Ball Night in De La Warr: Tournament Preview

The brackets are set and the tournament is finally here. So DeVaughn and and linked up to share how we think things will go. Check it out!   1. Which team was playing the best basketball at the end of the regular season?   DV: Sallies   It's looking like the spirit of 2015 Donte DiVincenzo has heard the prayers of Sallies. After a brutal first half of the season, a 1-9 start with tough out of state games and in state losses to St. Andrew's and William Penn, they've been 7-3 since with some huge wins over some of the 302's best.The first game of this stretch was against a young but gritty Middletown squad. Middletown was in control for about 90% of the game, but Sallies hung around. Being down ten in the fourth quarter, [player_tooltip player_id='2352451' first='Latrell' last='Wright'] put together the best quarter of his career scoring 18 of his game 27 points in the fourth quarter. Down one with 8.3 seconds left, Wright drives the full length of court and make an up and under layup with 1.1 seconds to give Sallies a 69-68 win. GAME OF THE YEAR! A few days later, they get smack by St. Elizabeth's 70-31. After that there game log went like this:   at Smyrna W 52-45   vs. Sanford W 45-41 F/OT (Ugly game!)   at Howard L 52-59   vs. Saint Mark's W 67-60   at Odessa W 58-53   at Tower Hill W 69-51   vs. St. George's W F/2OT   at Dover L 39-43   This turn around has come as a result of many players taking their game to another level. After missing some games at the beginning of the season, [player_tooltip player_id='2352454' first='Kevin' last='Coleman'] has emerged as one of if not the best wing defender in the state during this stretch.[player_tooltip player_id='2352451' first='Latrell' last='Wright'] has steered the ship while not being 100%. He's been able to make plays for himself and others while also being a reliable floor spacer. Plus when games are on the line, he's delivered time and time again to help them etch out wins. [player_tooltip player_id='2352339' first='RJ' last='Johnson'], who was in player of the year conservations in the pre season, has played himself back into the 1st or 2nd team all state conversation. He looks to be in basketball shape now and he's been beasting down low. He scored 24 points in their road win at Odessa and had a senior night performance for the ages scoring 30 points in a double-overtime thriller against his former school St. George's. He is a mismatch nightmare going into the tournament!   CG: Dover   The Senators don't hiss or rattle with a vibrant offense. They just wear teams down and squeeze the life out of them like a boa constrictor. Coach Wilson has depth and isn't afraid to use it; so guys are fresh. [player_tooltip player_id='2352457' first='JayVion' last='Denis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2352453' first='Chase' last='Little'] are their starting wings, but [player_tooltip player_id='2375232' first='Kareem' last='King'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2375181' first='Shadrach' last='Mansaray'] come off the bench and provide the same level of production. Same goes for their forwards: [player_tooltip player_id='2352455' first='Tarrance' last='Williams'], Tai'shaun Allen, and [player_tooltip player_id='2352344' first='Istavan' last='Norwood']. Their guards are interchangeable as well. This also gives them lineup versatility and the ability to throw different looks at opponents.   The Senators' offense is fueled by their defense. They thrive in transition, where their athletes can get loose. Little, Denis, Norwood, and King all have their fair share of highlight dunks. Their halfcourt offense is marked by their ability to get production from anywhere. They don't have a go-to guy who can/will drop 30. But with great ball movement, a few cuts here, some shotmaking there, and their fastbreak offense, they'll have 3-4 guys with 10-15 points. And again Dover is guaranteed to weaponize their depth. So, from one game to the next, there's no telling who will have the hot hand on any given day.   2. As of right now, who is your Player of the Year and why?   DV: [player_tooltip player_id='2352336' first='Jayden' last='Taylor']   I believe it's safe to say that [player_tooltip player_id='2352336' first='Jayden' last='Taylor']'s two-way impact is the main reason Sanford sees themselves at the top of the state yet again. The University of Delaware signee is the heart and sole of Sanford who many will argue have been the best team in the state all year. This season, Taylor is averaging 13.4ppg, 10.8rpg, 2.6bpg, and 1.6spg. He's also come through with some big game performances this season:   vs. Friends Central (PA): 17pts 10reb 5ast   vs. Boys Latin (MD): 20pts 22reb 3blks   at Dover: 16pts 18reb 4blks   at Howard: 21pts 16reb 7blks 4stls   No one would say the 6'8” forward is the most skilled player in Delaware, but his impact on winning is probably second to none this season. And that is why he is my choice for player of the year.   CG: [player_tooltip player_id='2352336' first='Jayden' last='Taylor']   While the Warriors don't have a pristine resume, JT has been the most consistent player on one of the state's best teams. And even though he's not the offensive juggernaut that many want him to be, the skillset he does have shouldn't be taken lightly. When he doesn't put up big numbers, it's almost always because defenses load up to prevent him from rim-running. But that in turn creates avenues for his teammates to score. Defensively, Taylor is a problem at the rim that no one has been able to solve. He takes pride in being a shot-blocker and rebounder. So he's my Player of the Year, because what he does on that end alone is more devastating than what anyone else in the state does on offense.   3. What's a theme you'll be watching for throughout the tournament?   DV: Who can make a jump shot?   Shooting is a key fundamental too the game of basketball. In the state of Delaware this year, you won't see too many teams lighting it up from the perimeter. As a matter of fact, the three teams who have consistently hit jump shots on a night to night basis this year are St. Elizabeth's, Conrad, and Sussex Central. That's not to say that most teams don't have one or two guys that can shoot, but a roster of four or players that consistently shoot well is lacking. Basketball is a make or miss sport and the fate of a teams season will more than likely come down to that.   