LIVERMORE, CA -- Too big, too fast, just too much.
Southern California spotted NorCal an early lead, but then rallied to defeat the hosts 135-114 Sunday. The occasion was the Prep2Prep California Classic all-star game for rising juniors played before 1,500 at Las Positas College.
Scintillating Remy Martin of Sierra Canyon was voted the player of the game with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals.
“It was a blast to play with the best of the best on the West Coast,” Martin said. “To get the player of the game is just a payoff for all my hard work.”
Everything seemed in slow¬ motion during the warm ups: A 3-pointer, a layup there, a powerful dunk there. A fist¬ bump between two members of the Southern California team. A quick, intimidating glance between a Southern California and Northern California team.
But then the opening tip came and the pace quickened. On one of the first plays of the game, Jade’ Smith from the SoCal team shows his range and hits a 3-pointer. Jeremy Lillis answers with one 3-pointer, and then another 3-pointer and then a floating jumper. A drive and one by Angelo Athens and a few more baskets by Norcal gave NorCal a 16-6 lead after three minutes in the first quarter. But, oh boy, would the Southern California team respond.
After a timeout, they began applying a blistering press with lightning quick guards Remy Martin and Jordan Schakel. Their press worked and complemented with sloppy ballhandling from the Norcal players, they were able to break away for a few easy layups. With this energized pace, Martin, who finished with 17 points and player of the game honors, was able to show what makes him so special.
Martin stands 5-foot-11 but is absolutely relentless in driving to the basket. At the end of the first quarter, big man Cody Riley of Southern California swatted Damari Milstead’s layup attempt into the stands, and Socal held a 33-28 lead that it never relinquished. SoCal led 65-47 at the half.
Morse-San Diego center Brandon McCoy was pleased with his effort -- a 20-point, 17-rebound performance.
“I think I was really able to show off my hustle and motor tonight, along with my athleticism and length,” he said.
A slam dunk by McCoy off an alley-oop pass excited the Morse star.
“My favorite moment from the game was when my man threw it up to me on the break and I slammed it in,” he said. “It shows my athleticism, motor, hustle, and skill. But just having a connection like that with your teammate is something small, but a great feeling as well.”
At the end of three quarters, Southern California led 100¬77. With this big of a lead, you would think that Socal would let up a little. But all of the players had something to prove and there was no lack of competition even in the fourth quarter from either team. LiAngelo Ball, who is committed to UCLA, his talents in the fourth quarter. In one sequence, he converted a tough layup, stole it again for another layup, and then hit a deep three.
Besides McCoy and Martin, SoCal was led by Ethan Thompson with 18 points, LiAngelo Ball with 15 points, Jalen Harris with 17 points, and Cody Riley with 13 points. Northern California was paced by Alfred Hollins of Sacred Heart Cathedral with 25 points, Manteca’s Tyler Verhoeven with 13 points, and Placer’s Jeremy Lillis with 12 points.
“This was a great event. It was truly an honor to be selected to this team, and getting to know each of these talented players was something truly special,” McCoy said.
Hollins had a chance to play with his Sacred Heart Cathedral teammate Ramzi Carter who scored six points.
“It was fun,” Hollins said. “We’re on the same high school team so we have a good chemistry.”
NorCal coach Brian Botteen was impressed with McCoy who dominated inside against his smaller team.
“When I first saw him I thought ‘This guy looks like Urkel (from the old TV sitcom “Family Matters”) – I was like ‘Whoa, who’s this dude?’ But he was good."
