biwnotes: Jason Day 7/05/99

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Best In The West Summer Shootout:
Jason Day's Notes--(July 5, 1999)

We were at the War on the Floor all day Friday and Saturday, and thus we didn't get to see what everyone was telling us were the games of the year, Long Beach Poly v. Dominguez, Long Beach Jordan v. Artesia, and then in the final, Dominguez v. Artesia. But we did have our eyes and ears at the game in the person of Jason Day, our long-lost regular correspondent. Here's what Jason had to say about what he saw:

NOTES FROM THE BEST IN THE WEST 99
SEMIS AND FINALS

by Jason Day

Once again the annual Best in the West Basketball Tournament (summer version) lived up to it's billing and presented some of the best players on some of the best teams in the West, and in many cases the whole country.

I bounced on over to Artesia High School yesterday afternoon to catch the two semi-final games matching Compton Dominguez against Long Beach Poly and Lakewood Artesia taking on Long Beach Jordan.

DOMINGUEZ BEATS LONG BEACH POLY 63-55

Several people on the "circuit" have noted the jump of Poly's star, SR/PG Wesley Stokes, from very good to damn near unstoppable. His performance in this one would indicate that the "gurus" are absolutely right and this kid may be emerging as one of the best guards around these parts "fo sho" and probably around a whole lotta other parts "maybe".

Stokes lit the Dominguez defense up for 32 points, 16 of which came from the line where they sent him for 20 shots after repeatedly fouling him trying to stop his penetration. He also hit 2 threes.

Unfortunately for Poly this performance came on a day when the "other" potential mega-star on the floor decided to kick his own game up a notch.

The Don's seven foot JR/C, Tyson Chandler was as impressive as I have ever seen him. I am one of the people who repeatedly refers to his "potential" as a player while waiting to see when his game would really begin to expand. Always a defensive and rebounding presence, his offensive game, particularly in the post, hasn't really been consistently apparent even up to this last school season.

Well, from what I saw of this kid in this tournament, all those "high school to NBA" rantings don't seem so far fetched anymore. I’m serious. If this kid continues to build upon the skills he's beginning to display, can bulk up a bit, and can lose the occasional fits of immaturity (elbows, taunts, etc.) he may never see a day of college ball if he doesn't want to. Just look at some of the "stiffs" that went in the draft this year, then look at Tyson and remember that he's ALREADY 7 feet tall. Can you say "rookie salary cap"?

In this one he had 26 points, 8 boards, and 3 blocks. He was 13 of 17 from the line. (How much are they paying Weber and Shaq's big no foul shootin asses?)

It was interesting to watch the two superstars, who breath air from two different floors, throw their teams on their backs and do battle.

Poly's problem turned out to be too much Wesley and not near enough ANYBODY else. Ellis Myles, (yes, that Ellis Myles) 6'6 SR/F had 30 in their previous win, but only 4 in this one. Stokes backcourt mate, Ramaan Shotwell, 6'0 SR/PG added ten (6 for 6 from the line) but no other Jackrabbit had more that 3. Not gonna get it done. Period.

I don't know whether the strategy was to just let Wesley do his thing and hope for the best, or whether he just decided to take it all on his shoulders, but he had 3 assists, hardly anyone else ever touched the ball in a position to score.

Poly's defense was what kept his thing as close as it was. (Poly led 26-25 at the half). They held Don's SR/F Keith Brooks to 2 pts and only let emerging scoring machine, Steve Moore, SR/SG get 10 (5 of those from the line with only one 3) 6'6 SR/F, Larry Johnson was their next leading scorer with 7.

So Dominguez moved on to the finals to take on the winner of the Artesia - LB Jordan matchup in the other semi.

ARTESIA BEATS LB JORDAN BY 14

Balanced scoring from a consistent "inside - outside" game gave Artesia a fairly easy win in this one.

It was close in the first half, with Jordan star Travon Bryant, 6'7 SR/C having his usual strong game (21pts. 8 boards, 4 blocks), and Josh Estrada (at least that's the name listed next to #15, he didn't look like a "Josh Estrada" or "6'2 to me) hitting for four 3's. A.J. Diggs 5'8 SR/G was a big contributor too with 9 pts. 7 boards, and 3 steals.

By a third of the way through the second half, Artesia's multiple weapons were all firing (and making) and they began to pull away. Led by 6'8 JR/F, Jack Martinez (13 pts., 9 rebounds, 2 assists) they put 5 players in double figures. This kid is so smooth, so polished, that it is scary. He's developing a tendency to hold the ball a little to long before either making his move or kicking it out, but when he's decided to go to the basket he's not likely to be denied.

Pioneer PG, Andre Hazel, (rated behind only Stokes at that position by most) had another strong game (11 pts [2-3's] 5 assists, 3 boards). If he continues to develop the outside shot he displayed at this tournament, look out. He's already a tremendous defender, and can get to the rack just about at will. Look out!

Artesia's other starting guard, 6'3 JR, Ryan Reyes impressed with 10 pts. 4 steals, 2 blocks and a couple of boards. Real consistent play. The youngsters, 6'3 SO/SG, Franklin Matos, and 6'5 SO/SF, Jon Steffanson had 12 and 11 pts. respectively. Matos also grabbed 8 boards. Amauri Fernandez, 6'9 SR/F/G/C? chipped in 9 pts. and a couple of real nice assists.

