Warner Robins and Crisp County basketball duel in summer scrimmage

WARNER ROBINS — Over a week has passed since the Warner Robins Demons travelled to Baldwin High School for the first scrimmage of the summer, and they hosted Putnam County and Crisp County for another round on Friday.

There’s only so much you can read into summer scrimmages. Often times coaches aren’t using rotations, and aside from running set plays for practice there’s no real game plan.

That being said, here are a few observations from Friday’s scrimmage against Crisp County:

1) Gabe Jacobs and Justin Hill are no longer spot shooters

Suspicions from last week’s scrimmage against Baldwin were confirmed — Gabe Jacobs and Justin Hill are no longer sitting on the perimeter taking pin down screens into three-point shots.

Both Jacobs and Hill are much more involved in the dribble-drive part of the offense, and the frequency at which they drive to the rim is greatly increased.

Jacobs finished with a powerful slam in the fast break to open the second half of the varsity scrimmage, and Hill has showcased acrobatic finishes around the rim.

They also were much more vocal on the defensive end, communicating with the younger players on the floor and setting up the defense.

2) Tyler Harris is up next

Tyler Harris is a sophomore who’s been running with the varsity this summer.

The big man stands about as tall as Asher Jones (6-foot-5), and has the ball skills to take the ball up the floor in the fast break.

Garman post scrimmage admitted, “He’s a monster, I’m not wasting no time with him.”

There is still much to be desired as far as physicality and instincts around the rim goes, he goes up too soft for rebounds or put backs at times and that won’t fly in any high school varsity matchup.

That being said, though, the sophomore is definitely someone to keep an eye on as the year progresses.

3) Passing in the post

One takeaway from the scrimmage, at least when the starters were in, is that the Demons know how to work around the post.

Hill, Jacobs, Jones and Harris used pump fakes, quick passes and timely cuts to take advantage of Crisp County defenders.

In the fast break Warner Robins got several defenders to leave their feet as a trailing big dove to the rim, got the pass and finished the layup.

There were still a fair amount of misses and they struggled at times on the offensive glass, but if the team’s best shooters are going to be driving to the hole more often, this is important synergy to have.

UP NEXT

There’s still two weeks before the summer basketball schedule comes to a close and travel ball begins, but the Demons still have three play dates left before then.

Their next is on Tuesday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at home against Mary Persons.