10 Best: Hancock vs. Valley Park
On Friday night, I ventured to the South Side of St. Louis to take in a battle between two up and coming small schools as Hancock host Valley Park. Both teams entered the contest with identical 10-3 records. There are…
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Continue ReadingOn Friday night, I ventured to the South Side of St. Louis to take in a battle between two up and coming small schools as Hancock host Valley Park. Both teams entered the contest with identical 10-3 records. There are some impressive young players on both teams that are flying under the radar and they put on a good showing. Host Hancock pretty much led from the outset and did a nice job of beating back each rally that Valley Park put up to post a 77-68 victory. The two teams will most likely meet again twice with another league contest in February and a probable meeting in the district semifinals in March.
Now, a look at the best from Hancock vs. Valley Park
MVP: Jamel Warren (Hancock)- The 6’4″ 2018 forward scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Hancock to the victory. Warren got the Tigers off to a good start with six early points and kept it up throughout the game. He finished with 16 points in the first half and continued to dominate the game with low-post scoring and buckets off the drive.
Best Offensive Player: Jamel Warren (Hancock): Warren was very impressive as he displayed his overall skill set as the game wore on. He did much of his scoring in the paint in the first half. In the second half, he displayed a nice mid-range jumper off the catch and he also knocked down a 3-pointer. Warren also got buckets on twisting drives to the basket and did an excellent job of using the backboard to finish. It was indeed his night.
Best Young Prospect (2019, 2020): Sam Richardson (Hancock) and Jeramy Shaw (Valley Park) – Very impressed with both of these young prospects. Richardson is a long 6’4″ 2020 wing player and Shaw is an athletic 6’3 2019 combo guard. On this night, Richardson gets the nod with his 17-point performance and excellent job on the defensive end. He was active and a very good player in the open court. Shaw is athletic and dynamic who had an off-night with eight points, but his talent and upside are huge. Both are very talented.
Best Bench Player: Lamont Rogers (Valley Park) – The 6’4″ 2018 forward came off the bench and was Valley Park’s best player with a team-high 22 points and nine rebounds. He came into the game and jump-started the Hawks, who came out of the gate slow. The athletic lefty plays with a high motor and was very active around the basket with his scoring and rebounding.
Play of the Game: Jeramy Shaw (Valley Park) – With the Hawks trailing 46-40 in the third quarter, Shaw made two consecutive plays that were indicative of his talent. He got the ball in the open court, made a behind the back dribble to escape a defender and rose for a two-handed slam dunk. He then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and converted a layup to cut the lead to 46-44 to force Hancock to call a time out. It was a spectacular sequence.
Best Passer: Jeramy Shaw (Valley Park) – What Shaw did on a consistent basis was pass the ball really well. He did a nice job of dropping dimes all over the court to open teammates, especially in transition where he operated the best.
Best Unsung Player: Siah Moultrie (Hancock) – The 6’3″ sophomore forward had a quiet, yet very effective game for the Tigers as he scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He was very good around the basket as he finished well and did his job on the boards.
Best Defensive Player: Sam Richardson (Hancock) – Not only is Richardson 6’4″ and long and athletic, but he displayed some excellent defensive instincts for such a young player. He finished the game with three steals and four blocked shots. He was very active which enabled him to make several defensive plays.