Pinnacle High School (3-2) has had an interesting start to the high school season. With a talented group of young prospects, combined with a few good senior performers, Pinnacle was coming off two bad losses before entering their own tournament this week - the Duel in the Desert. A very nice event locally, organized by terrific head coach Charlie Wilde, Pinnacle is looking to get back into their winning ways this week against some good out-of-state competition.
Pinnacle is off to an excellent start this week, after re-focusing as a team and getting some home crowd support from their fans. Pinnacle would begin the event with a huge 68-51 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral (CA) on Thursday evening. On Friday evening, Pinnacle would face a very talented but young group of prospects from Mater Dei Catholic HS (CA). This is not the basketball power Mater Dei from southern California, but instead a high school program from San Diego, CA.
Mater Dei Catholic has some of the West's top young prospects, led by the play of nationally ranked 2018 prospect, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Miles Norris. Norris would play well in the game, but would be defended very well by Pinnacle's post players. Pinnacle's combination of 6-foot-7 senior post A.J. Elliot (Point Loma signee), 6-foot-9 senior forward Nick Mains and 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Patrick Kelly would provide excellent teamwork inside the paint against Norris - slowing him down all night, while the Pinnacle guards exposed Mater Dei's backcourt.
Pinnacle would jump out to a big 33-24 lead in the second half, before a big run. After a three-pointer from the corner by 6-foot junior guard Noah Whitsoe, another three-pointer from the corner by 6-foot junior guard Nathan Gorsuch (pictured), a nice three-point play from 6-foot freshman guard Spencer Rattler and then a three-pointer from the top of the key by Nick Mains, Pinnacle would take a huge 47-28 lead with 7:35 left to play in the game.
Charlie Wilde would then insert much of his young bench for the remainder of the game, as Pinnacle would then cruise to a nice 56-44 home tournament victory.
Pinnacle would have a very well balanced effort in the win, as Nathan Gorsuch would lead Pinnacle with a team-high 9 points, and Nick Mains would finish with 9 and A.J. Elliot would contribute 8 points.
Pinnacle will host Regis Jesuit (CO) at 2PM on Saturday in the event - their toughest test in the tournament.
Notes: Pinnacle head coach Charlie Wilde has a very talented young group of players this season, led by the play of 5-foot-10 freshman starting point guard Trent Brown and 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Patrick Kelly. Brown is playing excellent basketball this season, and is among the best freshman prospects in the state - starting from the point position for one of the state's better basketball programs. Brown is the son of terrific former college coach Mark Brown, and looks to be a budding young prospect. Kelly is coming off an injury last season, and so Wilde has brought him along slowly. Kelly will be a force for Pinnacle as the season progresses, and is one of the state's top young 2018 prospects.
