The Ledo’s Game of the Week takes place this Thursday, June 4th, and it is going to be a good one between two DC powerhouses. Tenley Tigers (Jackson-Reed) (3-1) will take on WCAC powerhouse Gonzaga (1-3) in Week 3’s edition of the Battle of the Ledos.
For Jackson-Reed, their season ended in disappointment, losing the District of Columbia Interstate championship to Theodore Roosevelt 65-74. Then they lost, one step away from reaching the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) final, when they were eliminated by Sidwell 46-49 in the semifinals. Reed had a great season last winter, going 22-10 and 14-1 in DCSAA play. They finished first in their league, winning themselves the regular-season title. The Tigers have continued to make statements against some of the better teams in Summer League. First, they opened up against Potomac on May 18, beating them 61-37. Then, on May 20th, they beat DeMatha 93-78, and then they beat Clinton Grace 71-66. Their only loss came to Bullis on Monday, June 1st, 66-85.
The Tigers’ strength is that they have good rotational depth at the guard position, currently carrying 11 of them on their roster. Three standouts for Jackson-Reed have been rising junior guards James Walker and Amir Burtley and their rising senior leader, guard Lane Mahan.
James Walker is 6-foot-3 and plays for DC Assault AAU. James’ strengths offensively are his ability to flat-out shoot the ball and his shot-making ability from 3-point range. Defensively, his strengths are his energy on the court, denying passes and putting heavy pressure on ball handlers. Through four games, he has been Reed’s best guard, averaging 13.3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2.3 steals per game. Walker’s best game came in a highlight victory when he went off, putting up 23 points and 3 steals, leading the Tigers to a 93-78 victory over DeMatha.
Amir Burtley is 5-foot-10 and is turning heads in his first Summer League with his effectiveness. Amir’s strength offensively is being a great setup man and being able to rack up assists even in games where he didn’t shoot as well. Against DeMatha, when he shot 1/7 from the field, he was still able to make an impact on the floor, racking up 8 assists. Defensively, he is a great perimeter defender due to his ability to disrupt passing lanes. Burtley is averaging 7.8 points, 5.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. Amir’s highlight game came in the loss to the Bulldogs, where he had a double-double, scoring 18 points with 10 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Lastly, their X-factor, Lane Mahan, who is 6-foot-4 and plays for the Washington Warriors. Lane is a versatile wing player who can play guard or forward. Offensively, his strength is his superior shooting ability. Defensively, his strength is using his height to cause havoc on defenders, getting boards and steals. Lane is averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.3 steals. Mahan is shooting an impressive 52.1% from the field, 46.2% from three-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. His highlight game came in the win over Grace, where he had 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals.
For Gonzaga, they are trying to find consistency after a 2025-26 season that proved to be a struggle on Eye Street. The Purple Eagles went 17-13 and 6-7 in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). Gonzaga hopes that, with a strong Capitol Hoops Summer League, they can end their WCAC championship drought of nine seasons. So far, the Purple Eagles’ only win came on May 29 against Heritage, 68-53. They lost to Potomac on May 22, 64-78, and on June 1, 48-49.
Gonzaga’s strength is their size, with 11 players over 6-foot-3 on their roster. Three standout bigs have been rising junior guard Matteo Jones, forward Peter Sherman, and senior forward Phinn Bon Salle.
Matteo Jones is 6-foot-2 and plays for Team Takeover in AAU. Matteo’s strength offensively is his ability to use his heavier weight to drive into the paint and get to the basket very efficiently. Defensively, his strength is his ability to box out and pick up rebounds. Jones is averaging 10.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. His highlight game came in the loss to Potomac, where he had 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Peter Sherman is 6-foot-6 and is looking to break camp with varsity next winter. Offensively, his strength is being an elite putback scorer who has great vertical pop, which is the ability to jump quickly off the floor without having to gather.
Phinn Bon Salle is a 6-foot-5 forward who plays for District Basketball Hoops in AAU. Phinn’s strengths offensively are being a great free-throw shooter, as he is shooting 85% from the line. Defensively, he uses his height to grab rebounds off the glass. Bon Salle is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds. His highlight game came in the loss to Potomac, where he had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist.
This game will certainly prove to be an interesting matchup as two district foes are going to go at it for the Ledo’s. Gonzaga has the height advantage, while Reed has the guard depth. The deciding factor for the Tigers could come down to their production off the bench, especially outside the big three of Walker, Burtley, and Mahan. For Gonzaga, the key could be to dominate the rebounding battle, as they play well when that battle goes their way. Gonzaga will certainly look to upset Jackson-Reed, but Reed would certainly like to make a statement that they are the best team in DC and the best team in Summer League. Both teams are definitely hungry for a win.