SoCal High School & Prep Report
SoCal High School & Prep
Report
Pooh Richardson Stealth: Verbum Dei Beats Washington--(December 17,1997)
Here's another great one from Jason Day about the top-secret Pooh Richardson Classic west coast version held this last weekend which nobody knew about (except for a few lucky folk). This was actually supposed to be the first article in the series (after the intro piece yesterday) but it got lost in the ether. We're not sure if there's yet another report coming on the Crenshaw game, but we can all hope. For now you'll have to just imagine how good that one was, and be satisfied with reading Jason's great take on the Verbum Dei-Washington contest.
THE POOH RICHARDSON CLASSIC
VERBUM DEI BEATS WASHINGTON (DEC. 13)
By Jason Day
I got to this one with 5:50 left in the 2nd quarter. (See accompanying article for explanation and background on this event.) Verbum Dei High, led by up and coming Junior guard, Marlon Palmer was in a tight one against L.A. Washington High and their stars, Curtis Slaughter and B.J. Laffitte. The score was 18-14 when I got there.
Washington’s strategy was easy to figure, get the ball to Slaughter and let him shoot – from any and everywhere. He’s clearly their outside threat, and every time Verb would score, Slaughter would answer from the outside, or he’d miss and Laffitte would get the rebound and put back.
Washington stayed in a 2-3 zone and occasionally trapped in the half court. Verbum Dei was satisfied with passing it around the perimeter looking to shoot from outside. The problem was that they’d only get one shot as Washington crashed the boards very effectively, then were off to the races on the break.
Some folks list Washington as one of the sleepers in the City Section this year. I would have to agree. They play good team defense and can run the break off of turnovers with the best of 'em. If they’re rebounding and running they're going to be a formidable foe for anybody.
At 3:43 of the 2nd quarter, Slaughter went to the bench with 3 personals. Verb was able to keep close and was only down 30-26 at the half. This was mainly due to the free throw shooting of PG Marlon Palmer who was the only Verb player taking it to the rack and at least getting sent to the line because of it. He finished with 31 points, at least half of which were from the line.
Early in the second half, this game started to look like most observers might have expected. Washington stepped up the pressure and began to run, run, run, and Verbum Dei wasn’t aggressive enough, or quick enough, to stop them. Washington was up by 14 in the middle of the 3rd.
Slaughter started to hobble at about the same point in the game and it clearly effected him. That fact, and picking up his 4th personal near the end of the quarter, pretty much took him out of the action. He really wasn’t a factor for the rest of the game and finished with 12 pts. When he slowed, the entire Washington team seemed to slow down too. Unfortunately, at just about the same time, Verb decided to come alive. Their zone became more aggressive and they started outrunning Washington.
Washun DeShields (6'-3" Jr. SG/SF) started throwing his 185 lbs. of muscle around under the boards and came up with some huge offensive boards and put backs. Washington started missing and DeShields and Jr. C/PF Dalron Johnson starting clearing the glass. Outlet to Palmer, fill the lanes, and you have the makings of a first rate fast break.
Palmer is deceptive. At first glance he seems to be more of a scorer, with great slashing moves to the hoop. Word around town was that he was kind of a selfish player who didn’t pass much. Well in this one, he passed and he did it with flash and finesse. On one of their breaks, a 3 on 2, Palmer hit the left elbow, slashed right, then threw a right handed (he’s a lefty) wrap around pass to Washun for a pretty lay-in finish. Marlon has all the skills of a point guard and then some. I can’t wait to see him play a few more times so I can make a real assessment. But any way you look at him; he’s a talented kid with another season left to get even better.
DeShields is a kid I love to watch. Verbum Dei was playing without Jr. SG, Cedric White who was either at a test or lost at Southwest College, depending on who you asked, so Washun got more time in the slot. First, he always seems to be having a good time on and off the court. One of the nicest kids I’ve met in awhile. As a ball player he’s got all kinds of potential. Athletic, and very quick, he also possesses a good mid-range jumper, and can get to the rack when he feels like it. He also showed that he’s not afraid to fight for the bounds with the big boys. His defensive skills are also impressive. His play late in the 2nd half was a big reason Verb got back in this one.
Which brings me to Dalron Johnson, Verb’s "big man". Most observers will tell you that Dalron doesn’t always play with the intensity that his position dictates. And frankly, I saw some of that in the first part of this game. He didn’t seem tentative, just not willing to put in that second and third effort in places. Well, I don’t know who pushed the button, but this dude stepped up in the second half of this game. His rebounding and defense on the block was a big factor. He’s a great passer, can hold his dribble in short bursts (don’t take it the length of the floor Dalron), and, when he’s fired up, will walk up an opponents chest to rebound or dunk it. On top of that, he can shoot. Out to about 15 if he has to. Good player, just needs to be more consistent in his effort out there. He finished with 13, 11 in the 4th quarter.
With these three finally deciding to listen to Coach David Greenwood and "attack the zone, take the ball to the hole", Verbum Dei erased the 14 pt. deficit and tied it up early in the 4th. Washington continued to make a game of it, mostly on the back of Laffitte who sort of reminds me of DeShields in his intensity and game.
Late in the 4th, Verb was up by 3. Palmer brought it up and made a pretty change of pace move to the hoop, was fouled, and calmly walked to the line. Swish, Swish. Cool, calm, and collected.
Washington still had hope, the ball, and Slaughter. But he could only manage two hurried attempts from 3-pt. land. Neither prayer was answered. Verbum Dei 66, Washington 61.
Big fun. Nice game.
Jason Day
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