Springers Holiday Tournament Standouts (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual Springers Holiday Tournament took place at Highland Springs High School outside of Richmond, featuring eight teams total and six very good teams from VA. I was there for the final day of the event, and saw a lot of under the radar talent to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of the standouts from the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devon Bell | 6'3” F | Manchester 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310856,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Bell-Devon.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Bell-Devon.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310856" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manchester repeated at Springer Holiday champs in a wild double overtime win over Norfolk Collegiate, and Bell was the heart and soul in their championship win doing whatever it took to help them on both ends of the floor. It's cliche to talk about a players high motor and athleticism, but Bell played almost the 40 minutes of the game and never stopped playing hard. He dominated on the glass against bigger players, he stayed in attack mode getting to the rim and making shots in the midrange and he was dominant on the glass and as a defender. He finished with an impressive stat line of 24 points, 14 rebounds and 4 steals in their championship win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kevin Lucas | 5'11” PG | Manchester 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310860,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Lucas-Kevin.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Lucas-Kevin.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310860" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucas is the senior leader of this Manchester team that has looked like one of the top teams in Richmond so far, and while he struggled int he first half with his shot he picked it up in the second half and overtimes and made big plays for his team when they needed him most. He showed his ability to put it on the deck and break down players, he knocked down tough shots from multiple levels, he made plays for others and he stepped up helping the smaller Lancers on the glass. He finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2452157' first='Kharon' last='Scruggs'] | 6'1” CG | Manchester 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310861,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Scruggs-Kharon.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Scruggs-Kharon.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310861" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scruggs didn't put up the gaudy numbers of the other two in their championship win, but he was one of the toughest players in the entire game and did all the dirty work to help his team win. He fought for loose balls throughout the game, he stretched the floor making some shots to help his teammates attack and he guarded bigger players and was excellent in their 1-3-1 often playing underneath and warding off mismatches. He finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quinzell Roane | 6'0” CG | Highland Springs 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310862,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Roane-Quinzell.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Roane-Quinzell.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310862" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roane is part of a deep and talented Springer backcourt that just wore down Glen Allen in their third place win, and he was the one who took over the game in the second half. He was a huge part of their press pushing ball handlers to the double teams and converting in transition, and along with the other speedy guards he got plenty of isolation opportunities and showed his ability to get downhill and finish in traffic. He finished with a game high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field and pitched in 4 rebounds and 2 steals as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Waller | 6'0” PG | Highland Springs 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310863,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Waller-Evan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Waller-Evan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310863" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waller was another senior who stepped up big for the Springers after a slow start, as his leadership and all out style of play helped push them to a big second half. He showed he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win, whether it's defending and jumping passing lanes in the press, rebounding and pushing in transition or taking guys off the bounce and making plays for himself or others. He finished with an impressive 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zeke Birchette | 5'10” PG | Highland Springs 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I say that Springs has a super deep backcourt, I'm not exaggerating as Birchette came off the bench but played big minutes and much like the other two guards used his speed and all out style to make plays regularly. It's hard to guard all three of them and when Birchette got the mismatch he showed his shiftiness and burst to get downhill and get to the line, and he also made plays within the press as well. He finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->