Local players try to find fit at Iverson Classic Invitational

FRANCONIA >> All-Star games aren’t for everybody.

Generally, it’s a guard-dominated game so big men like Abington senior Eric Dixon and Plymouth Whitemarsh senior center Naheem McLeod don’t get a lot of touches and rarely get the ball back once they give it up. With defense not being a priority and one-on-one play taking over for team ball, it’s also a tough game for team-first guys like Pennridge senior Sean Yoder and Abington senior Lucas Monroe to thrive in.

Still, that didn’t stop the four from doing what they could to enjoy their part in the Play By Play Invitational as Part of the Iverson Classic on Monday night at Souderton.

Led by a game-high 50 from team MVP Isaiah Wong, Team Local defeated Team USA and team MVP Josh Pierre-Louis’ 39 points in a 165-153 overtime barnburner.

“It really isn’t my type of game at all,” Yoder, who led Pennridge on a storybook ride to the PIAA 6A title game, said. “I’m a team-first guy, a pass-first guy. I’m just having fun with it. Some of these guys are crazy, some of them are going to be in the league (NBA), so it’s a good opportunity and a good atmosphere.”

Yoder finished with just three points, finally getting a 3-pointer to fall in overtime but he left classic Yoder signs in other areas. At one point in the third quarter, he pointed out a Team Local ballhandler dribbling to an open part of the floor and upon realizing nobody else wanted to do it, the Naval Academy recruit rotated over and tried to stop the ball.

“I was joking with (Lower Merion’s) Jack (Forrest) the whole time like ‘I can’t guard these guys, I’m the pass-first guy,’” Yoder said. “It’s stuff like that, I’ve been taught that since grade school and I’ll take ownership, it doesn’t matter what game or what atmosphere I’m in, I’m going to compete.”

The Pennridge senior was a late add to the game roster, but it felt like half the crowd was there just to see him. Rams coach Dean Behrens came out, as did a number of Yoder’s teammates.

“I think that’s one of the reasons they added me, if not the only reason, but I’m alright with that,” Yoder said with a smirk. “It feels good, the community is behind me and I like that.”

McLeod knew going in he wasn’t going to get a whole lot of touches but PW coach Jim Donofrio, who helped coach Team Local, still gave him some pregame advice.

“He just said ‘show them why you’re going to Florida State’ and that’s  what I came out here and tried to do,” the 7-foot-3 center said. “You just try to have fun and win. I wasn’t expecting the ball a lot tonight. You have a lot of highly talented dudes on these teams who wanted to come out here and show their talents so I wanted to adjust my game and fit in.”

McLeod finished with 13 points, including a banked-in 3-pointer in the first half, a lob dunk off a feed from Chris Ings and a couple other slams.

In his four years at PW, McLeod played with or against many of the other guys in the game, so he knew some of what was coming and added the experiences he had have better prepared him for life in the ACC next year.

“If I didn’t play against high-level talent like this, I probably would have stopped playing basketball,” McLeod said. “Basketball is something you have to enjoy to do, it’s at its best when you love it so that’s always what I come out here and try to do.”

Outside of a pick-up game, the next time Dixon and Monroe see each other will be as opponents in a Big Five game in the city.

Dixon, who has been battling a couple of hand injuries the past few weeks, started slow but picked things up in the fourth quarter with a three, one of his patented baseline fadeaways and a typical post power bucket and finished with 11 points. He also got a set-up pass from Monroe one last time and tried to get his Ghost teammates and good friend back with a lob pass.

Monroe scored on the sort-of-lob but it wasn’t the most artistic display.

“I was just laughing, he’s never been a great passer,” Monroe said. “My knees are a little bit sore, so I couldn’t get up as high on it as I wanted anyway, but I’d expect nothing less from him.”

“It’s always fun, that’s one of my best friends and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he’s my friend now and he’ll be my friend in a few years and a further down the line,” Dixon said. “I tried to throw him a lob, it was a little iffy, but it was fun to get out here with him again.”

The Penn-bound Monroe had eight points but also grabbed a share of rebounds and threw some good lead passes that turned into buckets.

“These definitely aren’t my type of games,” Monroe said. “But it was fun and a good experience. There’s a lot of talent out here so it’s always fun to play against good talent.”

Coming off a Donofrio Classic championship and now Monday’s game, Dixon said he plans to take a little time off and let his nagging injuries heal up. The 6-foot-7 forward is heading to Villanova and he knows this is a big summer for him in terms of getting stronger and more conditioned.

“We’re excited about playing together and playing with a group of winners,” Dixon said. “My family and friends were here, some school members came out to see me. I just like playing basketball.”

Both Ghosts standouts agreed their battles in the area the past four years helped shape them for college basketball and staying close to home was a big pull for both seniors.

“Philadelphia is one of the best cities in the world for basketball,” Monroe said. “We have a lot of young talent here, I mean there’s 20 Division I kids in this gym right now. It’s special for me being able to play against  a lot of these great players, I think it really prepared me for the next level.”

Wong won’t be staying in the area for college, instead heading down to the University of Miami. But he’s left quite a legacy despite playing just two years at Bonner-Prendie.

A tailor-made player for the high-tempo all-star game pace, Wong was smooth and controlled as he showed off all facets of his deep offensive game. He was also clutch, stealing a pass then hitting a corner three late in the fourth that helped force overtime before leading Team Local to the win.

“I just wanted to take the shots I usually take, try to avoid turnovers and play with composure,” Wong said. “That’s always my mindset, to get the MVP every game and try to have the best game out of everybody and just be consistent.”

The back-to-back PCL Player of the Year only missed six shots and was strong on the offensive glass, getting a lot of putbacks for buckets. Despite the high point total, the game was pretty close throughout and it certainly helped ramp up the competitive edge in the final moments.

“We took notice late and all of us as a team started pressing,” Wong said. “We did a great job coming back.

“It’s a great honor to been noticed as the MVP of a game with all these great players, especially (Pierre-Louis), he’s a great player and it was a great experience.

“This is all I ever wanted, to be prepared and ready for college because I don’t feel like waiting. I think I’m a player who can produce right away and playing in this area has helped me to do that.”