ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest - Dallas (Boys)

No. 17 Simeon, National Powers Swat Away Area Greats At National Hoopfest

No. 17 Simeon, National Powers Swat Away Area Greats At National Hoopfest

A game-by-game recap of the 2016 ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest in Highland Park, Texas, on December 17.

Dec 18, 2016 by Brett Regan
No. 17 Simeon, National Powers Swat Away Area Greats At National Hoopfest
HIGHLAND PARK, Texas -- A quadruple-header clash in a legendary series is in the books, and the first-ever stop in the area for the ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest will be one to remember.

From high-flying dunks to tough defense to host Highland Park pushing No. 17 Simeon, let's take a look at the four-game showcase and how the national powers upended the local greats on Saturday.

Sunrise Christian (KS) 68, Creating Young Minds Academy (TX) 37

One might think Creating Young Minds Academy, the replacement for Grand Prairie, which went 7-21 last season, would be an upgrade, but with Khaleem Bennett (2018), Isiah Jasey (Texas A&M), and Marek Nelson (2018) on the other side for Sunrise Christian (KS), this game had the potential to get ugly. And it did.

Nelson set the tone early in the first quarter with an alley-oop that shook the late-arriving crowd, and Jasey followed Nelson's act with an above-the-rim finish of his own to give Sunrise the early lead.

Then, Sunrise showed off a scintillating full-court press that stymied CYMA, and the hometown boys from Irving, Texas, could only muster six points in the first quarter.

Creating Young Minds, which trailed 33-13 at halftime, might teach basketball IQ, but it couldn't teach size. Jasey, Kevan Ellis, and the other Sunrise Christian players had their way in the paint. Couple that with a deadly press, and it became a 31-point victory for the road team, while Jasey landed game MVP honors.

Welcome to Dunktown, Population Marek Nelson

Nelson had a crowd of admirers from his hometown of Plano, and the former Plano East star put on a show. The alley-oop in the first quarter was the big highlight, but a few more fourth-quarter dunks had the fans oohing and ahhing as well. There's a reason the 2017 guard is receiving increasing interest as the season progresses.

Size Matters

While CYMA had one or two post players that attempted to play on Jasey and crew, it clearly missed Division I signees Mitar Stanojevic and Kareem Moussa. Senior TJ Cash looked overmatched against the Texas A&M signee. 

By Adam Rosenfield

Whitney Young (IL) 71, DeSoto (TX) 53

There was plenty of talent here, and boy, was that talent on full display. None were better than Whitney Young's Lucas Williamson. The all-everything guard was unstoppable and scored 29 points en route to earning game MVP honors.

He was not alone, either. Backcourt mate Xavier Castenada showed why Iowa State gave him an offer back in July as the junior assisted on several big buckets and played a key role in limiting some of Desoto's athletic guards.

It was a game of early runs. DeSoto went on a 13-2 run, highlighted by a Xavier Ball and-one. The youth of the team showed, though, particularly after a goaltending call, and then a Tyler Beard free throw -- the only freshman playing for either team -- cut the DeSoto lead down to four. Whitney Young went on an 18-5 run to close the half with a 30-22 lead, which it never relinquished.

Defense, Defense, Defense

Rodrick Mason came in as a highly touted prospect for DeSoto, looking to take the place of several Division I signees from the 2016 state champions. Xavier Castenada, Tyler Beard, and the rest of Whitney Young had something to say about that, however, and held Mason to just five points. 

The Hunt for Feron

Desoto head coach Chris Dyer made a curious decision not to play 2018 guard Feron Hunt for much of the first and third quarters, but the junior made the most of his minutes. He scored six straight points in the third to provide great energy and help the Eagles to close the gap after halftime. Still, it was not enough.

-Adam Rosenfield

Huntington Prep (WV) 73, Lancaster (TX) 62

It didn't take long to see that both programs approach the game differently. Huntington Prep worked the ball into the post, looking to score from the blocks or kick it out to open shooters, while Lancaster let its guards dominate the ball, moving it across the top of the key before there was room to attack.

Although the styles varied, it was apparent Huntington Prep had a distinct advantage. 

Not only was Huntington, a preseason top 25 team, bigger and stronger, but it also played much more physical and moved the ball better than Lancaster. Huntington was the aggressors throughout the game by pushing the ball up the floor at every opportunity and getting to the rim, drawing contact, and reaching the foul line.

Because of that aggressive style of play, Lancaster never really found a rhythm, and its heavy reliance on guard isolation in half court sets was routinely disrupted by the active hands of Huntington.  

Huntington Prep was most dangerous, though, when it was forcing turnovers and getting out on the break. After Lancaster kept it close throughout the first half, trailing 37-32 at halftime, Huntington ramped up its defense and got out and ran in the second half to put the game out of reach. 

Lancaster wasn't able to set its defense with Huntington continuing to force turnovers. This allowed Keyshawn Bryant, Huntington's 6-foot-6 forward, to show off a range of skills. He led the break at times, but he brought the house down with several rim-rocking dunks, including a windmill slam. Even in the half court, he seemingly got to the rim with ease. 

On the other side of the ball, the guard duo of Mike Miles and TJ Starks led the attack for the Lancaster Tigers. Miles carried the Tigers early but became more passive once Keldon Johnson began hounding and harassing him defensively. That's when Starks stepped up. 

Starks' scoring kept Lancaster in the game, though it wasn't enough for the Tigers to close the lead enough to threaten Huntington Prep

Starks finished the game with 22 points, leading all scorers. Bryant had 18 for Huntington. Elias King also had a strong all around showing for Huntington Prep off the bench.

-Doyle Rader

No. 17 Simeon (IL) 71, Highland Park (TX) 63

Based on first appearance, it didn't look like the host would be able to hang with one of the hottest teams in the country. That wasn't the case, though. Highland Park showed plenty of fight and gave Simeon a tough run late.

However, it wasn't the case early. Offensively, Simeon got everything it wanted against Highland Park's 2-3 zone. Simeon forced turnovers on the other end and turned them into points by pushing the ball in transition. Much of the offense was facilitated by 5-foot-10 guard Evan Gilyard, who set the tone for Simeon with his smooth ball handling, passing, shooting.

At the half, the game seemed out of reach for Highland Park. Simeon led 37-24 and was paced by Kejuan Clements and Marquise Brown, who both had seven points. For the Scots, Will Enzor, a 6-foot-3 guard, led the team with six points. Enzor was just getting started, though. 

After a lackluster first half, Highland Park, or rather Enzor, came to life in the third quarter. He put defenders on their heels, taking them off the dribble and driving to the rim. He worked around screens and made backdoor cuts. He lost his man and worked his way into open looks from deep as well.

With Enzor leading the way, the Scots gradually cut into Simeon's lead. His teammates worked tirelessly to get the ball to the hot hand, and Highland Park got to within seven points in the third quarter behind Enzor's 13-point eruption in the frame.

In the fourth quarter, the Scots even cut the lead to five. However, they wouldn't get any closer. Messiah Jones, a 6-foot-5 forward, quietly paced Simeon throughout the game, totaling 18 points. He had a scary moment late in the fourth, though, as he took a hard fall under the basket on defense and was down for about a minute. He got up and walked to the bench and did not return to the game. 

At that point, the Highland Park push had been curtailed. The Scots were fouling to stop the clock. Gilyard was sent to the line repeatedly and didn't miss. Eventually, time ran out on the upset bid. 

Gilyard finished with 19 for Simeon, and Enzor poured in 21 for Highland Park. 

-Doyle Rader