On Tuesday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to Greensboro Day School, as the Bengals prepared to host Forsyth Country Day in a potential game of the year matchup. Given the back-and-forth battle that would ultimately ensue, it certainly lived up to the billing. The gym was packed, the atmosphere was lively, and each team highlighted its abundance of talent. Although things kicked off in favor of the Bengals, the Furies quickly fought back to take a 14-9 lead going into the second quarter. It remained extremely close through each of the first three periods (30-25 at halftime, 46-45 after three quarters), and Forsyth Country Day held a mere one-point lead entering the final eight minutes of play. Although it was truly anyone’s game, Greensboro Day has a knack for taking care of business in situations like these. They did exactly that to secure a 56-53 victory and hand the Furies their first loss of the season.
Greensboro Day:
6’3 ’26 Marty Giant
In my opinion, Giant was the difference-maker in this contest. Not only does his production confirm this notion, but anyone who watched the game can attest to his nonstop impact on both ends of the floor. He completely led the charge in the first half, showing the ability to consistently rebound, push the break, and get downhill to finish or set up others. Giant’s high IQ, terrific motor, and versatile two-way identity make him a matchup problem for the majority of opponents. His ability to play much bigger than his size allows him to defend multiple positions and outwork opponents on the glass. However, Giant possesses the skillset to do basically everything on the floor. He can adapt to whatever role his team requires. It’s difficult to say anything other than positives about Giant from this contest. He should definitely have more attention from college coaches. Final stats: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.
6’3 ’28 Micah Gunter
After somewhat of a pedestrian first half by his standards, Gunter completely took over the game when it mattered most. He saw a lot of different defensive assignments and schemes, but managed to consistently find scoring opportunities. Gunter did an excellent job of not forcing the action and remaining efficient with his touches from start to finish. In crunch time, he visibly took control of the team, applied pressure as a penetrator, and iced the game down the stretch. Add in several big rebounds and key plays defensively, and it’s easy to see Gunter’s value. Final stats: 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal.
6’7 ’28 Andrew Juergens
Easily one of the main x-factors in this contest, the Bengals simply don’t win without huge early contributions from Juergens. He’s a long, bouncy athlete who does a phenomenal job of putting pressure on the rim, spacing the floor, and playing hard on either side of the ball. Juergens hit a massive trio of three-pointers and had two powerful finishes on the break. Beyond the scoring, he impacted the game well through his motor as a defender and rebounder. Final stats: 13 points and 3 rebounds.
Forsyth Country Day:
6’7 ’27 Jayon Connor
Although he ultimately fouled out late in the game, Connor highlighted his usual blend of size, strength, and explosiveness. He’s such a rugged, powerful athlete who excels at getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim. However, the opposition did a terrific job of limiting these opportunities by loading up the paint and not allowing the Furies to run in transition. Connor still found ways to finish and get to the line. He defended multiple positions and rebounded at a solid rate. Connor is still truly harnessing his long-term potential. Final stats: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.
5’9 ’26 Q Williams
It’s easy to appreciate the intelligent, balanced way that Williams runs a team. He’s a crafty, unselfish point guard who simply knows how to dictate the action as the primary creator. Williams does a terrific job of breaking down opponents and navigating where he wants off the bounce. He sees the floor extremely well that he’s able to evade extra defenders and quickly locate the best available shot on a regular basis. Williams consistently got others involved, but elevated his scoring as needed late. He defended with energy and rebounded well for his size. Final stats: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.