On Thursday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to Northwest Guilford, as the Vikings resumed their season against the visiting High Point Central Bison. After being halted for the last few weeks, there was plenty of mounting anticipation for the Vikings and examining their approach without guys like Christian Hampton and Dean Reiber. The same goes for the Bison, who have struggled to surface a ton of talent after Dheiu Deing and Kuluel Mading departed. Either way, the stage was set for these squads to do battle, and that's exactly what occurred…
Things quickly kicked off in favor of Northwest Guilford, jumping out to an early double-digit lead. Although the Bison ended the quarter with a six-point deficit, the Vikings responded with an absolutely insane outburst in the second period. They outscored the Bison 22-10 in the second quarter alone, allowing them to enter halftime with a 39-21 advantage. Following the break, High Point Central began mounting their comeback on sheer effort and determination. The Bison ultimately won the third quarter, but didn't have enough to overcome in the final period of play, which allowed the Vikings to secure a 62-52 victory.
Northwest Guilford:
6'0 '22 Connor Ballou
With the aforementioned duo gone, Ballou is now a clear leader and decision-maker for this Vikings group. He's a combo guard for all the right reasons, given his ability to legitimately run a team or effectively operate without the ball in his hands. Ballou is a reliable three-level scorer with sharp vision and exceptional perimeter shooting, which allows him to dictate the offensive action with relative ease. He possesses IQ, unselfishness, and a willingness to make the best possible play whenever possible. Ballou also highlighted great defensive prowess and forced multiple turnovers by intercepting passing lanes. Final stats: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
6'4 '22 Drew Watkins
Alongside Ballou, Watkins offers another extremely useful leadership presence on both ends of the floor. He's a tough, versatile, well-rounded wing/forward prospect with the ability to play bigger than his size as a defender and rebounder. Watkins scores the ball from all three levels and actively mixes up his approach in order to keep opponents guessing. He displays a high motor and quality feel for the game. Watkins is fairly skilled for his size, causes problems with his defensive versatility, and makes great decisions in the open floor. An all-around player with size, like Watkins, makes this team even tougher to handle. Final stats: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals.
6'2 '24 Jaylen Cross
Despite being the lone freshman on varsity, Cross is already a familiar face who we've seen throughout the last four or five years. Playing substantial minutes on this varsity team (as a freshman) usually indicates something deeper, and this instance is no different. Cross is currently being groomed to become the Vikings' next potential star. Obviously, a lot of his appeal is still consistent of flashes right now, but it's easy to see the makings of something special. Cross has possessed a quality feel for the game prior to middle school, and the IQ is still evident when operating with this group. He's long, plays hard, moves very well without the ball, and already causes problems for opponents with his defense and scoring. It's early, but Cross is one worth monitoring going forward. Final stats: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
Other noteworthy contributors:
5'10 '22 Jackson Hartzell- 7 points, 1 steal
6'5 '23 Wyatt Harbaugh- 6 points, 4 rebounds
6'1 '21 Jake Kawalec- 4 assists
High Point Central:
6'0 '21 Keith McDuffie and 6'1 '22 Tre Hill
The long, strong, tough duo of Hill and McDuffie were easily the most memorable standouts for the Bison. Unfortunately, Hill got injured right as he started hitting his stride in the third quarter and was forced to sit for the remainder of the game. McDuffie remained in and did everything possible to keep the ship afloat. He made passes, attacked the basket, pursued rebounds, and played with great energy defensively. Both guys showed a desire to step up and lead when they needed it most. Final stats (McDuffie): 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. Final stats (Hill): 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal.
Other noteworthy contributors:
5'10 '21 Tyler Robinson- 12 points, 1 steal
