Game Takes: DeKalb 65 – FW Northrop 59

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November 30, 2020

Zak Tyler, Barney O'Neill and Jim Reamer talk about games and players seen from the opening week of the boys high school basketball season. After Zak gets us updated on commitments and offers.

See games covered below the reads:

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Games discussed:
Carmel vs. Columbus North
Linton vs. Parke Heritage
Michigan City vs. Michigan City Marquette
Tindley vs. Noblesville

Game Takes: Linton 65, Parke Heritage 54

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November 29, 2020

From tip to final whistle Linton was in control of the game. Parke Heritage was able to end the 3rd only down 10 by outscoring Linton 15-9(43-33). Parke Heritage and Linton both had a couple individuals that had outstanding games.

Park Heritage Sophomore Christian Johnson is a force to be reckoned with. Skilled with the ball and strong. Is able to get to the rim with ease and make good on the attempts. He was outstanding on D.
Parke Heritage Senior Noble Johnson was a matchup problem as well. He was able to score from various spots on the floor.
The Linton bench and role players were outstanding. Josh Pyne (IU baseball commit), Drew Smith, and Braden Walters done and outstanding job defending the paint. They were able to hold Parke Heritage big man Connor Davis to 4 points.
Linton Sophomore Joey Hart is something special. He is a team player but can dominate on offense when he needs to. He has good outside shooting and jumps out of the gym. See the featured photo. He is holding a couple of DI offers and I expect he will receive many more.

PHOTO CREDITS: AUSTIN GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY

Linton Senior Lincoln Hale (ISU commit) is so smooth on the court. He scores at all 3 levels and he does it with ease. His length allows him to rise up over most defenders and he is deceptively quick.

FEATURED IMAGE PHOTO CREDITS: AUSTIN GORDON PHOTOGROPHY

Game Takes: Pike 84, Hamilton Southeastern 73

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November 29, 2020

A strong second quarter propelled Pike to what would eventually be a 23 point lead toward the end of the third quarter. In those two quarters, HSE looked sped up, and that's not where any team wants to be playing Pike.

Pike's Ryan Conwell, 6'2" junior guard, looks more fluid and confident with the ball than last season. He's getting down hill more, which may be a function of fewer Pike bigs in the paint. The lefty's release is quicker, which makes him more of a threat off the ball.
JJ Louden is at his core an impactful to lockdown defender for Pike, even if he's not putting up early stats. No different here, when a couple of steals, a couple of transition baskets, the 6'4" junior guard gets going.
One big reason why Conwell will play off the ball is more is sophomore, Devon Woods. The 5'9" guard is quick and smooth, showed 3pt range and finished in the paint, including a nice floater.
Despite scoring 73 points, much of which came in the fourth quarter (that I admittedly didn't stay around for), HSE struggled to get any offensive flow in the first three quarters. They don't have weaponry or depth they've had in the past, and they lack of a gravity changing scorer that forces the defense scramble.
HSE's Vinny Buccilla makes players better. The 6'2" senior guard hasn't shown to be the kind of scorer which can put a team on his back. The former is extremely valuable when surrounded by offensive talent, which in the summer has been the case and will be in college.

Game Takes: Rock Creek 70 Trinity Lutheran 58

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November 28, 2020

At the close of the 1st Rock Creek held a 2 point lead at 17-15. It looked as if was going to be a battle to the end but Rock Creeks size underneath was to much for Trinity Lutheran to over come. Trinity Lutheran had it as close 4 in the 3rd but Rock Creek went on a 10 run to end the quarter at 54-41.

Trinity Lutheran Senior Tyler Goecker put the team on his shoulders today. He was vey effective getting to the rim and drawing fouls. 15 of his game high 27 came from the charity stripe.
Trinity Lutheran Sophomore Hudson Norton added a quite 11. He was hampered by foul trouble. He has good size at 6'2" and moves well. Look for his game to continue to improve.
Rock Creek 6'7" Sophomore Jaleb Treat was a beast in the paint. His size, I'm guessing 300, and height made him nearly unstoppable. He has decent foot work coupled with a nice touch at the rim. His game will continue to grow.
Rock Creek Sophomore Ashton Mozee had a nice outing. He has a nice stroke from behind the arc. He knocked down a couple of 3s and 2 free throws for 8 points. It was his effort on the defensive end that stuck out to me. He had great court awareness and understood when and where he was supposed to be.

Game Takes: Loogootee 85 Evansville Day 76

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November 28, 2020

In the first half of the game it looked as Loogootee on track for a commanding win while leading as much as 22 points. The game was truly a tale of two halves as Evansville Day was able to get it to a 5 point Loogootee lead with 2:30 left in the 4th, but couldn't quite get over the hump.

I would not count Evansville Day out of any game on their schedule. While undersized they play very good team basketball. They are quick and run a full court trapping press that will give teams fits.
Tyler Myers (10) has a great skill set and a very high ceiling. The Sophomore was the game high scorer with 37. He only made one 3 point attempt. He was in the right place at the right time and played with the confidence of an upper classman.

