Friday evening gave me a good opportunity to visit my alma mater and catch an old rivalry match-up between host Moon Valley High School and visiting Greenway (2-4). After a very competitive first half, Moon Valley (4-2) would use a big second half to blow the game wide open - leading to a nice 56-34 home victory for the Rockets.
Both teams would compete hard in the game's first half, in a very low scoring affair. Greenway would walk into the locker rooms with a 21-20 lead.
The third period would tell the story though, as an athletic Moon Valley team would get things going after implementing a full-court press against Greenway. Greenway would have numerous turnovers in the third period, while the Rockets would capitalize - blowing the game wide open.
With 2:58 left to play in the third, 6-foot-7 junior forward Jok Jok would get a steal, and then travel the length of the floor and convert a three-point play after being fouled. The play would give the Rockets an 8-point lead margin. After a layup inside by 6-foot-3 senior guard Trevor Thompson, Moon Valley would take a 41-27 lead into the fourth period.
Moon Valley would outscore Greenway 20 to 7 in the game's third period.
In the fourth period, Jok Jok would ignite the home crowd with a nice two-handed dunk in transition. After a three-pointer from 6-foot-2 junior guard Gabe Lee, Moon Valley would take a 49-30 lead with 4:30 left to play in the game.
Moon Valley would then cruise to a 56-34 win. Moon Valley will next travel to Cortez High School on Tuesday.
Recruiting Notes: Moon Valley has a very athletic group and will be tough to beat all season long. They have a really good chance of going deep in the state playoffs this post-season.
6-foot-7 junior wing Jok Jok is a developing talent with a huge upside for the future. A lengthy forward prospect, Jok Jok is a skilled wing with a solid overall feel for the game and a solid shooting stroke from mid-range. He is an active rebounder and shotblocker. Able to play passing lanes very well on the defensive end of the floor. As he adds some serious physical size to his thin frame, we will see this young man really develop a great deal. His upside is glaring.
Moon Valley 6-foot-3 senior guard Trevor Thompson is a nice looking unsigned prospect for a smaller college program. Thompson is a combo-guard prospect with a nice overall feel for the game, and a solid shooting stroke with range. A good finisher inside the lane and a good ball handler and passer. A fundamentally sound prospect.
Greenway HS 6-foot-8 senior post Dante Barge has a chance to become a serious college prospect. He has a big body and good overall size as a post player. He can run the floor and is a solid finisher inside. While he still needs much better work ethic to really become a much more serious college prospect, his size alone suggests that he would be a good find for a smaller college program.
