The highly anticipated game between two cross town rivals was in full effect Friday night.... All of the Alumni from both schools wore their colors proud as their respected teams took the floor for what was expected to be a battle to the end.... Susquehanna had their cheering section, louder than ever as Steelton had Roller legend Eddie Albert leading the way cheering for his team...... Once the game began, all of the fans would not be disappointed.......
As the game began, both teams went back and forth trading baskets as 6'6 sr Shooting Guard Jonas Page (22 points) showed why he is considered one of the top prospects in Central PA and possibly in the State.... He hit shot after shot as The Rollers had no answer for him.... It was the 2nd quarter when The Indians began to pull away... with the score 15 - 12, in Susquehanna's favor, 6'4 Wing Joe Marshall (10 points) hit back to back jumpers followed by a three ball from 6'0 do it all guard Takhi Turner (11 points) as The Indians took a 22 - 12 lead......
Susquehanna would never trail after that point as 6'0 sophomore transfer from Florida Dae'Quan Fleming decided to take over for Steelton.... Fleming knocked down a deep three and then attacked the basket at will while he drained 4 free thows in a row... This kid has a really nice stroke and has athleticism for days.... The play of the night may have been when 6'7 Jr. Center Mikol Jenkins for Steelton blocked a dunk by The Indians 6'6 sr Forward Savalas Pope.... Jenkins is still very raw as a player but with more game time experience, he'll turn out to be a really nice player for Steelton....
On the flip side, Savalas Pope (15 points and 10 rebs) may have gotten his dunk blocked, but that was probably the worse thing that could have happened to that kid.... He went on to DESTROY Steelton as he finished "AND ONE AFTER AND ONE" in that paint.... He was so much stronger than any Steelton player as they had no answer for him..... Especially with guys like Anthony Ferguson and Broderick Settles-Simmons just coming back from Football and not being in any basketball shape..... He will be the key for Susquehanna if they are to make a deep run this year...
Steelton's new point guard James "Monk" Warren did well taking care of the basketball.... His problem seemed to be he hasn't been in the gym enough yet.... He's another football player trying to make the transition to basketball but his only other real help in the backcourt is Fleming.... Warren will have to hurry up and do some things on his own because The Rollers need him to be ready like YESTERDAY.....
Rameik Chapman came off the bench for Steelton to knock down 2 deep three balls and that's huge for his confidence.... It's nice to see him have an opportunity to play because it may not have happened had he stayed in the Susquehanna School district.... Ex Steelton pg Jordan Milberry is feeling that effect right now as it's difficult for any guard to crack the lineup at Susquehanna because of their "3 headed monster" Jr. combo guard Gabe Mack, Turner, and 6'1 Rock Solid Freshman PG Nehemiah "Bud" Mack....
Speaking of the Mack boys, all the did was control the tempo of the game.... Gabe Mack did a great job staying under control and hitting his free throws all game... He went 8 - 8 from the line in the 4th quarter alone for all of his game points.... Bud Mack ended the game with just 2 points but also had 10 assist as he fed Page, Turner and Pope time after time.... Most people are used to Bud scoring points from his time at Emmanuel Baptist last year but he won't be needed to average 20 ppg this year... As a freshman, I can see him averaging a solid 8 points, 8 assist, 7 rebs because he has the ability to do so.....
Susquehanna ended up winning the game 69 - 58 but the bright spots for Steelton were Sr. Swingman Mark Perry who was silent in the first half but finished with 19 points and 16 rebs while Fleming finished with 19 points, 8 rebs and a few nice moves off the dribble.....
As the season goes on, I can see both teams getting better and better while they possibly could see each other in the District Finals for Class AAA.....
Great job to both teams!
Coach Little
As the game began, both teams went back and forth trading baskets as 6'6 sr Shooting Guard Jonas Page (22 points) showed why he is considered one of the top prospects in Central PA and possibly in the State.... He hit shot after shot as The Rollers had no answer for him.... It was the 2nd quarter when The Indians began to pull away... with the score 15 - 12, in Susquehanna's favor, 6'4 Wing Joe Marshall (10 points) hit back to back jumpers followed by a three ball from 6'0 do it all guard Takhi Turner (11 points) as The Indians took a 22 - 12 lead......
Susquehanna would never trail after that point as 6'0 sophomore transfer from Florida Dae'Quan Fleming decided to take over for Steelton.... Fleming knocked down a deep three and then attacked the basket at will while he drained 4 free thows in a row... This kid has a really nice stroke and has athleticism for days.... The play of the night may have been when 6'7 Jr. Center Mikol Jenkins for Steelton blocked a dunk by The Indians 6'6 sr Forward Savalas Pope.... Jenkins is still very raw as a player but with more game time experience, he'll turn out to be a really nice player for Steelton....
On the flip side, Savalas Pope (15 points and 10 rebs) may have gotten his dunk blocked, but that was probably the worse thing that could have happened to that kid.... He went on to DESTROY Steelton as he finished "AND ONE AFTER AND ONE" in that paint.... He was so much stronger than any Steelton player as they had no answer for him..... Especially with guys like Anthony Ferguson and Broderick Settles-Simmons just coming back from Football and not being in any basketball shape..... He will be the key for Susquehanna if they are to make a deep run this year...
Steelton's new point guard James "Monk" Warren did well taking care of the basketball.... His problem seemed to be he hasn't been in the gym enough yet.... He's another football player trying to make the transition to basketball but his only other real help in the backcourt is Fleming.... Warren will have to hurry up and do some things on his own because The Rollers need him to be ready like YESTERDAY.....
Rameik Chapman came off the bench for Steelton to knock down 2 deep three balls and that's huge for his confidence.... It's nice to see him have an opportunity to play because it may not have happened had he stayed in the Susquehanna School district.... Ex Steelton pg Jordan Milberry is feeling that effect right now as it's difficult for any guard to crack the lineup at Susquehanna because of their "3 headed monster" Jr. combo guard Gabe Mack, Turner, and 6'1 Rock Solid Freshman PG Nehemiah "Bud" Mack....
Speaking of the Mack boys, all the did was control the tempo of the game.... Gabe Mack did a great job staying under control and hitting his free throws all game... He went 8 - 8 from the line in the 4th quarter alone for all of his game points.... Bud Mack ended the game with just 2 points but also had 10 assist as he fed Page, Turner and Pope time after time.... Most people are used to Bud scoring points from his time at Emmanuel Baptist last year but he won't be needed to average 20 ppg this year... As a freshman, I can see him averaging a solid 8 points, 8 assist, 7 rebs because he has the ability to do so.....
Susquehanna ended up winning the game 69 - 58 but the bright spots for Steelton were Sr. Swingman Mark Perry who was silent in the first half but finished with 19 points and 16 rebs while Fleming finished with 19 points, 8 rebs and a few nice moves off the dribble.....
As the season goes on, I can see both teams getting better and better while they possibly could see each other in the District Finals for Class AAA.....
Great job to both teams!
Coach Little
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