Ten Best: McCutcheon at Kokomo
Game Recap: McCutcheon at Kokomo [Sectional Semi-Final] Final Score: McCutcheon 78 – Kokomo 56 This game appeared to be over as soon as Eddy Collins came out and hit back to back triples with defense all over him to start…
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Continue ReadingGame Recap: McCutcheon at Kokomo [Sectional Semi-Final]
Final Score: McCutcheon 78 – Kokomo 56
This game appeared to be over as soon as Eddy Collins came out and hit back to back triples with defense all over him to start the game. McCutcheon completely controlled this game from the starting tip and had seven steals at the end of the first quarter. They took a 16-8 lead into the second quarter. Phinisee took over in the second quarter and was putting together a performance that almost pushed to a triple double. McCutcheon had a 36-17 lead going into the half after outscoring Kokomo 20-9 in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, it was a lot of the same. McCutcheon’s zone frustrated the Kokomo guards who couldn’t seem to find any openings. McCutcheon began extending their defense to three-quarters of the court to run Kokomo out of the gym. Kokomo trailed 53-27 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter played out a little differently as Barnard and Sparling started hoisting up shots from deep. McCutcheon took out their starters mid-way through the quarter. Both teams were in the double-bonus for the entire fourth quarter which extended the game beyond the time it should have taken. McCutcheon finished this one off 78-56. McCutcheon will play Zionsville tonight in the Sectional Championship.
MVP: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Complete dominance by Phinisee last night. He controlled the flow of the game, was disruptive on the defensive end, rebounded at a high rate, and finished around the basket well. Robert finished with 24 points (7-11 2FG, 0-2 3FG, and 10-15 FT), a game high 10 rebounds (9 defensive and 1 offensive), a game high 7 assists, a game high 6 steals, and a game-tying high 2 blocks. He was playing at a different level than anyone on the court last night and he lead McCutcheon to a big win in pursuit of repeating as Sectional Champions.
Best Offensive Performance: Eddy Collins (McCutcheon)
Although he wasn’t the high point man on the night, Collins was great from the floor. He started off doing Eddy Collins things by pulling deep threes and hitting unbelievably tough shots. He finished with 15 points (1-2 2FG, 3-5 3FG, and 4-4 FT), 2 defensive rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 assist. This is the Eddy Collins that McCutcheon needs in the postseason to make another run at the State Title. He wasn’t forcing shots and let the game come to him. He did seem to be less aggressive after the first few minutes of the game but nonetheless, turned in a good performance.
Best Defensive Performance: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Phinisee did it all but he was most impactful on the defensive end. He led the game with steals, 6, and blocked 2 shots at the rim. He bothered the guards from Kokomo all night long with his athleticism and ability to read tendencies. Robert also pitched in on the boards last night with 9 defensive rebounds. This was a level of play that Phinisee always seems to bring into the postseason. He is the leader of the McCutcheon zone and he jumps passing lanes with the best of them.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Anthony Barnard (Kokomo)
In a slow game for Kokomo, Barnard was one of the bright spots. He didn’t have much of an effect on the game until the second half but he played extremely well during that stretch. Anthony finished with a game high 25 points (4-6 2FG, 5-6 3FG, and 2-4 FT), 6 rebounds (3 defensive and 3 offensive), and 2 assists. He was more active finding the openings in the second half and shot the ball at a high rate. He was the bright spot in a season ending game for Kokomo but still has time to continue improving. A kid to keep an eye on in the future.
Best Player Off-The-Bench: Rowen Farrell (McCutcheon)
Farrell has been seeing increased time off-the-bench this season and has been making the most of it. With Smeltz out last night, Farrell was the first one off-the-bench and was very productive with his minutes. He finished with 13 points (4-5 3FG and 1-3 FT), 2 defensive rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 assist. The freshman adds another shooter to this McCutcheon roster and is the beneficiary of Phinisee creating openings for people to get open shots.
Best Passer: Trajan Deckard (Kokomo)
Trajan Deckard was one of the guards for Kokomo that was able to get into the gaps and find open teammates last night. He came off-the-bench but was aggressive on the reversal getting into the lane. Deckard finished with 2 points (0-2 2FG and 2-2 FT), 3 defensive rebounds, and a team high 6 assists. The freshman looked the most comfortable handling the ball against the McCutcheon defense and was able to get it to Barnard and Sparling in the second half.
Best Intangibles: Haden Deaton (McCutcheon)
Deaton was not his typical self last night on the offensive end of the floor. Although he wasn’t involved in the scoring column, he found other ways to impact the game. His resiliency when it comes to having a bad game is what makes him a special piece for McCutcheon. Deaton finished with 7 points (1-3 2FG 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds (4 defensive and 1 offensive), and 3 steals. His energy and leadership were his best attributes last night.
Best Rebounder: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Phinisee up at the rim chasing after every single rebound last night. As a point guard, he is one of the best rebounders in the state for the position. He showed off his athleticism and great hands grabbing every board in the first quarter. Phinisee finished with a game high 10 rebounds (9 defensive and 1 offensive). He also had a finish above the rim on a steal and fast break bucket.
Best Underclassmen: Rowen Farrell (McCutcheon)
Farrell was one of the few underclassmen that got significant minutes for either team last night and he was hot from deep. He has improved his footwork and ability to get his shot of quicker this year. Standing at 6’2”, he stills seems to be growing into this body as a freshman. He will be a big time player in the coming years as McCutcheon is graduating a lot of their offense this year. Keep an eye on Farrell in the coming years.
Biggest Takeaway: McCutcheon’s Zone
McCutcheon’s zone frustrated Kokomo and threw off their offense from the beginning tip. Kokomo never looked comfortable and finished with 25+ turnovers on the night. Most of these were live ball turnovers that put McCutcheon at the basket in the open court. McCutcheon made this one look easy and they are playing at a high level right now as a team. Zionsville knocked off a tough Logansport team last night so the Sectional Championship Game will be a good matchup.