MLK Showcase at Corban University: Five Takeaways
Yesterday, top ranked 3A teams in the State joined together and duked it out at the MLK Showcase at Corban University. In the first game, Butte Falls HS took down Regis HS in what was a 2A match-up. Devon Malcolm…
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Continue ReadingYesterday, top ranked 3A teams in the State joined together and duked it out at the MLK Showcase at Corban University. In the first game, Butte Falls HS took down Regis HS in what was a 2A match-up. Devon Malcolm was the surprise of the early game, as he came in with authority on offensive and defensive ends, with absolute hammers and stops at the rim. Next came the battle between Salem Academy and Cascade Christian in what was an exciting battle until the end, with Cascade Christian taking the game in the last seconds. Layne Collom for Cascade Christian put on an offensive show, as he was the epitome that scoring shouldn’t be flashy as much as it should be effective. Bennett Bos for Salem Academy also contributed at a high level, scoring the ball in what seemed like a hurry every time. The big match-up of the afternoon was between Santiam Christian and Amity, as it was the battle of the big men. Amity prevailed with the late game heroics of Josh Wart, as he battled down low against the likes of Koby Williamson and Josh MaQatish. Ben Galceron was the floor general for Santiam, running around the court to try to help the Eagles’ causes, assisting and scoring effectively. However, Wart’s efforts on the court were too much for the Eagles at the end. Here are five takeaways from yesterday’s games at Corban.
Butte Fall’s Devon Malcolm is one of the State’s best kept secrets.
He is a raw, dynamic athletic with a lot of upside….and only a sophomore. Despite it being an early scheduled game and not much of a crowd in the building, Devon made sure to leave an impact on those watching. He entertained those in attendance with a myriad of powerful dunks and defensive stops at the rim. Malcolm is a fun athlete to watch, as he has a high motor and plays tough every possession. He is still raw as a basketball player, but with time comes development. He finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. “I’m a little undersized for a big man, so they don’t expect me to be tough down low. When I get down low, I surprise them. I’ll be big with them, I’ll go up on shots with a 6’10” guy”.
Cascade Christian can really run up and down the court and hang with whoever in 3A.
Led by Layne Collom, the Challengers played up and down the court and didn’t let up despite what the scoreboard was reading. Collom simply provided points for Cascade Christian whenever they needed it, including a pivotal runner to the basket to give them the slight edge in one of their last possessions. Layne finished with 16 points in the affair, with teammate Donminic Lewis chipping in 18 points of his own. The tandem proved effective for Cascade Christian as they provided the offensive spark to keep them in the game at all times. But it was Kai Coster who had the late game heroics with his corner three to seal the victory for the Challengers.
At the same rate, Salem Academy showed that they are fully capable of competing at a high level as well.
Bennett Bos had a solid game, scoring at will and being tough on the boards as he had a 20 point, 10 rebound effort for the Crusaders. He was scoring at a high level from mid-range as well as could take it inside himself as well. The Crusaders also received help from Luke Miller, who helped the cause with 9 points and 8 rebounds of his own. The tough, blue collar minded Crusaders rebounded well on both the offensive and defensive end, which kept them in the game the entire time. Although their efforts ultimately ran short, they proved that they can run with anybody in their classification at any given night.
Santiam Christian has a formidable duo in that of Ben Galceran and Koby Williamson.
Ben is a tough nosed point guard who doesn’t let up despite the surmounting circumstances. His best weapon on offense is the three-point shot, which he lets loose quickly, but also has a nice, soft floater to his offensive arsenal. Galceran, as mentioned, was the floor general for Santiam Christian, as he looked poised to help his team in whatever way possible, whether it was setting up the offensive, playing defense, or getting some quick points. Ben finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Williamson had a productive afternoon, particularly on the defensive end. He held down the middle for the Eagles and was swatting shots left and right. Williamson was aggressive on offensive, scoring at the rim and hitting some key mid-range shots as well. Koby contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 blocks for Santiam Christian.
Despite Santiam Christian’s two formidable bigs in the middle, Josh Wart played effective, hard, and competitive the entire time.
He was racing up and down the court, grabbing rebounds and taking it himself to the basket. Wart was rebounding at a high rate, putting it up strong, as he had a few dunks in the game as well. Wart is a versatile offensive weapon, as he is able to put the ball on the floor, take it to the basket or rebound and put it back himself. His willingness to run the floor is a plus and he turns his defensive efforts into offensive opportunities. To say he has a high motor is an understatement, as the post seemed to have endless energy as well. He posted a monster stat line, with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. “My objective was to try to keep our big man, energized, keep him motivated. They were really good, tall, and we were a little shorter than them. I tried to keep the team motivated, keep them energized”.