The game of the night up north in the Region was the 3-1 Merrillville Pirates visited a hot 4-3 East Chicago Cardinals team. Both teams like to go up and down and put points on the board. They did not disappoint with each team exchanging leads throughout the game. I'm convinced if these teams played 10 times they'd split 5 a piece. That's how even I think they are and match up well against each other. When East Chicago gets a 2nd scorer to go along with Jr. Dominique Murphy they are very tough to beat. Tonight it was 6'6 junior classmate Yamauree Wallace who played the best game I've personally seen him play scoring 17 and I imagine double figures rebounds. Merrillville Pirates leading scorers were the senior trio of Preston Saia (18), Jaeden Williams (17) and KeyShawn Mitchell (15). ECC took the W by a score of 80- 73 moving their record to 5-3 with 3 consecutive impressive wins and Merrillville dropping to 3-2.

● 6'6 East Chicago junior Yamauree Wallace was impressive looking like a legit college prospect that the state is sleeping on. Wallace is long and athletic. He plays on the interior for thr Cardinals but showed he can also handle the rock. Wallace hit a LONG 3 at rhe end of the 3rd quarter buzzer as well as driving and beating his man off the dribble. I guess you could say he did a little bit of everything for EC tonight. College coaches throughout the state would be wise to keep an eye on him moving forward.

● 6'6 junior wing Dominique Murphy did what I've come to expect Dominique Murphy to do. And that's fill it up from inside, mid range, and outside. Murphy is a flat out bucket getter who finsished with a game high 27. He took a few questionable shots in the 2nd quarter but settled down and from then on took what the defense gave him. He's almost impossible to stop down low on most teams at this level because of his strength. I personally think he will end up on someone's D1 roster when its all said and done. He just flat out gets the job done and puts points on the board.

● 5'11 senior Cardinal guard Jemeil Rich Jr. was HUGE down the stretch scoring 9 of his 16 in the 4th quarter. Rich is an excellent free throw shooter and ball handler which helps maintain a lead late. Rich is lightning quick and anticipates passes well. Jemeil will find open shooters and works best in a transition offense where there's one speed; Go.

● 6'7 senior stretch 4 Preston Saia got off to a slow start but by the 4th quarter looked like the best prospect on the floor. A former Bosco prep kid Prestom played with alot of confidence and once he saw his mid range shots start to fall, he continued taking and hitting them. He is one of the Pirates leading 3 pt % makers. When this kid gets hot, he's hard for players at this level to stop. Saia has very good size to be a wing or stretch 4 at the next level.

● Jaeden Williams is a 5'10 senior guard for Merrillville that really does a little bit of everything. Williams can get to the rim and knock down the 3 ball. He hit big shot after big shot tonight. What he lacks in size he makes up for quickness and toughness. Williams scored 17 tonight in a variety of ways.

 

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