Big Game, Big Performers: Guards (Part One)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of these players are on teams still jockeying for playoff position, while others are already in the thick of the playoff race and seeding games for districts. Check out some guards who have risen to the occasion when their teams need them most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2375345' first='Thomas' last='Moles']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Shorewood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Moles is a tough lefty guard who had a heck of a game against Arlington on Monday. It was a tight game all the way through and that was in large part because of Moles' tough play on the offensive end. He proved to be a very effective slasher, getting to the hoop with speed or breaking down and using pump fakes and pivots to work through multiple defenders. There was a big moment at the end of the third when [player_tooltip player_id='1451025' first='Leyton' last='Martin'] got fouled on a 3PT attempt with a little more than one second remaining. He sunk all three freebies and then on the inbounds Moles was able to do the same thing on the other end, drawing a foul on a deep 3PT shot. He matched Martin's free throws and stole back some momentum for his team. He was solid at the line all night and showed a lot of guts for a freshman.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1451025"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The aforementioned Martin put in another excellent game against Shorewood Monday night. He started out showcasing some pinpoint passes to the post over the top of the defense and continued to dime guys up throughout the game. He worked a lot off of left-hand drives and was able to go to a hooking left-hand pass time and again when the defense closed in on him, finding open teammates by the hoop. He not only drew a crucial foul near the end of the third to earn three shots at the line, but also closed out the first half with a contested deep 3 at the buzzer. In the second half he was able to get a lot going to the rim and showed some acrobatic finishing to sweep the ball around outstretched hands. Martin also showed some high IQ finishes, shooting off different footing at the rim and several times getting shots up quick at the rim to counter potential shot blockers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2156617"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"O'Dea and Garfield were locked in a back-and-forth game on Tuesday night, but Shannon was able to make some gritty plays and was a big factor in the Metro League battle. He's always a tenacious defender but added some important offensive possessions, working inside and out. He converted a tough layup while getting fouled with under 30 seconds in the game to give O'Dea the one-point lead. Although he couldn't convert the and-one at the line, he would come up big with two seconds on the clock, sinking two free throws to give his team the lead and the much-needed win.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2140855"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Wiggins was a key guy in Bellarmine's near upset over Olympia in the opening round of the 4A SPSL tournament on Tuesday night. He's a high-level defender but it was his offense that really got going against Olympia. He showed off some impressive 3PT shooting on the night, hitting key shots from downtown throughout the game. He hit one at end of the first quarter, hit another in the second, and then drilled another 3 from the corner to make it a one-point game late in overtime. He was hitting just about every open shot he got but also played a key role in getting his brother going down low, making a few well-placed entry passes to let [player_tooltip player_id='1612190' first='Dylan' last='Wiggins'] go up and bury shots inside.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1485657"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Dawson has been playing well the last couple of games and kept up his hot play off the bench against Rainier Beach on Tuesday night. He's attacking the hoop with force, using a great jab on the perimeter to open up driving lanes, and has been getting to two feet near the hoop to deal with contact or shift around shot blockers. He also hit a couple of 3s in the loss against Rainier Beach and should be a key player for Eastside Catholic as they enter the postseason.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1450500"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Harris brought big energy out of the gates against O'Dea, skying for rebounds, getting a big block at the rim, and showing some great moves on the perimeter to ole' defenders and burst to the hoop. He had two big plays toward the end, hustling down for a two-handed oop on the break and also putting a quick spin move on a defender from the top then driving down the middle of the lane for a layup to take the lead late in the game.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2153079"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Bowden was one of the leading guys in a big game against fellow top-3 team in the NPSL 3A, Todd Beamer. He's been a steady scorer for the Lions all season and continued to step up against Beamer with some tough buckets inside. It was a really ugly game that had more fouls than points in the opening quarter, but once things settled down Bowden got to work in the paint with tough buckets and boards to propel them to the win in the second half. He's got some quick bounce and showed his strength with a lot of contested buckets and rebounds in traffic.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1451031"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Bellarmine has been playing well of late, taking both Puyallup and Olympia to the brink but coming up just short in both games. They looked strong in the first half against Rogers taking a 28-17 lead into half, but then Weatherspoon got going. He did a great job drawing fouls at the rim and converting at the line, including two and-one's with some extraordinary finishes. He's a super quick player who was able to create separation on the outside and get to the rim most of the game. He also came up with a couple of huge plays on the defensive end getting two steals with under 30 seconds left in the game, getting to the rim and drawing fouls. He sank four free throws off those two steals that put the game on ice and helped Rogers move on to the next round.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65bc18613cdc2"} /-->