#7 National Christian Academy vs #5 Roland Park: Who Jumps Higher (Title IX click bait)

#7 National Christian Academy vs #5 Roland Park   Game two for both teams and one of the most anticipated games was NCA against Roland Park. The subplot to this game was seeing stars Anissa Rivera and Mir McLean, two high flyers, go head to head with each other. After a little back and forth the game was tight with the Reds up one 17-16 after the first quarter and up 35-31 at the break. At the half both Rivera and McLean had 12 points in a game that was living up to it's hype. The big difference in the game came in the third quarter as the Eagles could only manage to score six points and Roland Park extended the lead to 44-37. National Christian fought and clawed but couldn't overcome the deficit, shooting only 33% from the line (4 for 12) didn't help their effort either. In the end it was the Roland Park Reds advancing to the championship game with a 54-48 win.   Standout Players from NCA vs Roland Park   Tyinahia Skinner - 5'2" - Point Guard - National Christian Academy - 2019 [caption id="attachment_22244" align="alignnone" width="150"] Tyinahia Skinner[/caption] Tyinahia tied for the Eagles leading scorer with 18 points in the game. She opened up the defense with her three point shooting hitting a trey early in the game and then started her attack. As her scoring increase she started drawing an extra defender to trap which wasn't an issue for the speedy point guard. Standing at a listed 5'2" she uses her size to her advantage by keeping the ball low and splitting defenders staying below their reach. She has a very quick release on her shot which allows her to pull up against taller defenders without needing a whole lot of space.   Anissa Rivera - 6'2" - Wing - National Christian Academy - 2019 [caption id="attachment_22248" align="alignnone" width="150"] Anissa Rivera[/caption] Anissa scored 18 points including three 3-pointers, shooting 100% from behind the arc. She put up points in every quarter with her and Skinner combining for 36 of the Eagles 48 points. She was great on the boards and notching 14 boards and added a few blocked shots. Defensively she did a little bit of everything matching up with both the guards and posts. She put her hands at the point for several possessions as well starting the offense after getting the rebound.   Mir McLean - 5'11" - Wing - Roland Park - 2020 [caption id="attachment_18396" align="alignnone" width="150"] Mir McLean[/caption] Mir was a terror in the paint and kept the referee's whistle busy as she repeatedly got to the line. She scored 14 of her game high 22 points from the charity stripe while shooting 77% from the line. Mir logged 18 boards with half of them on the offensive end. She had a refuse to lose mentality not giving up on plays and going all out for every loose ball. She used both hands in finishing and showed off some of her ball handling with a breakaway steal layup. She elevates so high on her shot that it may have been better just to let her shoot as opposed to fouling her in an attempt to get up and block her shot.   Janiah Henson - 5'3" - Point Guard - Roland Park - 2019 [caption id="attachment_22246" align="alignnone" width="150"] Janiah Henson[/caption] Janiah was probably the best ball handler on the floor. She showed of a really quick dribble and had zero turnovers credited that game. There were a few time that the defender got a hand on the ball but her hand speed allowed her to recover her dribble and continue the play without interruption. She scored 18 points in the game and was very efficient with four 3-pointers. Janiah was a difference maker in this game as I'm sure the Eagles wasn't expecting a breakout performance like this from the Morgan State signee.   Christyn Robinson - 5'10" - Forward - Roland Park - 2019 [caption id="attachment_22247" align="alignnone" width="150"] Christyn Robinson[/caption] Christyn scored 5 points in the game but, her impact in the game went well beyond the points on the stat sheet. She secured lose ball, rebounds and played tough interior defense in key moments of the game. She was the unsung hero of the game as it seemed that when the Reds needed a stop or key play she was there.   So Who jumps higher?   The bait question about the vertical leaping ability of Mir McLean and Anissa Rivera. The two were matched up head to head several times in the game and with both going for rebounds that they had an equal chance for the result was dead even. Rivera was able to make McLean double pump one shot and alter another and McLean had Rivera fading away on a post turnaround jumper which is a natural shot. Mir lived in the paint and her elevates on her routine shot, while Rivera is a bonified three point shooter where she doesn't need to jump. The opening tip with the two jumping went to National Christian meaning Rivera won the tap, however, that's not really a clear indication. With all things being even and Rivera getting a three inch height advantage I would give the unscientific vertical leap edge to Mir McLean.