CROWN POINT — Hell of a game tonight at Crown Point, as Sasha Stefanovic's team stole one from Valpo in a matchup between two very good teams.
Crown Point trailed by two with about 20 seconds left. Valparaiso put two guys on Stefanovic the whole length of the court to keep the ball away from him, after he beat them in the playoffs last year with an long three at the buzzer (or forced OT, can't remember). With Stefanovic out of the play, though, teammate Ken Decker made a jumper to tie the game. CP pressured on the ensuing possession and forced a turnover at midcourt, then pushed it ahead to guard Dominic Tomich for a layup at the buzzer to win it. It was crazy.
Anyway, Stefanovic finished with 16 points.
He came out and drilled his first two threes, looking like he was about to blow up. Then, he was called for a foul trying to take a charge. Then, he was called for another foul trying to take a charge. Later, he picked up a third foul on a rebound. And so went that rhythm as he spent most of the first half on the bench.
But he came up big in the fourth quarter, giving Crown Point a chance with some free throws and big shots, including his third three, and a pair of tough pull-up two-point jumpers. Crown Point loses easily without his timely fourth-quarter buckets.
Here's our video interview with him after. It's long and directionless on my part, but figured we'd put it up here first. We'll have video clips next week.
Some thoughts: Stefanovic does have more game to him than just the shooting. He is going to be a spot-up guy above all else at the next level, but he can create for himself in mid-range and looks like a good enough ball-handler for the role he projects for, he fought for rebounds, showing some toughness and he's longer, taller and more more athletic than what Purdue has now in the role he'll play at the next level. That's not to say those things will be strengths, but just using Mathias and Cline as a reference point, because I lose my sportswriter card if I don't lump all the white shooter guys together and compare and contrast lazily.
Stefanovic looks physically like he can stand to get bigger and stronger, similar to Cline, who has done so and reaped the benefits. Defense will be an area for development for Stefanovic — lateral quickness and quickness in all its forms will be emphases — but the fact he was out there trying to take charges at least shows willingness, which is a good base.
Good person, too. Very good person, seems like. Have to respect the high school stars who go out of their way to engage the children at their games.
Anyway, he looks the part of a really good fit at Purdue and a need filled considering what the Boilermakers will have to be replacing in the next few years and what it didn't yet have in its 2017 class.
Crown Point trailed by two with about 20 seconds left. Valparaiso put two guys on Stefanovic the whole length of the court to keep the ball away from him, after he beat them in the playoffs last year with an long three at the buzzer (or forced OT, can't remember). With Stefanovic out of the play, though, teammate Ken Decker made a jumper to tie the game. CP pressured on the ensuing possession and forced a turnover at midcourt, then pushed it ahead to guard Dominic Tomich for a layup at the buzzer to win it. It was crazy.
Anyway, Stefanovic finished with 16 points.
He came out and drilled his first two threes, looking like he was about to blow up. Then, he was called for a foul trying to take a charge. Then, he was called for another foul trying to take a charge. Later, he picked up a third foul on a rebound. And so went that rhythm as he spent most of the first half on the bench.
But he came up big in the fourth quarter, giving Crown Point a chance with some free throws and big shots, including his third three, and a pair of tough pull-up two-point jumpers. Crown Point loses easily without his timely fourth-quarter buckets.
Here's our video interview with him after. It's long and directionless on my part, but figured we'd put it up here first. We'll have video clips next week.
Some thoughts: Stefanovic does have more game to him than just the shooting. He is going to be a spot-up guy above all else at the next level, but he can create for himself in mid-range and looks like a good enough ball-handler for the role he projects for, he fought for rebounds, showing some toughness and he's longer, taller and more more athletic than what Purdue has now in the role he'll play at the next level. That's not to say those things will be strengths, but just using Mathias and Cline as a reference point, because I lose my sportswriter card if I don't lump all the white shooter guys together and compare and contrast lazily.
Stefanovic looks physically like he can stand to get bigger and stronger, similar to Cline, who has done so and reaped the benefits. Defense will be an area for development for Stefanovic — lateral quickness and quickness in all its forms will be emphases — but the fact he was out there trying to take charges at least shows willingness, which is a good base.
Good person, too. Very good person, seems like. Have to respect the high school stars who go out of their way to engage the children at their games.
Anyway, he looks the part of a really good fit at Purdue and a need filled considering what the Boilermakers will have to be replacing in the next few years and what it didn't yet have in its 2017 class.
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