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NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE GAME RECAPS

A recap of the action from Friday and Saturday of the three-day event this past weekend

by MICHAEL PINA

Day 1

St. Thomas More 90, Lee Academy 69

In the opening game of the National Prep Showcase, St. Thomas More dominated Lee Acadamy 90-69 in a one-sided contest. Led by senior Bryon Allen, who scored a game high 20 points on 8-10 shooting, St. Thomas More shot 63 percent from the field while holding Lee Academy to 47 percent for the game and just 35 percent in the first half. Highly touted 6’ 11” sophomore prospect Andre Drummond scored eight points in just nine minutes of action while displaying low post dominance and a soft touch around the basket.

Lee Academy’s Maxie Esho, headed to the University of Massachusetts, was the most aggressive player on the floor, scoring 14 while attempting a game high six free throws. Esho didn’t shy away from contact and exhibited a nice inside, outside game.
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Hargrave Academy 87, Notre Dame Prep 80

In a back and forth battle between two heavyweights, Hargrave Academy squeezed out an 87-80 win against Notre Dame Prep.

The second half saw each side going back and forth with a barrage of three-pointers and tip-ins. Notre Dame took the lead 80-79 with under two minutes on the clock on two free throws by Memphis-bound Antonio Barton, but failed to score again. Quickly after Notre Dame took the late lead, Hargrave’s Lorenzo Brown drove the lane and reclaimed the lead with two free throws of his own. Then a steal and finger roll by Brown made it a three-point game with one minute left. A missed shot by Notre Dame’s Jordair Jett led to two more Hargrave free throws and the game was over.

Brown finished with 20 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Overall a completely dominant performance from the North Carolina State-bound senior. Other notable performances on the defensive end came from Dominique Ferguson and Mardracus Wade, headed to Florida International and Arkansas respectively. Ferguson protected Hargrave’s basket with four intimidating blocks that led to fast breaks, while Wade was absolutely relentless on the defensive end, hustling harder than anybody on the floor.

South Kent School 105, Evelyn Mack Academy 96

With two Big East bound stars leading the way, South Kent defeated Evelyn Mack Academy 105-96. Listed at just over six feet and 160 pounds, Russell Smith, who recently signed with Louisville was one of the smallest players on the court, but managed to dictate the game’s tempo, taking a game high 12 free throws and missing only one. He showed a fearlessness in the lane combined with surprising athleticism. Midway through the second half, Smith took off on a break with one defender in his way, got fouled while throwing down a thunderous, crowd pleasing jam. Later on he kissed a left handed floater off the glass while maneuvering in heavy traffic. Smith finished with 25 points and eight assists.

Teammate J.J. Moore, who will be attending Pittsburgh, was equally as impressive, showing a rare combination of size, strength and athleticism. The 6’ 6” forward raised up for several slam dunks on his way to a game high 29 points and seemed to bully Evelyn Mack down low, especially in the second half.

Tahj Tate for Evelyn Mack showed glimpses of brilliance during his 13 minutes on the court. He hit a deeper than deep three-pointer that looked as if he were in the stands and a few possessions later he took off from a good three feet outside the lane for one of the most impressive dunks of the day.

Winchendon 90, Massanutten 54

On the games very first play, Winchendon ran a successful back door alley-oop and the undermanned Massanutten Colonels were looking up for the next 40 minutes as they fell 90-54. Winchendon’s ball distribution was key as Loyola Maramount-bound Anthony Ireland and back court partner Akeem Williams dominated the game’s pace. Both players are under six feet and are built more like boxers than basketball players, but they showed an ability to absorb contact and finish strong at the rim against much larger opponents.

Even in the lopsided loss, Massanutten’s Hines Banks displayed virtuous court vision and appropriate handle. The left hander also knows how to put the ball in the basket.
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Wilbraham & Monson 58, Proctor 40

In what was both team’s debut performance at the National Prep Showcase, Wilbraham & Monson Academy soundly defeated Proctor Academy 58-40. Proctor was held to just 18 points in the first 20 minutes of action. Led by Chris Williams, who scored a game high 19 points on 7 for 11 shooting, and a defense that held Proctor to just 30 percent shooting for the night, Wilbraham & Monson eased their way to a 1-0 National Prep Showcase record.
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Northfield Mount Hermon 72, Fork Union Military 45

The three point line was where Northfield Mount Hermon lived on Friday night and it paid off as they shot just under 40 percent to a dominating 72-45 victory. Laurent Rivard and Aaron Cosby each made three treys while Joe Sharkey and Hector Harold made two a piece. Rivard also accounted for nine rebounds.
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Day 2

Lee Academy 91, Massanutten Military Academy 74

In another lopsided contest involving Massanutten Military Academy, Lee Academy saw 11 of their players hit the floor for at least 12 minutes. Strong and efficient efforts by Massanutten’s Chance Rucker and Bryant Bechtel, who had 25 and 21 points respectively, simply wasn’t enough as the Colonels, playing their second game in 18 hours with just seven players, ran out of gas.

