Monday, February 18, 2013

9th/10th House Basketball Wrap-Up: The Season Draws to a Close



By Stephen Barston


With Duke winning the championship this past Wednesday, it was bittersweet ending to the House basketball season: sweet for the Blue Devils, who used their depth to coast through the playoffs, but sour for the rest of the league, who now must wait until next year to bring home the title for their team. Throughout the year, there were big surprises and players that need recognition for their great performances week in and week out. On that note, here are my awards for the 2012-2013 house basketball season…

MVP:George Reed, Texas Texas fought its way up from #10 in the preseason power rankings and ended up as the last undefeated team in the league. Reed did it all for the Longhorns throughout the season, scoring, setting up buckets for his teammates, and playing ferocious defense, too. The only thing he couldn’t do was find his way to the championship game, but that’s easily overshadowed by his consistency in the regular season.

Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Traver— It was no coincidence that Syracuse allowed the fewest points in the league this season; each game, they were led on the defensive end by Daniel Traver. Traver’s quickness and strength allowed him to defend guards and big men, seeming to hold everyone he covered to below-average performances, even if he was going up against someone taller than him.

Newcomer of the Year (Best Freshman): Jamie Schofield— Schofield’s versatility constantly makes him a threat on the offensive end. On fast break opportunities, he can break through the defense with a few quick steps and get to the hoop to draw a foul. In half-court possessions, he can work the ball around to his teammates or size up his defender to get into open space and knock down a shot. Congrats to him for a solid season, and look for him to wreak even more havoc as a sophomore next season.

Surprise Team of the Year: Stanford— Stanford was ranked 7th at the beginning of the season, and, in my opinion, lacked a true star to guide their team. That ended up being irrelevant. Sophomores Davis Nixon, John Mackie, and Anthony DiMeglio spearheaded a squad that centered around impeccable chemistry and that worked efficiently together. They ended up near the top of the standings, much to the surprise of many House fans, but there was good reason for their success.

Player(s) to Look For In the Future: The Drake Brothers— As the sophomores move on to 11th/12th grade house basketball next year, the Drakes will still be in the 9th/10th league and will have a certain advantage. This year, they found a way to lead their team of all freshmen to a few victories despite all the odds being against them. They are the perfect guards: shooting and passing specialists that can orchestrate a dangerous offense. Look for them to find success next year with valuable experience and a full season under their belts.

Once again, congratulations to Duke on a successful season (to say the least) and see you all next season…

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