Elevation Prep and Beckley Prep got the action underway on Court 4 and it looked to be a tight battle between these two groups. Neither team was able to really create themselves any cushion, but Elevation Prep had some opportunities slip away from the free throw line early. It allowed Beckley Prep to secure a first-half lead at 39-28. BJ Mitchell led the charge in the first half for Beckley Prep, while Cooper James played well early on for Elevation Prep.
Second half, it was a different story for Elevation Prep, as their offense really started to find success behind the play of Kahmare Holmes and Brandon Smith. The big’s from Beckley Prep got in some foul trouble, which helped open up more for Elevation Prep. They were able to secure the lead and increase, eventually ending the day with an 86-72 victory.
Stats:
Elevation Prep:
Brandon Smith 21 points
Kahmare Holmes 19 points
Cooper James 15 points
Beckley Prep:
Kaden Smallwood 23 points
BJ Mitchell 13 points
Michael Judy 10 point
Standouts:
2022 BJ Mitchell (Beckley Prep): Small quick guard but a shifty and great change of direction on the floor. He uses his speed well to get his defender on his hip and attack, but also plays incredibly scrappy and sees the floor well. Loved his overall mentality on the court and was tough for defenders to keep in front.
2023 Sherlock Padamore (Beckley Prep): Even though he is a developing big offensively and still growing in what he can do, you can see that he can make an impact outside of scoring. Now, he did finish at times around the rim but Padamore’s ability to play big, use his length to create a wall on the defensive end, and do it without fouling was big for his team. Really active on the defensive end and on the boards.
2024 Kahmare Holmes (Elevation Prep): The young guard really stepped up with his play in the second half, as his team was down but he got his offense going inside and out, scoring 14 of his 19 points in the second half.
2024 Brandon Smith (Elevation Prep): Despite struggles from the free-throw line, Smith continues to impress with his ability to operate and be a primary scorer, using his size to his advantage and getting to the line. He did most of his damage from inside the arc, operating and being aggressive against the defense.