Newcomer, and future star Sam Nadeau, 6'6 JR G/F did not play for disciplinary reasons.

So the stage was set for the matchup of the year so far. Artesia vs. Dominguez. Oh my!

AND THE WINNER IS…..

Forget all the hype and jockin and smack talkin. If you're a fan of prep bball in SoCal then you know that a game between Artesia and Dominguez is a dream come true. Well folks this one was "all dat and a phat bag o' doritos". Packed house, mega-star players, legendary coaches, championship game, SoCal (maybe WholeCal) braggin rights…it was ON.

The numbers?….

Tyson Chandler, 18 pts., 5 boards, 3 blks, 2 assists.
Jack Martinez, 18 pts.(2-3's, yes 2-3's), 5 boards, 2 steals, 2 asssist.
Keith Brooks, 12 pts., 4 boards, 1 steal, 1 assist
Amaury Fernandez, 13 pts.(one 3), 4 boards, 2 steals
Keilon Fortune, 9 pts.(one 3.), 7 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals
Andre Hazel, 17 pts,(2-3's), 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 blk.
Sherman Gay, 7 pts. (one 3), 2 boards, 1 blk.
Sam Nadeau, 10 pts.( 2-3's), 2 boards
Steve Moore, 6 pts. (one 3)

NOTES:

Jack Martinez scared the snot out of any future opposing coaches by showing that along with his already college level post and defensive game, he can step out and hit the jumper.…THE THREE POINT JUMPER…good grief. He pulled Tyson away from the paint at two critical points in the second half, both times Tyson stopped just inside the 3pt. line, both times Jack drifted behind the arc, pulled up, and hit the 3 "nothin but net". Both came at a time when Dominguez was trying to close a 5 or 6 pt. gap. Both brought the house down. Both contributed to his being named tournament MVP.

Tyson Chandler is now offically the "real deal". Sweet moves in the post, nice turn around hook, and perfect 6 for 6 from the line (did you find out how much they're payin Weber and Shaq yet?). All of the mobility that he shows on defense, the athleticism, the quickness, are being applied to an offensive game. Whoa unto the opposition.

A "guru" friend gave Dominguez coach Russel Otis some serious props by surmising that the coaching staff has purposely forced Tyson to concentrate almost exclusively on his defensive game, develop the shot blocking and rebounding, the footwork and the "weakside ball knowledge", while letting the rest of the Don's formidable offensive weapons worry about putting up points. That way Tyson doesn't get the "big head", doesn't become a "dunk only" wonder (how much are they payin Shaq?). If that indeed was the strategy then it's about to pay big dividends. Even if it wasn't, it's about to pay big dividends. The kid had 67 pts. in the last three games of this tourney….that's against some of the best folks. Look out world.

NOTE: Hey I'll tell ya who won when I get good and ready….okay… Artesia was up 38-34 at the half…now be patient.

Keith Brooks is gonna make some college coach very very happy. Big, quick, runs the floor, and virtually unstoppable in the paint. As consistent a player as you'll see.

Andre Hazel is gonna be a college star. Even at his size. He is a tenacious defender whose offensive game is developing before our very eyes. The real deal. Now.

Sam Nadeau (back from the dog house) has got "skilz". Wants to dribble a little too much in the open court but the good news is he will probably be one of the best ball handlers at his size 6'6 around. Seems to favor goin left so far, but look for that to change. Oh, and he can shoot the damn lights out, did I mention that.

Dominguez has expanded the offense to include getting the ball inside to Tyson. On it's face that should bode well because they've got a major scorer on the weakside in Brooks, and a prolific 3 pt. shooter on the perimeter in Steve Moore. In this game however they just couldn't get the ball to Moore often and early enough. He only TRIED 3-3's in this one, and all of em were late in the game when the coaches apparently realized that he'd been virtually left out of the offense and they needed some points real quick.

OKAY, here we go….

Artesia won 69-62. Dominguez came back from 10 down a couple of times, including late in the game when they cut it to 5. It was at about 3 min. left when the Don's coaches may have shot themselves in the foot.

With about 5-6 minutes left and Artesia up by 9 or 10, Dominguez put R.J. Bluette, (yes, THAT R.J. Bluette, he of so many schools he reminds you of Moses wandering the desert.)…anyway he's guarding Hazel, and is just "glovin" him. It got so physical that Andre got called for a foul after trying to knock Bluette down to get him off of him. Hazel is not touchin the ball and Artesia's offense gets a little disorganized. At about 3 min. Tyson scores on a MONSTER dunk that raises the roof and brings the Don's to within 5. Time out Artesia…good timeout. But, during the timeout, a Dominguez coach complains that the net on the basket that they're shooting at is in need of repair. Looked like a couple of the loops had come undone. It takes 5-6 minutes to get the thing repaired. Now Dominguez, who had the momentum, has given Artesia's coaches plenty of time to regroup, and more importantly in my mind, given Hazel who has expended massive amounts of energy fighting to get back into the offense against the smothering defense of Bluette, about 6 minutes of rest. Then when the Don's come back on the floor, Bluette is back on the bench, and a "fresh" Andre Hazel is up against Keilon Fortune. Artesia's offense is clickin again with the ball in the right guy's hands, and soon after….game over.

It was a great game to cap off a great tournament. Once again, Wayne Merino and the rest of the Artesia staff put on a top notch event.

later

jason day