GAME PREVIEW: Millbrook vs. John Handley
WINCHESTER, VA - Tonight, 2 Northwestern District powerhouses will face off in Winchester, as the #5 Millbrook Pioneers will host the John Handley Judges, with tipoff set for 8:00pm, and broadcast Live on the Gameday Radio Network.
The Pioneers, led by Jordan Sugars and Erick Green, are looking to defeat the Judges for the 2nd time this season, and with a win, can control their own destiny in the chase for a District crown.
The Judges, led by JJ Dorsey, have other plans, as they look to gain a tie for 1st place in the District standings, and also gain redemption for the loss they suffered earlier this month to Pioneers, despite playing on their own floor.
Players to Watch:
The Pioneers are led by the outstanding play of guards Jordan Sugars and Erick Green. Sugars currently holds the school record for most points in a career, and is the only player in Pioneer history to eclipse 1000 points in a career. Sugars is also the team leader in rebounds, grabbing 8.8 per game. As for Green, he is leading the team in scoring this season, averaging 19.4 points a game, and has amassed 310 points total on the season. He shoots 42% from behind the arc, as well as 55% from 2-point range, making him a colossal scoring threat. Other Pioneers the Judges need to pay attention to include Clayton and Calvin Rodney, and Levon Williams.
The Judges are led by All Sport star JJ Dorsey, who is the team leader in all 5 major categories (points, rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks). Dorsey averages 15.1 points per game, 6.3 boards, and also has accumulated 26 steals, and 16 blocks on the season. Vance Washington is also a threat for the Judges, averaging 10.3 points a game.
Keys to the Game:
If the Pioneers want to win this game, they will have to shoot well from the floor to help neutralize the Judges' ability to grab the boards. Avoiding careless, mental mistakes will also play a big key. There isn't much the Pioneers can do to stop Dorsey all together, so they will have to try their best to simply keep his contributions to a minimum and make the other players for the Judges step up.
For the Judges, Dorsey will have to have his usual prolific game. He has shown his ability to shift momentum in games very quickly this year, as he has drawn 7 charges and has 26 steals in just 13 games. The Judges will also have to have an exceptional day on the defensive end of the court, as the Pioneers have 3 players that average double digit points (Erick Green, Jordan Sugars, Clayton Rodney). The Pioneers have the edge by playing at home, so neutralizing the crowd early with big plays in the opening minutes will play a huge factor in the final outcome.
Our Prediction:
The Judges will give the Pioneers everything that they can handle, as they have really come together as a team since the last time they faced the Pioneers. However, the Pioneers have improved as well, and have shown their dominance in District play. Expect a close game with the Pioneers coming away with a victory.
Final Score: Millbrook - 53 Handley - 45
