Varsity Basketball- Mount Vernon vs Marion

Mount Vernon is one of the top teams in the state. Marion came to play but didn't have much of a chance in Friday evenings contest. These are the players who stood out above the rest.    Jack did everything for Mount Vernon. He played the small forward position like a point forward. Jack is a great ball handler who facilitates the basketball and gets into the paint. In some instances, he beat his defender off the dribble, drove into the lane and scored tough floaters. When shots weren't available, he dished off assists to his teammates in the paint or along the perimeter. Jack was great at scoring in transition and knocking down three-pointers. Some of those shots were converted when he used the dribble to create space. His step-back move allowed him to connect on multiple shots from beyond the arc. Jack is an excellent team defender. With his constant double teams and quick hands, he was able to force multiple steals. Those turnovers often lead to positive outcomes for the team. Jack's a great two-way player who has a promising future ahead of him.     Ben is the “ hustle guy “ for Mount Vernon. He always found himself around the basketball. Whether it's rebounding, scoring inside, taking charges or defending, Ben found ways of making a difference on the basketball court. He's the type of player who takes pride in rebounding and defending. Ben is a great rebounding guard who attacked the glass on both ends of the floor. Ben also displayed play-making skills. The majority of his assists led to positive outcomes for Mount Vernon. Don't be fooled! Ben does all the intangibles, but he also scores. When given the opportunity to make threes, Ben calmly knocked them down. He's a tough defender who had a habit of coming up with timely boards or steals. His defensive pressure forced countless mistakes and turnovers. Ben is a great all around player.     I appreciated the energy this young man showed Friday evening. Owen is a big-time shooter and play-maker. He shoots the ball with no hesitation. After watching him play, I saw a player who's completely confident in his shooting ability. He was great at finding ways to free himself for good looks at the basket. Whether it's running around screens or using the dribble, Owen found ways to get his shot off. He's the type of player who catches fire once he sees a couple of shots go down. There was a period in the game where the team needed a boost. Owen nailed a three-pointer and showed some emotion. I believe his energy pumped up his teammates, which ultimately led to Mount Vernon building an insurmountable lead. Owen finished the game with five three-pointers.     Tim was one of the best scorers in Friday night's game. I appreciated the determination he showed to score whenever the ball was in his hands. He was always in “attack mode,” no matter who guarded him defensively. Tim has a great handle of the basketball. He used a variety of moves to get around defenders. Tim has a quick first-step that allowed him to easily drive by his opponents and score. There was a moment in the game when he used a great step-back move to free himself for a three-pointer. He calmly knocked down the shot and moved on to the next play. I was blown away by his ability to score. Tim is a strong guard who had a knack for scoring through contact. This led to multiple three-point play opportunities from the free-throw line. Defensively, he made it tough on opposing guards when he applied pressure on them. Tim forced numerous turnovers that led to positive outcomes for Marion. He's a talented player who should easily adjust to college basketball next season.     Chris'Shawn has the mentality of a true “floor general.” He's a great ball handler who always looked to set-up teammates for high percentage shots. After watching Chris'Shawn play, I saw an elite passer of the basketball. No matter the situation, he always managed to find Marion players in the right scoring positions. I can confidently say, Chris'Shawn led the team in assists and play-making. He also showed great leadership by communicating with his teammates throughout the duration of the game. Chris'Shawn also scores the rock when there's an opportunity. He knocked down multiple threes and attacked the basket on numerous occasions. One of the three-pointers was a highlight play. He used a nasty step-back dribble to make the shot despite being challenged by the defender. Chris'Shawn is a great lead guard who should easily transition into the college game next year.     Jace is a prototypical point guard who led his team with play-making and strong leadership. In Friday's game against Mount Vernon, he flawlessly orchestrated the Marion offense with control and precision. Jace showed a knack for finding other teammates with timely passes. The majority of his passes led to positive outcomes for the Marion squad. He's a great ball handler who easily beat defenders to the basket and scored. Jace played the game with a fearless mentality. He pressured the opposing defense by staying in “attack mode” for the duration of the game. Jace also showed his prowess as a scorer. He knocked down floaters in the paint and nailed a couple of big time threes. On defense, Jace tightly guarded his opponent and made ball handling a difficult task. I expect Jace to finish the season strong and continue the same success in college.

Mount Vernon is one of the top teams in the state. Marion came to play but didn't have much of a chance in Friday evenings contest. These are the players who stood out above the rest.