Noah Rugani is another Sophomore for he Eagles. He had 5 threes on the day. He has good shot mechanics and is very comfortable with a hand in his face while shooting.
Loogootee Lion Sophomore Peyton Bledsoe started the day off slow with his first points coming with 1:20 left in the 1st. He finished with 21 for the day with only 2 made 3s. He had a very nice day from midrange and getting to the rim for easy buckets.
Lions Senior Silas Bauer was unstoppable in the paint. Bauer went for 31 including an ally oop dunk in the 1st. Silas controlled the offensive boards for the lions and capitalized on put back opportunities. He showed that he can lead the break with good ball handling and passing. He is definitely a next level guy. Would fit will at the JUCO/NAIA level and possibly some DII teams. JUCO/NAIA level and possibly DII.

Game Takes: Bloomington North 38, BNL 27

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November 27, 2020

It was anybody's game for 3 quarters. With 5:45 left in the 4th Junior Nate Toohill hit a 3 to start a 14-2 run and that would seal a win for the Bloomington North Cougars.

Bloomington North Junior Guard Nick Klaiber did not play. No word as to why.
BHSN 6'7" Sophomore JQ Roberts has a very high ceiling. He handles the ball well for a young big man and highlighted his athletic ability with two powerful dunks late in the 1st and early in the 2nd. With time in the weight room he will be a force in the HHC.
BNL Senior Jackson Miracle had a nice game in the paint for the Stars. He found open lanes and took advantage for easy shots at the rim.
BNL Sophomore Colton Leach is a name you will be hearing a lot of. He done a little of everything for the Stars and I look for him to find his groove before long.
Be on the look our for 6'3" Freshman Zach Sims for BHSN. While he did not play in the Varsity game he took over the 4th quarter of the JV game. He knocked down a last second 3, with confidence, to seal a win for the Cougars.

Game Takes: Carmel 61, Columbus North 51

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November 25, 2020

While Carmel led most of the way, it was never more than a two possession game until the 2:12 mark of the 4th quarter. Carmel iced the game at the FT line.

Carmel's Peter Suder has taken another step toward being a consistent shooter. Not just knocking down mid-range jump shots, Suder is looking more comfortable and fluid from the 3pt line.
Brian Waddell struggled in the first half to get much going, but he scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, including a dunk in the half court. Still his best asset is movement without the basketball, even gainst Columbus North's zone.
Charlie Williams struggled with physicality, and he didn't take advantage of a decided height advantage.
There was a point in the first half where it felt like Blake Barker was going to go on a scoring spurt. As well as he played, he didn't have a big scoring stretch. He can score in bunches. Carmel made him work.
Cooper Horn, 6'2" sophomore guard, was impressive for Columbus North. He's a consistent from the 3pt line, works on the defensive end and even blocked a couple of shots. He could also be a primary ball handler.

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Game Takes: Victory Christian Academy 65 – Gary 21st Century 61

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Zak T

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November 24, 2020

The Recap: In a game that started off kind of sloppy and fast paced and benefited Gary 21st, it ended with a VCA win. The end of the first quarter ended with a massive DJ Moss dunk in transition and it looked like Gary 21st might be able to use that momentum going forward and put the game away early. That did not happen. Gary 21st was up at half with a 4 point lead as VCA chipped away at the early deficit. By the end of the back and forth third quarter, which saw a handful of lead changes Gary 21st took another 4 point lead into the final frame. That's when senior Lincoln Thomae and company took over to seal the 65-61 win. Upperclassmen experience showed.

Six Takes:

With the addition of senior point guard Xavier Aponte (Portage), VCA now has three legitimate scoring threats (Flynn Carlson, Lincoln Thomae). He is a tremendous passer and can knockdown perimeter shots. Schedule-wise they still have Hammond, CMA, Calumet, and Bowman left as games to keep an eye on.
Lincoln Thomae (2022) finished the night with a hard earned 31. He really battled all night and got to the line a ton. Strong player who plays hard all game long. Will leave it all out on the floor. Battles for boards on both ends. Should find a roster spot at the next level.
Flynn Carlson was a menace on the defensive end, and was able to clean up around the basket on offense. His length just gives anyone who is attacking the basket fits. Very solid all around effort for the Milligan commit.
Gary 21st is a younger squad led by senior point guard Takari Jones. DJ Moss (2023) and Quintin Floyd (2023) are not only the future, but also the present. Takari Jones is a strong lead guard who loves to attack the basket. He is still learning to finish, especially over longer defenders, but love his aggressiveness!
Quintin Floyd 6'3" really impressed. He has great length, knows how to rebound and was able to finish through contact. When he gets more consistent with his outside shot he will be more of a complete threat, but he is definitely someone to watch moving forward.
DJ Moss 6'5" thrives in transition. Loves getting down hill to the basket and will finish strong. He is still trying to figure the game out when it is slowed down into the half court. His outside shot should come with some work. He could really be effective if he were to post some, as well, just because he has the strength to be really good inside. Overall another great sophomore prospect.

Next Up and Top Uncommitted Prospects

Victory Christian - 11/28 vs. Hammond

Lincoln Thomae - 6'1" Junior
Xavier Aponte - 5'10" Senior

Gary 21st Century - 12/4 @ Bowman Academy

Takari Jones - 6' Senior
DJ Moss - 6'5" Sophomore
Quintin Floyd - 6'3" Sophomore

CSI Pod :: Episode 38 – Fall Signing Period; Best Available Players

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November 16, 2020