AfterShocks | 7/19/2021 3:44:00 PM
Markis McDuffie last played a competitive basketball in mid-May. Switching into January mode in July took about six quarters of play in The Basketball Tournament.
When it happened, everyone noticed. McDuffie, for many reasons, was hard to miss.
"Having to play this type of defense in the middle of the summer, really lock in and defend – it takes a lot," he said. "Especially not playing in a real game in a while. I think it's winding me on the offensive end."
McDuffie's energy returned when the AfterShocks needed it most. He turned into a terror on defense and got hot from three-point range in the second half of Sunday's 76-73 win over Omaha Blue Crew.
He also earned a technical foul late in the game while protesting a non-call. His late-game heroics turned that from a disaster into a laugh moment from a big win.
"He's sticking with it," AfterShocks coach
Zach Bush said. "That's what he said after that 'Thanks for sticking with me.' Mark's used to being a guy that gets a lot of touches, isolation-type basketball. He's had to adapt. But he has made a huge impact defensively."
The AfterShocks plays Team Challenge ALS in Tuesday's third-round (round of 16) game at 8 p.m. (ESPN). The winner advances to the quarterfinals in Dayton, Ohio beginning July 31.
On Sunday, McDuffie scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half. His three-pointer cut the Blue Crew lead to 61-58 early in the fourth quarter. Another three pulled AfterShocks within 64-63. He added two free throws during the Elam Ending, the lone points scored by anyone other than
Conner Frankamp during a 13-6 run to win the game.
"I needed to put more legs, so I could hit those shots," he said. "The two shots I hit in crunch time, I think I got my legs up under me."
McDuffie's versatility makes him a player well-suited to TBT. He scores in many ways and defends guards and big men. McDuffie, Zach Brown and
Rashard Kelly keyed the small lineup that helped the AfterShocks deal with Blue Crew's outside shooting. All three are quick enough to switch on ball screens and big enough to handle mismatches.
"We wanted a defense that could switch and it's hard when you have a slower (center) and (forward) and you can't do that," Bush said. "It really puts you at a disadvantage."
That showed up late in Sunday's win with McDuffie, Kelly and Brown scrambling to shut down the Blue Crew. McDuffie's defense forced an airball by Admon Gilder with the score tied 69-all. Down 73-71, the AfterShocks forced four straight turnovers – two on steals by McDuffie – to keep the Blue Crew from hitting the target of 75. McDuffie ended the game with a steal and pass to Frankamp for the winning layup.
Team Challenge ALS is bigger than the Blue Crew, which might limit the minutes for the AfterShocks small lineup. Center Damonte Dodd, who blocked four shots on Sunday, could be in line for more time to match up against Team Challenge ALS center Deshawn Stephens, who averages 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.
"ALS gives us a challenge at (center)," AfterShocks general manager
Ron Baker said. "But Rashard has shown that he can play position and Zach Brown is a strong (forward) that we can utilize and hopefully keep people off the glass. We've got to really crack down on the boards, especially against (Team Challenge ALS)."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
