With the regular season on the Nike circuit winding down and the Peach Jam field becoming more and more clear, Sunday was a day to continue the clarity process and show who will be playing in Augusta in July. Sunday was also a day of some great rivalries within the high school basketball and EYBL realm. Here are some of the top rivalry matchups and notes from the day:

Expressions Elite vs. The Rens

These two northeast teams went at it in the early session of the morning and with it came a game featuring the top two players in the state of Connecticut, Hamidou Diallo and Tremont Waters. Despite the size disadvantage, Waters drew the task of defending Diallo early on and the small guard was tough as nails in defending. Overall, Expressions was able to contain Diallo until a flagrant foul caused his ejection from the game. Waters and the rest of Expressions had trouble getting their offense going, and it was Rens forward Jordan Nwora who gave his team a lift to a win off of twenty points including four three’s. 

MOKAN vs. St. Louis Eagles

Trae Young and Michael Porter have been a huge draw this week, with crowds flocking in and creating fun atmospheres for games. This one with a rival St. Louis Eagles club was no different. However, it was the Eagles guards who spoiled the fun for MOKAN. Darius Garland, Jordan Goodwin, and Brandon McKissic did a great job on both ends. Goodwin was particularly great in limiting Michael Porter down the stretch. The Eagles got a great effort from Silas Adheke as well in a big win. Goodwin and Adheke both had 14 points, while Trae Young and Michael Porter combined for just 34 points on 9-27 shooting. 

Collin Sexton vs. Davion Mitchell

As far as player matchup go, there were few better than Southern Stampede guard Collin Sexton and Georgia Stars guard Davion Mitchell. Sexton has been on a tear all season on the circuit, averaging over 30 points per game. This game only helped that average. He and Mitchell went back and forth and battled all game long, in a game that eventually saw its way into overtime and included an extended period where the Stars played with four players. However, in the end it was Sexton hitting a game winner in a tie game as time expired for the win. He finished with 44 points while Mitchell had 27. 

Montverde vs. Montverde

CIA Bounce 2018 forward Simi Shittu and E1T1 Elite 2017 forward Bruno Fernando, both Montverde Academy standouts, were involved in a physical battle that had its back and forth moments. Shittu got the better of Fernando in the matchup, with Fernando scoring 10 points and Shittu scoring 16 as well as using his craftiness to get Fernando in foul trouble. However, it was Fernando’s E1T1 team that got the win from great performances from Kevin Knox and Tyler Polley. 

Other Top Performers

Quade Green, PSA Cardinals: For a point guard, it doesn’t get much better than 13 assists and 0 turnovers. Throw in the casual 22 points that Green put up as well and you have a very good performance. Green is also a great leader for the Cardinals, who got a big win over Phoenix Phamily without star big man Mo Bamba. 

Marcus Bagley, Phoenix Phamily: The younger brother of Marvin, the 2020 shooting guard was lights out from three against the PSA Cardinals, scoring 12 points on four threes. There is a ton of potential here and Marcus will be the next in line for the Bagley family. 

Luka Garza, Team Takeover (pictured): The Takeover big man was a force on the block in the night game against Southern Stampede. He showed a variety of moves and counter moves as well as some impressive finishes on his way to an efficient 18 points. He was a game changer in the win for Takeover. 

Ryan Boyce, Team Penny 16U: Boyce was a big part of a Team Penny gold bracket win over Team Texas Elite. He showed that he can score in the midrange as well as proved himself to be a very explosive and dynamic athlete. There were also a number of possessions were he defended Team Texas standout big man Charles Bassey. Overall, it was a great performance.