Scouting Report: Paradise Valley vs. Shadow Mountain (D2 Semifinals)
Overview: The last time these two teams met, the game left a lot to be desired. Many were expecting it to be a great showdown between two rival teams who happen to have two of the better teams in the…
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Continue ReadingOverview: The last time these two teams met, the game left a lot to be desired. Many were expecting it to be a great showdown between two rival teams who happen to have two of the better teams in the state. This game gave the fans what they wanted. In fact, Paradise Valley gave Shadow Mountain more than they wanted. Paradise Valley controlled the game for the vast majority of the contest. They began their lead midway through the first quarter and would not relinquish it until the first possession of the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Paradise Valley, even though they gave a great effort, Shadow Mountain once again demonstrated why they are the best team in the state. They were able to overcome a low percentage shooting and high turnover filled first half to win this one and move on to face Agua Fria in the state championship.
Paradise Valley
Tashon Brown 5’11” PG/SG 2018 – Brown had a limited impact in this game as far as scoring is concerned. He usually does a great job of pushing the basketball in transition; however, Paradise Valley had a clear game plan – slow the game down to limit possessions and pack the paint on defense. Brown did both of these things well.
Dominic Rogiers 6’0″ PG/SG 2016 – For Paradise Valley, one of the key turning points in this game was Rogiers picking up his 4th foul in the 3rd quarter. After he exited the game, Shadow Mountain went on a huge run. Rogiers did not return to the game until about 6 minutes left and Shadow Mountain had already reclaimed the lead. However, Rogiers scored 5 straight to try to keep the game close. This was Rogiers last high school game; however, he is a Division-II/NAIA Division-1 prospect.
Terriq Tshaka 5’9″ PG/SG 2017 – Tshaka played a quite similar to that of Brown. His job was to slow the basketball game down, take care of the basketball, and clog the paint. Tshaka did a fairly good job of that. I have been impressed with his ability to dictate tempo from the point guard slot this season.
CJ VanBeekum 6’5″ SF/PF 2016 – VanBeekum ended up being a huge factor in the success of Paradise Valley this season. His versatility made him one of the biggest assets for any team this season. He has a soft touch around the rim, can hit a jumper on a catch and shoot and on the dribble, he can shoot it from behind the line, and he does an excellent job on the glass. VanBeekum is a Division-II/NAIA Division-I prospect.
Brenden VanDyke 6’5″ SF/PF 2017 – VanDyke did not contribute a great amount in this particular game; however, it will be quite intriguing to see how his role is expanded due to the departure of VanBeekum. He is a skilled prospect, and he should be poised to have a breakout Senior season.
Shadow Mountain
Jovan Blacksher 6’1″ SG 2019 – Blacksher did not play a huge role in this game. With that said, the talented prospect has a bright future at Shadow Mountain. It will be fun to see how he grows as a player for the next four years.
MIchael Bibby 6’3″ PG 2016 – Bibby either scored or assisted on every bucket that Shadow Mountain had in the first quarter.This was much needed as Shadow had a difficult time generating any offense with the paint packed and Rhymes in foul trouble. Bibby did not play as well as he is capable, he had 8 turnovers; however, he still made a huge impact in this game as he was the leading scorer, and he had 10 rebounds.
Bryce Fisher 6’2″ PG/SG 2016 – Fisher did not score in this one and played limited minutes. He is a talented prospect, but he has had a difficult time showing what he is capable of due in large part to the great amount of talented possessed by other members of this team.
Harrison Hillard 6’7″ C 2016 – Shadow Mountain is largely dominated by strong guard play; thus Hillard does not always get a tremendous amount of touches. However, he usually impacts the game due to his ability to clean up the glass. He continued that trend with 6 rebounds in this one.
Isaiah Jones 6’8″ C 2016 – Jones did not get into the game in this close game. However, he is a good prospect and his minutes are more so a reflection of the talent of this team rather than his inabilities.
Jaelen House 6’1″ PG 2019 – House hit some big free throws down the stretch in order to help Shadow Mountain maintain their lead. House’s basketball IQ on the defensive end has really impressed me in the games that I have seen. He finds a way to get into the right gaps and get a lot of steals. In this game, he walked away with 4 in a hard-fought contest.
Jordan Pace 6’3″ SF 2017 – Pace was not as productive as he is capable of being. He only managed 2 points, but he did manage to contribute 3 rebounds. I do not think his lack of production is a reflection of his abilities as much as it was a reflection of a good game plan from Paradise Valley and a lack of rhythm from Shadow Mountain as a whole.
Darien Spottsvile 6’3″ SF 2017 – Spottsville was without question the most important player in this game. He crashed the glass relentlessly, was one of the few players who was able to get through the clogged paint, and he played solid defense for Shadow Mountain. It was a sneak peak into what Shadow Mountain will look like next year when Spottsville will be relied upon to play a premier role for this team.
JJ Rhymes 6’5″ SG/SF 2016 – Rhymes was unable to get going in the first quarter. Unfortunately, it did not get to play much in the second quarter. He only had two points in the first half; however, he came out with a lot of energy in the second half which helped spark Shadow Mountain’s run. Rhymes is one of my favorite prospects in this state due to his physical style of play. He is a lockdown defender who is capable of guarding 1-5, he is a beast on the glass, and he gets to the paint at will.