P.E.P. Sunday Recap: Top Players and Game Highlights

The Sunday afternoon trip to Hope Academy Fieldhouse provided a chance to get an early look at several teams preparing for the upcoming high school basketball season. With plenty of talented players sharing the floor, the P.E.P. Sunday Fall League featured competitive matchups, individual shot-making, athletic finishes and several players making their presence felt on both ends of the floor.   Here is a look at some of the action and standout performances from Sunday's games in Part 2 of our Sunday Recap!   St. Ignatius Defeats Whitney Young   Two Chicago programs got after it in a high-tempo matchup as St. Ignatius and Whitney Young immediately looked to push the pace. Both teams played with an attacking mentality, getting into transition and looking to win the game with shot-making.   [player_tooltip player_id='2531962' first='Amir' last='Tucker'] — St. Ignatius   [player_tooltip player_id='2531962' first='Amir' last='Tucker'] came out with plenty of motivation and helped set the tone for St. Ignatius. He and his teammates found success from behind the arc while keeping pressure on Whitney Young's defense. Tucker saved one of his best plays for the finish, throwing down an emphatic two-handed slam to put the finishing touches on the victory. His combination of perimeter scoring and athleticism gave the Dolphins another dynamic piece on the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='2433752' first='Walker' last='Ross'] — St. Ignatius   Ross was nearly automatic from the perimeter. The junior guard showed the ability to knock down shots in a variety of situations, including with a defender closing, off the move and while spacing the floor. His shooting forced Whitney Young's defense to extend beyond the arc and created additional room for the St. Ignatius attack. Ross' shot-making was a major part of the Dolphins' offensive success.   [player_tooltip player_id='2194657' first='Josiah' last='Hall'] — St. Ignatius   Hall provided an interior presence for St. Ignatius. He did the dirty work around the basket and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, turning a couple of missed shots into easy putbacks. His activity around the rim gave the Dolphins an important interior complement to their perimeter shooting.   Whitney Young   [player_tooltip player_id='2886496' first='TJ' last='Jamison'] opened the game by trading three-pointers and helped keep Whitney Young within striking distance early. Jamison and [player_tooltip player_id='2532358' first='Zaire' last='Green'] served as the primary scoring catalysts for the Dolphins, but St. Ignatius eventually created separation and turned the game into a runaway victory.   Marist Defeats Perspectives MSA in Triple Overtime   The most competitive game of the afternoon came between Marist and Perspectives MSA, with the RedHawks eventually surviving a thrilling triple-overtime battle.   Marist got off to a slow start and turned to its younger players to provide a spark. [player_tooltip player_id='2906394' first='DJ' last='Moore'] knocked down a three-pointer before [player_tooltip player_id='2940657' first='Deuce' last='Johnson'] followed with a layup, helping Marist establish an early advantage.   [player_tooltip player_id='2125658' first='Kendall' last='Meyers'] — Marist   Meyers was a major reason Marist was able to maintain its lead for much of the contest. Meyers showcased his versatility with a smooth spin move that resulted in a layup before later attacking from nearly half court and flipping the ball over the outstretched hands of defenders for another finish. His ability to create offense in space and attack the rim gave Marist a reliable scoring option.   [player_tooltip player_id='2125591' first='Caden' last='Crudup'] — Marist   Crudup provided a physical presence in the frontcourt, particularly on the glass. His rebounding helped Marist win extra possessions and gave the RedHawks an additional presence around the basket.   [player_tooltip player_id='3702374' first='Robert' last='Smith Jr'] — Marist   Smith Jr. was one of those players who consistently made winning plays that don't always show up in the box score. The freshman communicated on the floor, helped put teammates in the right positions and displayed an advanced understanding of the game for his age. His length and passing ability also made him a dual threat with the ball in his hands. Those subtle contributions helped Marist maintain its rhythm during stretches when the game became increasingly physical.   The defending state champions appeared to have control until Perspectives MSA turned up the defensive pressure.   [player_tooltip player_id='2429933' first='Jonathan' last='Costello'] — Perspectives MSA   At 6-foot-4, [player_tooltip player_id='2429933' first='Jonathan' last='Costello'] provided versatility on both ends of the floor. Costello helped initiate the offense and consistently made good decisions with the ball, particularly as a passer. Defensively, he showed impressive activity with multiple blocks while also helping on the glass. His ability to impact the game in several areas became increasingly important as Perspectives MSA battled its way back.   Romel Lynch — Perspectives MSA   Lynch helped change the complexion of the game with his hustle and defensive pressure. The 5-foot-9 guard was a pesky defender who constantly applied ball pressure and disrupted Marist's offensive flow. His energy helped Perspectives MSA chip away at the deficit and eventually turn the game into a possession-by-possession battle.   [player_tooltip player_id='2442036' first='Jaydn' last='Reid'] — Perspectives MSA   [player_tooltip player_id='2442036' first='Jaydn' last='Reid'] brought an athletic, high-energy presence to the Wolves. Reid made several key plays down the stretch, helping Perspectives MSA complete its comeback and send the game into overtime. His activity and ability to make plays in pressure moments were crucial as the Wolves continued to battle.   [player_tooltip player_id='2411521' first='J'vion' last='Tilly'] — Perspectives MSA   Tilly provided some much-needed muscle inside for Perspectives MSA. His physicality gave the Wolves a presence in the frontcourt as they battled Marist on the glass and competed through the multiple overtime periods.   Perspectives MSA deserves plenty of credit for the effort, especially considering the Wolves were without three key players. Despite the missing pieces, they continued to compete, increased the defensive pressure and pushed the defending state champions all the way to a third overtime.   Final Takeaway   Sunday's action at Hope Academy Fieldhouse provided a solid early look at several Illinois programs preparing for the upcoming season. From high-level shot-making and explosive transition plays to physical defense and triple-overtime drama, there was plenty of competitive basketball throughout the afternoon. The fall league setting also offered an opportunity to see young players step into expanded roles while established players continued to sharpen their games before the regular season.

The Sunday afternoon trip to Hope Academy Fieldhouse provided a chance to get an early look at several teams preparing for the upcoming high school basketball season. With plenty of talented players sharing the floor, the P.E.P. Sunday Fall League featured competitive matchups, individual shot-making, athletic finishes and several players making their presence felt on both ends of the floor.

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P.E.P. Sunday Recap: Top Players and Game Highlights

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