Saturday's 10 Best: Culver Academy @ Crispus Attucks

Saturday night in Indiana featured a top-level basketball game with top-level talent. Culver Academies and Indiana commit, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/">Trey Galloway</a></a>, traveled to downtown Indianapolis to take on the Crispus Attucks Flying Tigers and Western Illinois commit, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/">Sincere McMahon</a></a>. Both of these players have the potential to win the Indiana Mr. Basketball award for the 2019-2020 season, and the game showed that in a big way. Crispus Attucks came out strong out of the gate as they outplayed and out-phyicaled them on the way to a 15 point halftime lead. However, in the second half, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/">Trey Galloway</a></a> took over. Galloway scored 16 points in the 3rd quarter and outscored the entire Attucks team by himself in the 3rd. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Eagles kept their foot on the gas pedal. Anthony Goeb hit his only bucket in the game on a clutch corner three with just two minutes to got to tie the game. Then, the Eagles were able to come up with a couple made free throws and enough stops to take a three-point lead with just 10 seconds to go. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/">Sincere McMahon</a></a>, the Tigers’ leading scorer, was able to draw a foul on a three-point attempt, but the very good free throw shooter was only able to hit 1 of 3 from the line. Attucks had another chance at the buzzer down by three, but <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/">Jason Hall</a></a>’s three-point attempt came up just short and the Eagles held on for the huge win on the road. Now, let’s look at the 10 best awards from this top matchup in Indiana…   MVP - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/">Trey Galloway</a></a>, 2020 SG, Culver Academy This choice was obvious as this game may have driven Galloway’s name to the top of the list for Indiana Mr. Basketball. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-galloway/">Trey Galloway</a></a> put his team on his shoulders, and he was able to get absolutely whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He shot lights out from the field, got to the rim with ease, and continually got to the free-throw line and finished through contact. On the defensive end, he was the main defender on Attucks’ top scorer, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/">Sincere McMahon</a></a>, and he was able to hold McMahon under twenty points which has been a rarity throughout the course of the season. Galloway ended with 35 points and 8 boards, and he was no doubt the best player on the court. When it comes down to the rest of the season, he will determine Culver Academy’s success in March. Should he continue to score and defend at this pace, the Eagles are going to be a serious contender for a state championship and a potential Indiana Mr. Basketball award as the season comes to a close.   Play of the Game - 3 Pointer by Anthony Goeb, Culver Academy Late in the game, Culver Academy had been making a run, and they had cut the lead from 16 down to 3 with just under 3 minutes remaining. Galloway pulled down a rebound after a missed shot by McMahon, and he pushed it down the court for a 2 on 2 fastbreak. As Galloway took it to the rim, Anthony Goeb drifted to the right corner to stop up. Galloway kicked to the corner, Goeb caught, fired, and drilled his only shot of the day to tie the game and keep the pressure on down the stretch.   Best Offensive Performance - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/">Sincere McMahon</a></a>, 2020 SG, Crispus Attucks <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sincere-mcmahon/">Sincere McMahon</a></a> will be attending Western Illinois for basketball, and they will be getting a pure scorer in McMahon. This guy has the ability to score in bunches, and he showed that in this one. Despite having one of the best defenders in the state of Indiana on him the entire game, he was still able to put up 19 points in the game. He did struggle shooting the ball, but he still totaled 19 points. In March, it is going to be tough to stop him, and if he can’t be stopped, Attucks is going to make a run.   Best Defensive Performance - Tyran Rodgers, 2020 PF, Crispus Attucks Culver Academy’s big man, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nick-hittle/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nick-hittle/">Nick Hittle</a></a>, was shut down, and this is largely thanks to the defense by Attucks’ big man, Tyran Rodgers. He used his size and big body down low to keep Hittle from getting inside with the ball. As a result, Rodgers was able to hold Hittle scoreless on just four shots in the first three quarters of action. He had Hittle frustrated, and if Rodgers can control the paint, it is going to be a lot harder to score in the paint for opponents during the rest of the season.   Best Man off the Bench - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/">Jason Hall</a></a>, 2020 PG, Crispus Attucks <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-hall/">Jason Hall</a></a> is the definition of hustle and grit. Hall is 5’7, but he does not let that stop him at all. He shows his confidence in the court as he plays with a swagger on both ends. On the offensive end, Hall knocked down a big three early, and he was able to shift around inside for some buckets. He knows how to position himself at the rim to finish over the bigger defenders. On the defensive end, he was able to get under the ball handler’s skin. He gets down low in his stance and plays physical on-ball defense. If Hall can continue to play well on both ends, the Attucks’ backcourt is top-level.   Best Under the Radar Performance - Deontae Craig, 2020 SF, Culver Academy Craig may not be the star on this Eagles’ team, but he does have the potential to be a make or break player for the remainder of the season. He was the second-best player on the court for Culver Academy in this one. Craig played very well in this one with 13 points, 9 boards, and 5 assists. He passes extremely well, and he hustles nonstop. He dives on the floor for every loose ball, and he can give the Eagles a burst of energy every time he touches the ball.   Best Underclassman - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/qushawn-ware/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/qushawn-ware/">Qushawn Ware</a></a>, 2023 SG, Crispus Attucks As a freshman, Ware has totaled quite a bit of playing time for the Tigers throughout the season. In this game, Ware didn’t have a major impact, but he did show off his range by hitting a deep three early in the game. He also pulled down a couple offensive rebounds to keep their possessions alive. Ware’s athleticism was put on full display, and he will be a player to watch in the coming years.   Best Part of the Atmosphere - Attucks Cheerleaders and Drum Line The old Attucks’ gymnasium is full of history from Oscar Robertson’s state championship teams to their state championship just two years ago. With minimal seating in the gym, the place was packed and the atmosphere was electric. The Tigers’ cheerleaders and drumline were able to keep the place electric and the fans engaged throughout. It was an emotional game for the players, and the atmosphere was electric thanks to the fans and cheerleaders.   Best Future Star - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-farrall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cooper-farrall/">Cooper Farrall</a></a>, 2023 SG, Culver Academy Farrall did not play during the varsity game, but in the second half of the JV game, Farrall was a star. He knocked down four 3’s in the fourth quarter of action. He also showed tremendous leadership on the court by calling teammates over to set up defenses and get on the same page. Under the leadership of coach Mark Galloway, this kid has the potential to turn into a future star for this Eagles team.   Best Quote - Coach Mark Galloway, Culver Academy “Even coming back and winning that second half was not perfect. But it was good enough. It was good enough because we rebounded, we got stops, we battled. You know, we didn’t shoot great from the free-throw line in the first half or the second half, but we got there. We got there. An aggressive and tough team gets to the free-throw line. Especially on the road.”   This post-game speech to Coach Galloway’s players says it all about this Culver Academy team. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but they just need to get the job done.