Game Takes: Franciscan Health Hoops Classic – Night One

The Recaps: Lafayette Jeff pulled away late right before half to stretch the 7-9 lead to 15 over Benton Central.  Jeff's traps started to take its toll on the Bison in the second half, and as the game sped up so did Benton Central's turnover rate.  Jeff won 81-48.

Lafayette Harrison jumped out to an early 22-8 lead on Twin Lakes, and while Twin Lakes hung around, a Jordan Walters, 6'7" senior forward, 3ptr at the buzzer stretched the lead back to 12 at the half. Twin Lakes cut that down to five to start the second half, but after that point, Walters took. Turnovers plagued both teams in the first half, but Harrison tightened it up on their end to get control of the game back, leading at one point by 22, winning 54-39.

Five Takeaways:

• Brock Barnhizer, 6'6" junior wing for Lafayette Jeff stood out.  Benton Central battled but was undermanned, and while it's not a comparable to what Barnhizer will likely face during the tougher stretches of his schedule or in college, he did what he needed to do.  
  • He let the game come to him in the second half, as the Lafayette Jeff worked to spread the floor for their other shooters and their 6'7" senior post, Matthew Jones.
  • He used his length in their traps to create turnovers.
  • Never shied away from contact.
• Braxton Barnhizer, 6'3" senior guard, and Avery Beaver, 6'1" senior guard, are high level shooters.  Both have low releases though.  Beaver was able to get to the paint for a couple of mid range floaters.  Barnhizer went to the rim off the dribble.
• Benton Central had good offensive action in the first half vs. Jeff's man.  Jeff went away from made, muddied the works and took control of the game.  Connor Hall, 6'4" junior, who was off to a tremendous start to the season, struggled to find much.
• Walters was more assertive as the game wore on for Harrison.  He hit two buzzer beating 3s to end the 2nd and 3rd quarters and had 22 points entering the 4th.  He scored some in post in the second half as well.  The only thing lacking, Walters would drive and not look to finish from short range.  If he got to the rim, he'd finish.  Anything else, he'd kick it out.  
• Jonah Lucas, 6'0" sophomore point guard for Harrison is a nice prospect.  

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