of the night from Vankallen came midway through the fourth quarter when he hit a clutch right-wing three to put Ridge View up 64-58. The Blazers will have a size advantage in their next matchup, so look for JT to be active and effective early. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2139480"],"_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-699f3aaa977e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2139480' first='Christopher' last='Horton'] was as important to Ridge View's third-round win as anyone. Not only did he lead the team with 20 points, but it felt like every shot he made injected life into the crowd and the rest of the team. That started early, as he knocked down three first-quarter threes to push the Blazers out to an early lead. It continued in the second half, including an important right-corner three that quieted a Dorman run, plus a true logo three to give Ridge View a three-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Chris is one of the rare "big-game players" who comes off the bench, so look for him to hit more big shots throughout this postseason run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2373165"],"_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-699f3aaa9783a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding out this list of third-round impact players is Moore. He was one of the more quietly productive players in this game, but there is no doubting how talented and important a player he is for this team. Although he has as high a ceiling as anyone in the state, CJ also finds a way to impact the game night in, night out. Against Dorman, it was an 11-point, 8-rebound, and 4-block night. One of the key second-half adjustments for Ridge View was taking away points in the paint for Dorman, particularly from their guards who had a much easier time finishing at the rim in the first 16 minutes compared to the last. CJ was a huge reason why that was flipped, and that will again be crucial in the Upper State matchup with Byrnes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->