BROOKLYN, NY - Schools all over New York are beginning to scrimmage in preparation for the highly anticipated high school season. On Tuesday, the Boys & Girls Kangaroos played the Benjamin Cardozo Judges. While scrimmages are not games, it’s a good indicator as to where teams stand. NYCHoops.net was there to analyze the six sets of action.
Set One
Both teams had their primary players in and from the onset Boys & Girls was in control. The Kangaroos newest member Joel Angus, who transferred from Bishop Loughlin, seemed to assimilate well showing a perimeter game as well as a good game in the paint. With 2:02 left in the first set, the Roos were up 10-2 and ended up winning as Leroy “Truck” Fludd banged inside and PG Tyliek Kimbrough ran the offense. (14-2 Boys & Girls)
Set Two
The primaries from Dozo started the second set while Boys & Girls played 3 bench players. 6’8” Jermaine Lawrence had a better game offensively for the Judges but was less effective with his back to the basket. Lawrence and Ryan Yearwood gave Dozo a 6-0 lead at the top of the set but when Boys & Girls head coach Ruth Lovelace subbed her starter back in, the Ross quickly tied the game at 6 with 4:02 left to play. Three-balls by Wes Myers and freshman Marvin Prochet would soon put Boys & Girls up by five with 1:04 and they would go on to win. (15-10 Boys & Girls)
Set Three
The third set would feature, Cardozo’s bench versus a mix of Boys & Girls players. Yearwood and Rasheed Robinson would be effective for the Judges but the Kangaroos superior guard play would once again take over, Up 11-2 at the midway point, Boys & Girls would go on to win the set. (20-10 Boys & Girls)
Set Four
Lawrence would become an offensive presence as he displayed his perimeter game and the combo of him and Yearwood would give Dozo a 10-5 lead early in the set. Perimeter shots by Cortney Darnley and Kimbrough would pull the Kangaroos to within 2 points with 1:43 left to play. Another trey by Darnley, after an offensive foul by Yearwood, would cause Dozo to lose their fourth set in a row. (15-14 Boys & Girls).
Set Five
The fifth set started without Lawrence but Dozo manage to pull ahead 4-0 as their guards were productive. With Kimbrough running the point, Bryce Jones frequently found himself open for three-balls and the game was tied at 7 with 3 minutes left in the set. A three-ball by Angus would once again give Boys & Girls the lead but a resilient Cardozo squad launched a 5-0 run to win their first set. (12-10 Cardozo).
Set Six
In the final set, good play by Yearwood and Robinson would lead Cardozo to their second victory of the evening. (20-18 Cardozo).
Analysis:
During this scrimmage, Boys & Girls was much more cohesive throughout the scrimmage and displayed a balance in both their offense and defense. This is probably due to the fact that the Roos have played together throughout the summer. Conversely, Dozo has played as two separated teams throughout the summer and has a few issues now that they’re pancaked together.
First off, they play Lawrence, who is most effective as a face-up four, primarily with his back to the basket. Lawrence would probably do better if he got the ball at the top of the key or even if he brought the ball up court from time to time, giving him the option to give ‘n go. Secondly, Cardozo’s guards are by in-large unable to handle pressure defense and were having problems getting the ball to Lawrence in the post. Lastly, 6’5” Ta’Jay Henry was invisible which put more pressure on Lawrence to be the offense. He has to play to his potential for Dozo to be successful.
Scrimmages are a place where coaches tweak their teams, figure out line-ups and walk through plays. Clearly, Dozo has a bit more work to do than Boys & Girls at this point.
While Angus is the new cog in the wheel, replacing Jamie Killings, he's fitting in nicely and firms up their inside presence. In addition, because Angus also has a perimeter game, he causes match-up problems for opponents.
This post was edited on 11/16 11:56 AM by mwingate
Set One
Both teams had their primary players in and from the onset Boys & Girls was in control. The Kangaroos newest member Joel Angus, who transferred from Bishop Loughlin, seemed to assimilate well showing a perimeter game as well as a good game in the paint. With 2:02 left in the first set, the Roos were up 10-2 and ended up winning as Leroy “Truck” Fludd banged inside and PG Tyliek Kimbrough ran the offense. (14-2 Boys & Girls)
Set Two
The primaries from Dozo started the second set while Boys & Girls played 3 bench players. 6’8” Jermaine Lawrence had a better game offensively for the Judges but was less effective with his back to the basket. Lawrence and Ryan Yearwood gave Dozo a 6-0 lead at the top of the set but when Boys & Girls head coach Ruth Lovelace subbed her starter back in, the Ross quickly tied the game at 6 with 4:02 left to play. Three-balls by Wes Myers and freshman Marvin Prochet would soon put Boys & Girls up by five with 1:04 and they would go on to win. (15-10 Boys & Girls)
Set Three
The third set would feature, Cardozo’s bench versus a mix of Boys & Girls players. Yearwood and Rasheed Robinson would be effective for the Judges but the Kangaroos superior guard play would once again take over, Up 11-2 at the midway point, Boys & Girls would go on to win the set. (20-10 Boys & Girls)
Set Four
Lawrence would become an offensive presence as he displayed his perimeter game and the combo of him and Yearwood would give Dozo a 10-5 lead early in the set. Perimeter shots by Cortney Darnley and Kimbrough would pull the Kangaroos to within 2 points with 1:43 left to play. Another trey by Darnley, after an offensive foul by Yearwood, would cause Dozo to lose their fourth set in a row. (15-14 Boys & Girls).
Set Five
The fifth set started without Lawrence but Dozo manage to pull ahead 4-0 as their guards were productive. With Kimbrough running the point, Bryce Jones frequently found himself open for three-balls and the game was tied at 7 with 3 minutes left in the set. A three-ball by Angus would once again give Boys & Girls the lead but a resilient Cardozo squad launched a 5-0 run to win their first set. (12-10 Cardozo).
Set Six
In the final set, good play by Yearwood and Robinson would lead Cardozo to their second victory of the evening. (20-18 Cardozo).
Analysis:
During this scrimmage, Boys & Girls was much more cohesive throughout the scrimmage and displayed a balance in both their offense and defense. This is probably due to the fact that the Roos have played together throughout the summer. Conversely, Dozo has played as two separated teams throughout the summer and has a few issues now that they’re pancaked together.
First off, they play Lawrence, who is most effective as a face-up four, primarily with his back to the basket. Lawrence would probably do better if he got the ball at the top of the key or even if he brought the ball up court from time to time, giving him the option to give ‘n go. Secondly, Cardozo’s guards are by in-large unable to handle pressure defense and were having problems getting the ball to Lawrence in the post. Lastly, 6’5” Ta’Jay Henry was invisible which put more pressure on Lawrence to be the offense. He has to play to his potential for Dozo to be successful.
Scrimmages are a place where coaches tweak their teams, figure out line-ups and walk through plays. Clearly, Dozo has a bit more work to do than Boys & Girls at this point.
While Angus is the new cog in the wheel, replacing Jamie Killings, he's fitting in nicely and firms up their inside presence. In addition, because Angus also has a perimeter game, he causes match-up problems for opponents.
This post was edited on 11/16 11:56 AM by mwingate
