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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 22, 2020 14:18:18 GMT -5
Martindale, Humphrey, and RJ all look to attack the basket, and open up their outside games that way - among other things, we should be getting to the line a lot more, right out of the gate, next season. Rabinovich will give us a solid, fundamentally sound interior presence. Moses' athleticism around the rim would be a nice finishing touch to the class. We really need improvement in that area. We are ceding 4 points per game to our opponents on the free throw line (i.e. in 28 games opponents have made 100 more free throws) as compared to years ago when we had the advantage, e.g. 06-07 team made 2 free throws more per game than opponents. an extra 2 points will win you a lot of games
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 22, 2020 17:10:16 GMT -5
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 22, 2020 17:25:12 GMT -5
Charlotte Observer game story.
Cannon School coach Che’ Roth said he would rather not have played Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Latin Saturday to win a state championship.
“That wasn’t exactly our choice,” Roth said after watching his team beat the Hawks 71-69 in the N.C. 4A Independent Schools final. “I would’ve liked to have played them on a neutral site, just because Latin’s so good here, and we’ve just been here a month ago, but beggars can’t be choosers. We’re just glad to have been here and have come away with a really hard-fought win.”
Cannon (27-6) finished the year on a nine-game win streak and won its first state championship in 14 years. The Cougars denied Charlotte Latin (22-8) its first title in 16 years.
Roth’s team led, pretty much, from start to finish, after winning the first quarter 19-7. But led by 6-foot senior guard RJ Johnson, who finished with 36 points, Latin made a big push in the fourth quarter.
Johnson, signed to Holy Cross, scored the Hawks’ first 10 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 55 on a 3-pointer. But Cannon sophomore Jaden Bradley (27 points) answered with back-to-back 3s that pushed the lead back to six.
But four times in the final 3 minutes, 35 seconds, Latin trimmed the lead to 1, including after Johnson hit two free throws with 17.3 seconds left.
After Cannon’s Jarvis Moss hit a free throw, still with 17.3 seconds left, Latin had a final possession to win or tie.
Johnson got a screen and moved to his left. Then he took a step-back jumper, a three-pointer that likely would’ve delivered a championship, on a sold-out, standing room only kind of Saturday afternoon crowd that included former Hawks’ great Anthony Morrow.
When Johnson left the shot go, the Latin crowd stood. It was just slightly short.
There was a collective sigh from the Latin side.
Cannon stormed the court in celebration. History was done.
“It’s a great feeling just knowing that all the hard work paid off,” Bradley said. “The first half we didn’t play our best. We had to make adjustments and our defense translated into offense and we were able to convert.”
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 22, 2020 22:18:50 GMT -5
phenomhoopreport.com/cannon-wins-ncisaa-4a-state-championship/6’0 2020 Randy Johnson (Charlotte Latin)Randy Johnson was simply sensational. Although, he is right-handed, Johnson prefers going left. That being said, he is crafty with the dribble and although the defense knows he is going left, he continues to get to his spots, either scoring off the dribble drive or forcing contact where he goes to the free throw line often. Johnson scored a game high 38 points, including four 3-pointers and went an efficient 12-13 from the free throw line. The Holy Cross signee had a game of a lifetime and his poise, maturity, and overall performance will long be remembered as one of the best in a state championship game. ———— BBC: Watching the last couple minutes of the game, reading the game articles, and reading around Twitter, it sounds like Nelson & RJ Evans have upgraded the point guard position and brought us a guy who can lead the program on and off the court.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 22, 2020 23:10:38 GMT -5
One of the many qualities I liked about RJ’s game today was his decision making, probably the most important quality for a point guard. In the first half he clearly was a pass first point, making many scoring passes, many of which, if converted, would have added to his assist total. As his team fell behind in the second half, and especially in the fourth quarter, he correctly looked for his shot first as he was his team’s most reliable scorer.
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Post by rgs318 on Feb 23, 2020 7:34:27 GMT -5
That is good to hear. The ability to switch roles as the game dictates (and the team needs) is valuable.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 23, 2020 8:34:53 GMT -5
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Post by hchoops on Feb 23, 2020 8:35:53 GMT -5
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Feb 23, 2020 9:09:20 GMT -5
Great job by the coaching staff, players, and "closer" Mike Rabinovich in getting RJ. Trying to think of a similar HC player he reminds me of. The craftiness aspect of his game sort of reminds me of Pat Doherty. Best part for me is that he will hopefully make us better at multiple positions; at the very least, AB can go back to doing more of the things he's good at, like crashing the O boards from the 2 spot.
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Post by dadominate on Feb 23, 2020 12:53:20 GMT -5
thanks for the reports, fellas!
johnson clearly has a five-star body - there will be very few point guards that are more physically developed - and sounds like we've got a real winner in the wings here.
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Post by efg72 on Feb 23, 2020 13:22:45 GMT -5
The crop of players coming in will be a nice step forward, but they will have to learn more about the college game, adjust and grow quickly. The only one who is looking at significant minutes as a starter day one is Johnson. I worry less about who the first five might include, but who do we have on the floor when the game is on the line.
Next year we will have a variety of options and depth, which should help Nelson and the staff improve our defensive play.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 23, 2020 17:06:25 GMT -5
EFG, do you think the issues with the defense, which rank bottom five nationally, are just personnel related, or might Nelson struggle in this department?
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Post by efg72 on Feb 23, 2020 17:18:11 GMT -5
Quite likely it is personnel and depth, which makes it tough to teach and execute. However, since none of us attended practices and there were few adjustments from straight man(every player on his own island), we have no idea if other principles of support were considered or taught . So I honestly would be speculating if I attempted to answer directly.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 23, 2020 19:44:24 GMT -5
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Post by hchoops on Feb 24, 2020 8:10:28 GMT -5
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Post by hchoops on Feb 24, 2020 12:36:49 GMT -5
I do not know if anyone besides efg has a subscription, but
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Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 24, 2020 14:59:00 GMT -5
RJ is currently leading with 64.2% of the vote.
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Post by CHC8485 on Feb 24, 2020 16:08:47 GMT -5
I didn't need a subscription to vote
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Post by hchoops on Feb 24, 2020 18:23:32 GMT -5
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Post by efg72 on Feb 24, 2020 18:29:12 GMT -5
That is great leadership and helps build a winning culture!
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Post by efg72 on Feb 24, 2020 20:45:45 GMT -5
DaJion Humphrey Retweeted this and other RJ posts
BIG SHBasketballTS @bigshotsnation · Feb 22 Holy Cross got a good one in Charlotte Latin 2020 Medium star PG RJ Johnson. Makes great reads off ball screen, plays with pace, 3-level shot maker @randyj_3 @hcrossmbb @psbelite
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