Wednesday Film Room: J.L. Mann vs Mauldin

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to Wednesday Film Room, a weekly breakdown highlighting five standout performers from a single matchup. Each edition digs into the plays, moments, and statistics that allowed these players to leave their mark. It's a chance to dive into the film and spotlight the efforts that shaped the outcome. This week, we take a look at last week's 5A Region 1 matchup between J.L. Mann and Mauldin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2951000"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6983d68c8144c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2951000' first='Zealand' last='Keyser'] begins the list of standouts from last week's matchup between J.L. Mann and Mauldin. Keyser has established himself as one of the best shooters in the Upstate this season, and Friday's region win was just more evidence to prove it. He went for 19 points on 5-7 3FG, hitting move spot-up and movement threes. Zealand is a guy who his teammates look for in transition if a defense drops too far, but he is also one whom the coaches trust to run actions for in important spots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3472536"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6983d68c814de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Patriots have a couple of intriguing young prospects who have been loudly impacting games already this season. Eli is one of them, and although shooting is what earned him a spot on the roster, he also mixes in lots of other things to help the team. Howard has really good touch on short-range, makes the right pass on the perimeter, helps clean up the glass, and has a high level of confidence for a freshman. He finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists off the bench in the overtime win on an efficient 9-12 shooting with 4 made threes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2887390"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6983d68c81550"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valentine stepped up in overtime with two huge buckets for J.L. Mann to help get the victory. They played from in front because of a baseline reverse lay and a catch-and-shoot three that came from Landon. He is a wiry, athletic guard who can play on or off the ball and still have some gravity. Valentine is excellent at finishing through contact because he doesn't shy away from bigger defenders at the rim. His 18 points stick out on the box score, but his 6 rebounds and 5 assists were just as important to the Patriots in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2564154"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6983d68c815bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Switching over to the Mauldin side of things, their Point Guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2564154' first='Jace' last='Shaw'], was an eye-catcher in a tough loss. He was excellent in transition, pushing the pace with his handle, throwing quick hit-ahead passes to get his teammates going towards the rim, or even taking it and scoring it himself. Shaw is a lefty who finishes really well around bodies with a head of steam or can slow it down and play off two feet in the lane. Jace always provides a great balance of scoring and passing, and on Friday, he totaled 11 points, 6 assists, and 0 turnovers with a ton of minutes played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2356428"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6983d68c81626"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alvarez was one of the other Mauldin Mavs who had a solid performance against J.L. Mann. He really capitalized on the Patriots' lack of a big man, hauling in four offensive rebounds and turning all of them into second-chance points. Smith also showed some impressive things with the ball in his hands outside of the paint, like a desire to run the floor in transition, a 12-foot post fadeaway, tons of one-on-one touches on the wing, and two important free throws late in regulation. Alvarez finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->