The Chris Vontoure Classic in Concord featured a final that was a north versus south battle as host De La Salle defeated Damien High of La Verne 43-39.
In a battle of Spartans and all-boys programs, Damien rushed out to a 12-5 first quarter lead but then was limited to three and four points in the following two quarters as De La Salle maintained an eight-point advantage through three quarters. The Spartans from Damien made a furious attempt to come back but fell short as it was a typical DLS defensive struggle that kept the scoring from reaching the half-century mark.
Elliott Pitts had 22 points in the win as he was relentless in the paint. The junior wing made many trips to the free throw line and was strong on the boards. Pitts had a breakout year last season in addition to getting much attention during the summer. He is one of the more complete players in Northern California as he plays bigger than his size, is smart, and approaches the game with persistent determination.
Amadi Udenyi had eight points but was more valuable in the way that he directed traffic and played perimeter defense. The senior point guard may be overlooked because he is not of the prototypical height for a point guard but is worth a look by mid-low major programs. Jared Dizon scored 13 to lead Damien.
De La looks to be already in top form as it prepares to make the always dreaded five hour flight to Honolulu for the Iolani Prep Classic. When the New Year arrives, the Spartans will be the prohibitive favorite in the East Bay Athletic League with an interesting non-league matchup approaching against Archbishop Mitty on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at UC Berkeley.
Third Place Game: Acalanes 85, Deer Valley 72
Acalanes held a close 17-15 first quarter lead before they extended to a 45-34 half time margin. Deer Valley made several runs but Acalanes led 67-53 after three before closing it out.
Kevin Huber had 34 points in the victory as the 6-foot-1 senior is an accurate three-point shooter with great range. He also has a solid mid range game and plays smart.
Noah Orlik is an up and coming point guard in the Diablo Foothill League. He has a great knack for getting to the basket and finishing in traffic. He has a good mid-range game and uses the pull up jumper in transition well as he had 14 points.
The Dons are undersized but they spread out opponents well and hit the open perimeter shot. The team recognizes their size disadvantage and crashes the board as a unit. Dublin was the preseason favorite for the DFAL but the Dons cannot be counted out as a legit challenger for league title.
Deer Valley's Marcus Lee is long and plays the post primarily by default due to his size. He had 19 points in the loss. As for his college prospects, he would seem to be more likely to be a small forward or power forward depending on how much bulk he puts on or how well his ball handling develops.
Olajuwon Garner can score in bunches as he had 33 points. The senior can drive to the basket, pull up from the mid-range, or step back for a three-pointer. Expect Garner to be the leading scorer for the Wolverines.
Ranked in the NCP Preseason Top 20, the Wolverines have struggled mightily in the early season. Coach Lechet Phillips confirmed that the team scheduled a challenging preseason to test his young team. They will still be the favorites in the BVAL but can expect a challenge from Freedom and Heritage.
Fifth Place Game: Serra 42, St. Patrick St. Vincent 39
Serra built a 17-11 first quarter lead and extended it to 31-23 at the half. The second half saw the Bruins trim the deficit to 37-33 after three before tying the game at 39-39. However, the Padres hit a game winning three to close things out.
Henry Caruso plays fundamentally sound as a forward for the Padres. He is not overly imposing but maximizes his ability. He scored 25 points on Friday evening in addition to the 15 points in the Saturday win.
The Padres may be a surprise team in the WCAL. The team has some good size in the interior with Caruso, Stephen Grosey, Matt Jajeh, and football player Luke Longinotti. That size will be needed against league favorite Archibishop Mitty.
Jalen Canty is agile for a post player. The St. Pat's sophomore keeps the ball above his head and moves well without the ball. He projects as a back to the basket energy guy. Canty had 7 points in the loss but was active defensively and on the boards.
The Bruins are still turnover prone as they committed eight turnovers in the first quarter alone. Until the team gets more consistent guard play and commits fewer turnovers, the team will struggle. The Bay Shore League looks to be a toss up after Salesian.
Seventh Place Game: Fairfield 72, James Logan 55
Fairfield had a comfortable 21-7 first quarter lead but allowed Logan to trim it to 37-31 at the half. The Falcons had the size advantage and athleticism to extend to a 54-40 third quarter lead before closing out the Colts.
Jamare Moss is 6-foot-5 and is a long, athletic wing who is multi dimensional, and does a little of everything. His offensive stats will not stand out but the defense and rebounding will highlight his contributions.
Terrance Tyson-Fairley is a 6-foot-3 wing that is a solid perimeter shooter and defender. He plays well in transition and gives maximum effort.
Jalen Dupree is a quick point guard who drives and changes directions quickly with the ball. He is also a solid on the ball defender.
Fairfield is a balanced team with several good pieces. They could be a surprise team in the Monticello Empire League.
The Colts were down big early but fought to stay in the game before being overwhelmed in the second half. The Mission Valley is going to be won by Newark Memorial. After that, the league is a toss up and the Colts could contend for runner-up.
No comments:
Post a Comment