Five Takeaways: Poly vs Reservoir (3A State Championship)
This afternoon, Poly made history by becoming the first team to three-peat at Class 3A state champions as they took down Reservoir 69-41. Here are five takeaways from the game: Poly assures its dominance From the beginning…
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Continue ReadingThis afternoon, Poly made history by becoming the first team to three-peat at Class 3A state champions as they took down Reservoir 69-41.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Poly assures its dominance
From the beginning of the season, Poly has had a target on its back considering they’ve won the last two Class 3A state championships. Today’s dominant performance once again confirms how much of a powerhouse they are not only in their class, but the entire state. They set the tone early defensively as their guards applied tremendous ball pressure and their frontcourt protected the rim as if it was gold. It took Reservoir the first five minutes to see a shot go in.
Brandon Murray feeds off strong start
Murray led the Engineers with 17 points and nine rebounds. The 6-foot-5 wing got going early after hitting his first three and proceeded by attacking the basket and scoring off of cuts without the ball. Throughout the game, Murray used his strong frame to finish around the rim and grab rebounds. His elite athleticism was displayed when Reservoir players would attempt shots around the rim as he would block shots into the ground as if he was playing volleyball.
Odunowo with a respectable performance
With his team falling down big early, it could’ve been easy to just pack it in, but Josh Odunowo is a work horse that doesn’t know how to take plays off. At 6-foot-5, he was Reservoir’s biggest player to battle with Poly’s handful of players who stand his height and above. Often times, Odunowo would catch it on the block and force Poly’s bigs to leave their feet after a power dribble and a strong attempt. He finished a few and drew fouls in other instances. After recording a double-double in the final four game, Odunowo finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Ali controls the game. Rinse, repeat
It’s becoming routine to see junior point guard Rahim Ali come out, control a game and lead Poly to win after win. The 5-foot-11 floor general tallied 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and stole the ball four times. His stat line is a good indication of just how involed Ali was throughout. In his three seasons, Ali has three state titles. You aren’t going to find many more seasoned point guards that play the position like he can.
Poly rules the paint
The Engineers set the tone early that they wouldn’t allow Reservoir to establish any scoring in the paint. The box score read seven total blocks for Poly as a team, but junior forward Justin Lewis blocked five himself. Poly also ruled the interior offensively. They outscored the Gators in the paint 34-14. Whether it was guards slashing to the basket, the bigs operating on the block or wings finishing dunks, Reservoir simply had no answer.