Standout Guards from Last Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the top performers I got to watch from last week's district playoff action. Each of these players will be taking the floor in their respective state tournaments later this week and are some of the top players in action at each event. Take a look at some high-performing guards from last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1850299"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Powers is one of the top scoring threats in his class but there is a lot more to his game as he showed last week against O'Dea. The first few plays he made were defensive gems. First, he took a chance to jump a pass on the outside and missed but hustled back to recover and ended up stealing an entry pass to the post as he re-entered the play. A few plays later he picked up his man running the break, quickly got in front near the paint then pulled the chair and forced the ballhandler off balance and into a travel. Then just a bit after that he jumped a pass at the top for a steal and breakaway dunk. Aside from his defense, he also demonstrated some physicality with the ball to create space for shots. He was able to get the edge on defenders several times and drive into their body then step away and have a free look for the shot. It was a great all-around performance for the junior guard who has a chance to lead Beach back to the dome with a win against Stadium this Saturday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1450981"],"_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":"Lee is easily one of the most improved players of this season. If you have any doubts, go back and watch their district championship game against Mount Si last Friday. Lee was scoring from all over the court, confidently launching quick shots in the possession, patiently working his way around the defense and to the hoop and making some high difficulty shots inside. He was draining shots off the catch, off the dribble, behind the arc, and in the midrange, even drawing fouls on two 3-point attempts. Lee has a lot of ways he can get defenders off balance and create space, but also has the touch to hit highly difficult shots when blanketed. He'll be one of the top players entering the tournament as they take on Davis tomorrow evening.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1696693"],"_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":"Simply put, Jones is a creator. He sees gaps and passing lanes so well while moving at high speeds, and has the ability to quickly adjust, change direction, and alter his shots while mid-air to hang and outlast contesting defenders. In a big win against Curtis last week, Jones had a number of great passes and finishes inside, he was pushing the pace with exceptional awareness and anticipation, and when he decided to attack there was little the defense could do to stop him. For those who haven't seen him, it will be an eye-opening experience if Puyallup gets past Jackson and into the Tacoma Dome.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1463084"],"_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":"He had an exceptional all-around performance in a winner-to-state game against Curtis last week. He was steadily putting in buckets, using good footwork off of screens as well as relocating off drives to find space on the perimeter for quick trigger 3s. Sonntag was also a critical piece on the boards, exhibiting the hustle and desire to do the little things to win with your back against the wall. And he was also doing it on the defensive end, anticipating some of Curtis's sets, drawing a big charge at the rim, and competing against some of the better scorers in his league.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1612189"],"_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":"Even though Pullman suffered the loss against Rogers last week, Powaukee showed how impactful he can be in a lot of areas while leading the Greyhounds' attack. He's a much more confident dribbler with bodies around and demonstrates good patience and stop-and-go to weave through defenders inside and find space for shots. He got a lot of buckets to go at the rim but also shot a good amount from the outside while keeping a good percentage from 3. Aside from scoring, he was quick to react to loose balls, made a couple of highlight defensive plays, and overall looked very confident and in control as a primary ballhandler. They'll face off against Enumclaw tomorrow night to see who will travel to the Sun Dome and who will go home.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6851688656"} /-->