Homecourt advantage for Wilmer Hutchins in win over Woodrow Wilson
Wilmer Hutchins High School - Juniors Davian Sanders and Jakevan Leftridge combined for 37 points off the bench to propel the Wilmer Hutchins Eagles (10-4A) to a 70-65 win over the Dallas Woodrow Wilson Wildcats (12-5A).
Wilmer was clinging to a one-point lead after the first quarter (18-17) but in the second the Eagles outscored the Wildcats 25-11 behind Sanders seven points, Zachery Ates eight points, and six points from Tyrese Cain who nailed two three-pointers. As the buzzer went off to end the half, Sanders hit a running three-pointer that banked in from 27-feet. At the half, Wilmer Hutchins took a commanding 43-28 lead.
Things started to turn the corner for the Wildcats in the second as their offense recharged and their defense tightened which only allowed the Eagles nine third-quarter points. Woodrow was lead by senior guard Lamar Everd and his seven points in the quarter and game-high 25 points. The Wildcats went to the fourth down 52-44.
The Eagles were able to hold off the charge of the Wildcats as it was Sanders and Leftridge who did the damage on the offensive side hitting 16 of the team’s 18 fourth-quarter points for the win.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Unsigned senior guard Lamar Everd has an impressive overall game. Everd produced on both ends of the court and drove to the basket at will, and he took contact and fought through defenders to score. He was able to hit the three and get by his defender with one or two dribbles to rise up and hit the mid-range jumper. He is a physical guard who is very athletic. College coaches need to take notice and start evaluating Everd for their program.
Point guard Davian Sanders got to work in a hurry after he stepped onto the floor for Wilmer Hutchins. Sanders is a playmaker with the ball in his hands with court vision, and touch passes. The 5-foot-9 Sanders set up his teammates when he had to, and he is a nice passer with zip on the ball. He displayed his burst in the open court and scored from 15-feet away and did initiate contact on his way to the basket off penetration.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Each team had a NKOTB and both left a strong impression on TexasHoops/GASO analyst Blue Zertuche.
Wilmer introduced class of 2019, 6-foot-5 wing Jakevan Leftridge and he looked every bit of the part of a Division I prospect. Leftridge is lean and has a good skillset. He drained two threes and got to the basket several times for his 16 points. Leftridge even showed off the dribble jumpers.
For Woodrow, sophomore Eduardo Andre is an athlete who is listed at 6-foot-9. Andre, a transfer from England, gets up and down the court and likes to set up from behind the arc. He is mobile, puts the ball on the floor and plays inside. Only scoring two points, he showed enough tools that should make him a Division I prospect.
TEAM AND PLAYER RANKINGS
Wilmer Hutchins’ five-point victory moved their record to 4-1 and Woodrow suffered their second consecutive loss that leaves their record at 2-2. Both teams are ranked by TABC in their respective class. Wilmer came in tonight’s game as the No.7 ranked in 4A and Woodrow hanging in the top 10 in 5A after their loss over the weekend to Coppell - Universal Academy Prep.
There were three ranked players in the game between the two teams. Wilmer’s Sanders has a ranking of No.43 in the 2019 class, and in the class of 2018 Woodrow’s Everd is No.52 and Karim Gunter stands at No.100.
Look for both Andre and Leftridge to crack the next TexasHoops.com rankings.