Phenom Hoops took the road again to check in one of the top matchups not only in the area but in the state, as Concord First Assembly traveled to take on Jaden Seymour and Northside Christian. The energy was outstanding and both teams were ready for a battle.
IN the first half, teams traded baskets, with neither team being able to break past a 2 or 4-point lead. CFA shot the ball well early from three to secure the first-quarter lead but Seymour brought a tremendous amount of energy with three first-half dunks. Garrett Hien was incredibly aggressive, especially down around the block, using his feel and length to his advantage. CFA increased their lead to as many as nine points in the second quarter but Northside used a late run to bring themselves within two at halftime, 26-24.
Early on in the second half, Northside was able to take their first lead since the start of the first quarter, as MJ Collins put them ahead. From then on out though, it was two tough teams leaving it all on the court and trading blows. Trae Benham came alive in the second half for CFA to keep them within in a basket. Going down to the final seconds, when tied at 51 each it was the play of point guard Isaac Boothe who scored the go-ahead reverse lay-up which would be the final basket, giving CFA the 53-51 road win.
Final: Concord First Assembly 53 – Northside Christian 51
Stats:
Concord First Assembly: Garrett Hien 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks/ Trae Benham 14 points/ Javian Cannady 11 points
Northside Christian: MJ Collins 15 points/ Jaden Seymour 12 points/ Solomon Tucker 6 points, 7 blocks
Standouts:
2020 Garrett Hien (CFA): Hien was aggressive and productive on the floor, especially in the first half. With his length and versatility, he used that to his advantage, especially down low. His touch and feel for opponents were tough to stop, along with his ability to step out. You could see Hien playing tremendous energy and used his blend of size and quickness to finish at the rim.
2021 Trae Benham (CFA): Benham was quiet in the first half but stepped up big in the second half. He didn’t shy away from his offensive game, looking and moving without the ball constantly, getting open to get his shot off as well as putting the ball on the deck and attacking, showing his shiftiness on getting the ball to the rim. Really strong second-half performance.
2020 Jaden Seymour (Northside): Still coming back and being 4-5 games on the floor, Seymour showcased his bounce and athleticism that we have been missing for several months now. He threw down multiple dunks, got out in transition, and showed why his versatility and bounce intrigues so many coaches.
2022 MJ Collins (Northside): Collins continues to show why he is a sneaky prospect to watch in North Carolina for his class. His lengthy wingspan and ability to create as well as knock down big shots really helped his team. Collins won’t blow you away with flash but production is the name of his game.
2020 Solomon Tucker (Northside): Have to give credit when it is due. He may have not filled up the score sheet but Tucker did so many other little things that brought energy to his team, especially on the defensive end. He had to battle down low offensively but defensively is where he caught our attention, recording seven blocks, rebounded well, and really helped make it tough at times for CFA to attack inside.