Lee Academy was led by David Hanson who scored 20 points in just 17 minutes as well as Vaughn Allen who grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with his 16 points.
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St. Thomas More 78, Fork Union Military Academy 67

Behind Byron Allen and Dominique Langston, both notching 16 points, St. Thomas More was able to pull out a 78-67 victory over Fork Union. St. Thomas More’s defense held Fork Union to 25 for 76 from the field which was the key in getting the dominant victory.
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Hargrave Military Academy 80, Bridgton Academy 57

The number one prep school in the country vanquished another foe as Hargrave defeated Bridgton 80-57.

In his second game of the weekend, Hargrave’s Lorenzo Brown barely played in the first half but came out in the second where he left off the previous day. On one play, the North Carolina State bound guard took the ball at the top of the key , split a double team with a behind the back dribble and then finished with a soft floater in the lane.

He was the key reason Hargrave blew the game wide open to start the second half, showing constant control on the break and making flashy, yet smart decisions throughout the contest. A clear standout player in the tournament, Brown only scored 10 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds, but his impact on the game was beyond evident for anyone paying attention. On one noteworthy play, after being immediately double teamed in his backcourt, to break out of a press Brown dribbled the ball between a defenders legs and started a fast break that led to a lay-up.
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Winchendon School 79, Evelyn Mack Academy 77

This game had it all. A suspenseful comeback, effective team balance and a gutsy, individual breakout performance. We’ll start at the end and work our way backwards. Working their way to a 43-33 lead at the half, Winchendon looked to be on their way to back to back victories, but Calvin Newell and Mack Academy envisioned a slightly more favorable ending. Coming off a 28-point performance against South Kent on Friday night, Newell was an absolute catalyst as he willed his team to the brink of victory, playing all but three minutes and ending up with 37 points, four steals which led to clear path lay-ups, five assists and only one turnover.

Matched up against Winchendon’s Akeem Williams/Anthony Ireland point guard duo, Newell didn’t blink. With the clock at nine seconds left in the game and running itself down with each dribble up the court, Newell somehow managed a good look for a winning three pointer. The ball rattled the side of the rim, went straight up in the air and safely came down into the arms of teammate Isiah Stokely who naturally went right back up with it and was fouled. Already six for eight on the day from the free throw line, Stokely calmly toed the line, bent his knees and released a highly arced shot that went halfway in the rim before popping out. Winchendon had escaped in large part to having five players finish in double figures including Devan Saddler and Khem Birch who each finished with 15.
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New Hampton 79, NIA 70

Despite shooting a horrid 3 for 16 behind the three point line in the first half, New Hampton Prep managed to gut out a 79-70 win over the NIA school.

Michigan bound Evan Smotrycz from New Hampton is a 6’ 9” cog in the middle who has the confidence to catch and shoot while still effectively banging his body down low. He showed serious range, hitting two threes midway through the second half on his way to 15 points and 6 rebounds. He even brought up the ball a few times. New Hampton’s Brady Heslip attempted 15 threes in this game, making five and finishing with 19 points.

The otherworldly athletic Shaquille Thomas from NIA finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds of his own.
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Notre Dame Prep 75, Champlain St. Lambert 67

Despite a great all around game by Champlain St. Lambert’s Yann Charles, Notre Dame Prep eventually wrestled control away with a 75-67 win.

Charles, a very talented, fit, finisher of the basketball, showed a nice left handed stroke in the second half, hitting three three pointers. Charles finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.

For Notre Dame Prep, Jordair Jett had another solid performance with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes. The interior force that is Ron Giplaye went seven for 11 from the field, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The future Providence Friard grabbed eight of his rebounds on the offensive glass.
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Brewster 84, Worcester 79

Even without one of their best players, Tyler Olander, who was out with a broken thumb, Worcester Academy hung with the favored Brewster Academy for the games majority, but ultimately couldn’t contain their opponent’s multiple weapons, falling 84-79.

Brewster’s C.J. Fair, a left handed 6-7 swingman headed to Syracuse, showed nice touch around the basket finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and a couple blocks. Will Barton, headed to Memphis, made a few pretty no look passes which led to baskets as he finished with 14 points and four assists.

Worcester wasn’t athletic enough to make the full fledged comeback at the end, but tried their best capitalizing on 15 Brewster Academy turnovers.
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Maine Central Institute 81, Kiski School 44

In one of the more lop sided contests of the first two days, Main Central Institute pounded Kiski School 81-44. Ironically enough, MCI shot 56 percent from beyond the arc and just 50 percent from the free throw line, but still managed to soundly defeat their opponent.

MCI’s Georgios Papapetrou had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists while Steve Roundtree knotched 27. The two combined for 47 which was more than the Kiski School could muster.

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