What We Learned From Trenton Catholic-Burlington Township
Division games are always feisty and that was the case between Trenton Catholic and Burlington Township. The game featured an intentional foul, two foul outs and a player leaving the game due to a pair of technical fouls. The Iron…
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Continue ReadingDivision games are always feisty and that was the case between Trenton Catholic and Burlington Township. The game featured an intentional foul, two foul outs and a player leaving the game due to a pair of technical fouls. The Iron Mikes were able to pull away in the end as they secured a crucial 67-55 road win over the Falcons. Here are the things we learned from this Burlington County Scholastic League Liberty showdown.
Donavin Crawford is the X-Factor Trenton Catholic needs
The Iron Mikes struggled with their offense through big stretches of the game, but Crawford was not one of them. The 6’3 guard torched Burlington Township for a game-high 24 points, behind four three-pointers. Crawford made the Falcons pay for leaving him open and was able to get to the basket with ease. His offense was not the only key factor on the night as he swatted a couple shots around the basket. Trenton Catholic needed someone to step up with E.J. Evans’ sudden transfer to St. Benedict’s and Crawford seems to have done that.
Jamir Watkins is one of the top small forward in New Jersey
The VCU commit had a solid offensive game as he finished off with 22 points,but it was his efficiency that really stood out. Watkins made all eight of his free throws attempts and rarely took shots from outside of the paint. He threw down multiple transition slams and positioned himself for a dunk off the inbound. Watkins was a force on the defensive end as he had four blocks in the game and finished with several deflections. Despite having to leave the game early for picking up two technical fouls, Watkins played a complete game against Burlington Township and should land on an All-State team this season.
Jordan Dotson is ready for the next step
The 6’4 sophomore may have struggle with foul trouble, but he still wound up leading the team in scoring with 13 points. Dotson attacked the basket with a purpose as the Iron Mikes struggled to keep him in front. He made a couple of tough layups around the basket and used his body to draw contact in the lane. Dotson was a force on the offensive glass and had good spurts on the defensive end. The Falcons need someone to complete junior guard Daniel Thomas and senior forward and Dotson looks to be that guy.
Freddie Young is one of the more underrated guards in the state
The Princeton Day School transfer has been a key asset for the Iron Mikes in 2019-20 as he is currently the team’s second leading scorer. Young may have only had 11 points on the night, but his impact was more than just the box score. The junior point guard ran Trenton Catholic’s offense beautifully and was able to break Burlington Township’s press with ease. His defense was solid throughout the game as he forced the Falcons into a lot of tough shots. Young may not have had his best offensive performance, but it was his intangibles that helped get Trenton Catholic the win.
Burlington Township is a dangerous first round match-up
The Falcons may only be 4-9 on the season, but don’t let their record fool you. They are capable of pulling off a major upset with their combination of athleticism, toughness and leadership. Thomas can be unguardable at times off the bounce,while Dotson and Ayetigbo are rugged forwards down low. Northern Illinois football commit Eric Rogers is a tough wing who provides leadership and athleticism. Burlington Township has struggled at times during this season, but the Falcons can make it all up by pulling off a first round upset.