5 Takeaways: In-N-Out Invitational Gold Division Championship Game

<p>I was treated to a thrilling matchup between the Dickinson Gators and Allen Eagles in the championship game of the In-N-Out Burger Allen Holiday Invitational. Dickinson got out to an early 18-3 lead midway through the first quarter and looked like they were going to run away with the game, but Allen came charging back in the second half and even took the lead for a short duration of the fourth quarter. That said, the Gators managed to once again find their rhythm and ultimately shut the door on the Eagles' comeback attempt, winning by a score of 69-66 to capture the championship trophy in the gold division of the tournament. </p> <p>Here are five takeaways from the game:</p> <h4><strong>Dickinson's Big 3 is Legit</strong></h4> <p>The Gators big three of seniors play extremely well in unison. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tramon-mark/"><strong>Tramon Mark</strong></a>, <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marcus-williams/">Marcus Williams</a></strong>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/deuce-guidry/"><strong>Deuce Guidry's</strong></a> individual styles of play complement one another perfectly. Their ability to attack opponents from all three levels is a beautiful sight to behold. Williams and Guidry shoot the three at a very solid clip, while also being able to score inside. They are excellent foils to Mark who is an assassin from mid-range. Allen has a ton of studs on their roster, but this trio gave them issues all game and proved that they need to be respected both individually and as a unit.   </p> <h4><strong>Tramon Mark is a Monster on the Court</strong></h4> <p>Like I said above, Mark is an extremely talented mid-range shooter. That is so refreshing to see during an era of basketball in which so much emphasis has been placed on the three-point shot. He took a ton of really difficult shots from inside the arc and made the majority of them. His ability to hit moving jumpers with hands in his face is so much fun to watch. Mark is also a tremendous athlete who uses his length to get past defenders and to the rim with ease. Furthermore, he is cold-blooded when the game is on the line. The No. 4 ranked player in our <a href="https://prephoops.com/texas/rankings/2020-rankings/">2020 rankings</a> hit a big time floater to extend Dickinson's lead to three that ended up being the difference in the contest.  The Houston commit is a dynamic offensive presence. </p> <h4><strong>Allen Did Not Flinch After Being Punched in the Mouth Early</strong></h4> <p>The Eagles were the favorites entering this game and also had the advantage of playing in their home gym. However, they found themselves in a hole early and fell behind 22-8 after the first quarter. I was fascinated to see how a team that entered the tournament as one of the top-ranked schools in the state would respond to this type of in-game adversity. I was impressed with the way they were able to bounce back in the second half. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/manny-obaseki/"><strong>Manny Obaseki</strong></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryce-kennedy/"><strong>Bryce Kennedy</strong></a> came out firing in the third quarter and showed up at both ends to get Allen back within striking distance of Dickinson. Their comeback efforts may not have been rewarded with a W, but they showed their resiliency and demonstrated that they are never out of a game even when facing a double-digit deficit. </p> <h4><strong>Dickinson Had an Answer for Every Allen Run</strong></h4> <p>After a big first quarter, the Gators allowed the Eagles to chip away at their lead and entered the fourth quarter up by only five points. Allen even took the lead at one point in the final quarter of play. Despite losing momentum at several moments during this matchup, they kept their heads, never panicking and managed to do just enough to come away with the victory and a first-place finish in the tournament. Mark and Williams in particular hit some big-time shots down the stretch. Dickinson also came away with some huge stops as a unit late in the game. This is a team that is going to cause some havoc come playoff time. </p> <h4><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/thailand-elder/">Thailand Elder</a> is Strapped from Distance</strong></h4> <p>Elder is a knock-down three-point shooter who is very effective from the corners, and that is a skill that should translate well at the next level. The senior guard hit numerous triples that kept Allen from falling behind to a point that they would not have been able to recover from. He showed solid off-ball movement and can drill the three ball in both half court settings as well as in transition. The Louisiana Tech commit also displayed that he can help his team turn a good look into a great look by making the extra pass on the perimeter. He is calm under pressure, and although he was unsuccessful, the Eagles looked to him during their last possession to hit a game-tying three. That says a lot about his ability. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>