CG: Lead Guard Play   With Delaware having a true state championship, the tournament forces teams to win at least four games in some raucous environments. So no matter how offensively or defensively tilted a team is, they need a lead guard to steady the ship. That person doesn't have to be a pure point guard who facilitates for everyone else. But everyone needs someone who they can play through and handle ball pressure on offense. Teams need someone to be the tip of the spear at the defensive point of attack, as well. This doesn't have to be an exceptional individual: with the right mix, it can be a by-committee approach. And in special cases, that person can be a wing or forward.   4. Which 1st round matchup intrigues you the most?   DV: #21 Sussex Central at #12 Smyrna   Every year there always seems to be a Henlopen rivalry match in the first round, and this year is no different. Smyrna and Sussex Central have split their season series 1-1 with two close games (Central winning 59-53 on December 17 and Smyrna winning 59-56 on January 24). I expect this to be another close hard fought game. Smyrna has maybe the most underrated trio in Delaware with [player_tooltip player_id='2573852' first='Chase' last='Sullivan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375188' first='Logan' last='Shaw'] and Marice Kilgoe. All three can get a bucket at three levels which makes them a nightmare to try to stop. Sussex Central is the “analytics basketball” team in the state with their healthy diet of threes and Layups they get. Both teams are coming off of impressive final game performances. Smyrna knocked off a #4 St. George's in a 56-53 win. Sussex Central lost to #1 Dover, but there were points in the game where their offense really flourished and they were in control of the game. Not many teams can say they've done that against the best defensive team in the state. My prediction is Sussex Central pulls off the road victory by knocking down more threes and getting shots at the rim. It's going to great game! The winner plays #5 Conrad in the second round.   CG: #19 Wilmington Friends at #14 Cape Henlopen   This matchup is more balanced than people might think. The Vikings are tough to defend when they play through their slashing wings, [player_tooltip player_id='2746830' first='Damian' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2364685' first='Jameson' last='Tingle']. They also have forward [player_tooltip player_id='2375193' first='Braxton' last='Figgs'] down low and [player_tooltip player_id='2698355' first='Stephen' last='Sivels'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2371044' first='Geordan' last='Downing'] in the backcourt. But the Quakers have some size of their own in [player_tooltip player_id='2613170' first='Ryan' last='Tattersall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2613087' first='Conner' last='Brennan'], who can stretch the floor. So when you factor in the firepower that guards [player_tooltip player_id='2746819' first='Joseph' last='Winchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2703278' first='Bryce' last='Jackson'] have, Friends has the potential to play five out. Neither team gets up and down like that or has a ton of depth. Therefore, the pace likely won't be so high that either team has a chance to pull away. Cape is the favorite at-home, but Friends has a puncher's chance too.   5. Who do you predict to win it all?   DV: Dover   After watching Dover at Philly Live over the summer, I picked them to win the state championship for 2025. I'm also not one who likes to waiver from my pre season picks so I am going to stick with them. Dover is the defending state champions with a lot of returning pieces from last year's squad. And yes losing two first team all-state guys, Dorell Little (Florida Memorial University) and Denim Perkins (Wilmington University), is a big deal, but they still have the size and athleticism to beat anyone in the state. Dover is the best defensive team in the state. No other team can put out a five man lineup of guys between 6'1”-6'5” that can guard multiple positions the way that they do. My only concern with them is that they don't have the on ball creation that Little and Perkins were able to provide last year, but [player_tooltip player_id='2352457' first='JayVion' last='Denis'] is one of state's best spot up shooters who has had plenty of big game moments already in his first three years. If defense wins championships is a mantra that you believe in, Dover is a safe bet.   CG: Sanford   I'm rolling with the battle-tested Warriors to win it all for three main reasons. First, they have their defensive anchor, [player_tooltip player_id='2352336' first='Jayden' last='Taylor']. Between the UAA circuit and his four years of varsity experience, he's seen a lot. Second, they have a collection of players who have defined roles, but everyone defends. [player_tooltip player_id='2352347' first='Khareem' last='Hart'], [player_tooltip player_id='2352509' first='Nico' last='McNeil'], [player_tooltip player_id='2551782' first='Pharaoh' last='McNeil'], [player_tooltip player_id='2352450' first='Trevor' last='Webster'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2384373' first='DJ' last='Jones'] can all space the floor, move the ball, and rebound for their size. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2607491' first='Jacob' last='Allen'] even came off the bench versus St. Elizabeth and fit right in. So Coach Hart doesn't have to worry about anyone playing hero ball. Finally, [player_tooltip player_id='2364703' first='A'zir' last='Ellegood'] is their primary initiator. He can tilt the defense off the bounce to create advantages for others, without feeling the need to force shots. But he can get his own from beyond the arc as needed. And he can do all of that while setting the edge on defense.   Because they are guard and forward heavy (no wings) and aren't overly athletic on the perimeter, it's going to be imperative that they stay aggressive off-the-catch and don't pass up open shots. Sanford doesn't have multiple players who can create for themselves. Trying to do so can kill their momentum. The ball needs to flow on offense in order for them to hit shots and apply maximum pressure on defense. Overall, I think the Warriors have the right mix to win it all this year.

The brackets are set and the tournament is finally here. So DeVaughn and and linked up to share how we think things will go. Check it out!