Prep Impressions: Dec. 4, 2010
I covered the Murrieta Valley-Moreno Valley Rancho Verde boys varsity basketball game for The Press-Enterprise on Dec. 4, 2010, and came away thinking about how Rancho Verde was completely dismantled by the same play, over and over again.
The Mustangs were unable to defend Murrieta Valley F Justin Gudger running off high-screen motion at least two dozen times. The 6-foot-4 senior would roll around a screen at the elbow and run to the low block. The pass would be there and he’d put it in, get the rebound or get fouled. It was a recipe for disaster for Rancho Verde.
The Mustangs never got closer than 12 points in the second half, and were out-rebounded by a margin of nearly 2 to 1. Gudger was everywhere, he had a season-high 27 points and added 12 rebounds. He played big in a big game, and it was almost like it was no big deal afterward. I guess that comes with winning a CIF title as a junior.
Rancho Verde didn’t have a player who could run with him. The Mustangs tried F Fred Collins, W Aaron Cheatum, F Lance Jones and W Jordan Grace. Nobody could keep up with Gudger. It mas a mismatch from the very start.
Mustangs coach Travis Showalter was nonplussed after the game. He was already in the parking lot when I caught up to him. He didn’t want me to quote him, the agreed to talk only after snidely saying, “What could you possibly ask me? You saw me out there for three hours. But go ahead.”
I had forgotten my initial question in the maelstrom (something about Gudger kicking his team’s teeth in) but I asked, “Had you expected this kind of outcome to the game?”
“Had I expected this kind of outcome to the game? What kind of question is that?” Showalter asked.
“Well, you know, if you had thought about how this game was going to turn out,” I said. “Would you have expected this kind of outcome?”
It may not have been the best, most basketball-centric question but it was the one I asked. His answer can be found in the above link.
Murrieta Valley’s Austin Quick is aptly named because he’s quick to read and exploit the spaces left open by defenses geared to Gudger. He got to the basket for layups several times and also featured a decent mid-range jump shot.
No single player on Rancho Verde stood out. I had expected senior 6-5 wing Cheatum and senior 6-5 forward Collins to hold their own against Gudger but neither was up to the task. Smaller, faster forwards like Jones and Grace were defending Gudger in an effort to simply keep up with him.
Swiping aside Inland Area No. 7 Rancho Verde by 18 points is no small feat, even for No. 4 Murrieta Valley. If Gudger, an early candidtate for Player of the Year, can continue to produce huge double-doubles against elite teams, who knows how high the Nighthawks can soar.
QUOTES FORTHCOMING FROM:
Steve Tarabilda, Murrieta Valley coach
Justin Gudger, Murrieta Valley senior forward
INLAND FIELDHOUSE 