South Bend Riley 79, Fort Wayne Snider 75 OT

Looking back, this was the best game of the day.  Not just tightness of the game, but the level of playmaking and shot making, especially from Snider kids I hadn't seen before.  

All the more solidifying my views that Michael Eley should've stayed at Snider.  #justSayin

  • Blake Wesley easily got to spots most of the game for Riley, finding teammates along the way.  He shot well early and was able to get out in transition.  Jackson Copley was the main recipient of Wesley's playmaking.  The 6'2" senior guard hit a couple of corner 3pters, stretching the floor and scored off secondary action.
  • Despite the loss, Snider has no lack of firepower.  Karson Jenkins scored just about everywhere other than the low post.  The 6'2" junior guard's shot making in traffic was impressive, and he shot well from the 3pt line. 
  • Aidan Lambert, 6'2" junior guard, was Snider's playmaker when the pressure was on and the game was coming down to the final few minutes.  He was excellent finding people off penetration, as well as finishing at the basket. 

Leo 59, Shenandoah 43

This was the biggest surprise of the day, not that Leo would win, but the point spread.  This game was tight for much of the way through 2.5 quarters.  Leo got hot, and Shenandoah never bounced back.  The more they stretched out, the more that opened up lanes for Blake Davison.

  • First chance to see Davison during the school season.  The more game wore on, the more impressive he was.  First look was how crafty he was with the ball.  As he got hot from the 3pt line, he attacked closeouts. 
  • DJ Allen got off to a hot start, mostly off Davison finds.  Allen's defensive presence was a problem for Shenandoah, and his game facing the basket is improved.  
    • Zack Troyer was also a problem in the paint for Shenandoah.  
  • Shenandoah has a lot of weapons, but today they weren't very good defensively.  They struggled in the paint defensively.    
  • It was good to see Andrew Bennett back.  His injured shoulder was said to keep him out most of the year, if not all of it, but he's back and slowly working his way.  

Central Noble 68, DeKalb 56

Central Noble grabbed control early, and while they never did simply bury DeKalb, they never really relinquished control.  DeKalb never had the ball down by two possessions, and when they did get close, it was either Connor Essegian answering on the offensive end or Logan Gard answering on the defensive end.

  • The various ways Essegian can score pushes him more toward solidly mid major category.  There is a level of concern on the defensive end at that level, but to watch him get to his shot vs. a defense completely geared toward not letting him get to it is impressive.
    • Watching him split hard hedges, keeping full control of the ball and his body, then rise up for a jump shot in the paint multiple times...he wasn't phased by much of what was thrown at him.
  • The Gard vs. Connor Penrod battle in the low post was curious.  First look at both for their school teams.  Gard played behind him the whole game.  Penrod looked competent in the low post, but Gard was great.  Not sure what Penrod's stats were, but Gard made him work for it.
  • DeKalb would make small runs, hitting on a couple of 3s in a stretch, but they couldn't get stops when they clipped the deficit to six or seven points.

Warsaw 48, Portage 32

  • Kamari Slaughter is an enticing prospect for Portage.  At 6'4", he can guard four positions, and he is Portage's primary ball handler.  He has an incredible burst, and the coverage he gets on his finishing moves, makes him like a mini-freight train coming through the lane.  His shot mechanics are there.  He just hasn't developed a feel for range yet.  
  • Jaxson Gould for Warsaw is a little more polished, a better shooter at this stage, and he drove the ball well.  
  • Warsaw split ball handling duty between Gould and Judah Simfukwe.  The 6'0" junior looks good shooting from the 3pt line and made great decisions off the dribble.  

Homestead 71, South Bend St. Joseph's 46

Disclosure:  I left at halftime.  Homestead was ahead 37-8 as I was packing up.

  • Without question, if Fletcher Loyer can get a clean look, the Purdue recruit is deadly from the 3pt line.  SBSJ's defensive attack was so helter-skelter, it was inevitable the ball was going to find Loyer or Luke Goode.
    • Loyer looked a little sure handling the ball in transition, and he didn't put on the floor at all in the half court.
  • Goode was good.  How's that for putting it simply?  Aside from his offensive abilities, he rebounds above his position.  He's more fluid with the ball too than he was at any point last season.  
  • Andrew Leeper was another benefactor of SBSJ frantic looking defensive game plan.  Strong and a good athlete, he was able to drive and finish and hit at least one 3pter in the first half...nice smooth looking stroke.
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