Great Lakes Finals: Teddy’s Sunday Afternoon Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's my action from Sunday afternoon in the Great Lakes Finals. I'll have lots of evaluations to share throughout the week. Stay tuned for that!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Electric Lockdown vs [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] Matchup in 17u Quarterfinal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a super tight, gritty, defensive battle in the games opening stages between Chicago lockdown and [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package']. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125614' first='Dino' last='Giannini'] was getting it done as a scorer and playmaker early on for [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package']. While lockdown was getting contributions from a variety of guys. That includes 6'4" PF [player_tooltip player_id='2829810' first='Miles' last='Burnison'] who used his extra large frame to win on the interior. As well as guard [player_tooltip player_id='2398290' first='Jack' last='Levy'], who moved effectively off the ball to free himself up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2830240' first='Daniel' last='Morakinyo'] kept Lockdown in the game with physical finishing while attacking the rim. Then later showed his range with a few contested 3-pointer near the top of the key. But even then, [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] had answers. 6'8" Small Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2442190' first='Nicholas' last='Konchan'] buried a pair of C&amp;S triples to give them a slight advantage early in the second half. Then hit a third one to give them a 9-point lead, [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package']s biggest of the contest to this point before [player_tooltip player_id='2834481' first='Jackson' last='Stavros'] buried back to back triples himself.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morakinyo would respond with a couple more three's and then York's [player_tooltip player_id='2829810' first='Miles' last='Burnison'] made an aggressive finish near the rim. Just like that, the lead was cut to 3 before Stavros hit another 3-pointer to put Package ahead by six points late. Lockdowns final push cut it to two points with back-to-back triples from [player_tooltip player_id='2398290' first='Jack' last='Levy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2830674' first='Brennan' last='McNamara']. After a miss on the other end, Morakinyo had a chance to win it. But the ball came up short. [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] won the quarterfinal 56-54&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] 15's cruise on semifinal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolves semifinal matchup was the first time I covered them. I missed the games opening stages, but it was Lyons Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2675420' first='Quinn' last='Carroll'] that had the hot hand early with 11 quick points. TNBA got back in it, but [player_tooltip player_id='2879827' first='Nolan' last='Kline'] buried two three's to keep them in front in the early part of the second half. [player_tooltip player_id='2415762' first='Christian' last='Burge'] came off the bench shortly after to extend the lead back to 7 points. Then hit another three to make it a double-digit lead again. A full-team effort on the second half of this game with seven different guys scoring. A key assist from Carroll and some free throws eventually sealed the deal in the semifinal. Leading the way with 19 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] vs [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] Semifinal </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the afternoon attention came from [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] facing [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] in the 17u semifinal. My second time covering [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] this weekend and my third for [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package']. FP looked impressive early led by Giannini and Stavros again. A tight an-one conversion from Giannini allowed for an early double digit advantage. The physical advantage [player_tooltip player_id='2834320' first='Danny' last='Simon'] had earlier this weekend became present in this matchup, too. A half-court heave from [player_tooltip player_id='2125614' first='Dino' last='Giannini'] made it a 13 point lead at halftime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Lockdown, we saw a variety of contributors which include some explosive drives from the Venckus twins and a posterizing dunk from [player_tooltip player_id='3575083' first='Enoch' last='Olukolade']. I was also impressed with the potential Bennet Kammes showed. Athletic build at 6'2" out of Glenbard West who had a strong first step and utilized good vision. Every time they went on a run, [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] answered. Holding on for a 66-57 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->