Breaking Down IND’s Win Over Pikesville
695Hoops put together a 5 game Saturday afternoon bonanza of make up games at Pikesville High. Four games were make ups from the Public vs. Private Challenge, and the feature game was a make up from the Basketball Academy at…
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Continue Reading695Hoops put together a 5 game Saturday afternoon bonanza of make up games at Pikesville High. Four games were make ups from the Public vs. Private Challenge, and the feature game was a make up from the Basketball Academy at Morgan State. The winter weather has wreaked havoc on the high school schedule, so it was good to have a day with multiple varsity games under one roof.
Institute of Notre Dame came into this one needing a good win. Some early season injuries and other challenges have made their move to the IAAM A conference difficult so far. For this game it looked like Coach Robb Dubose had righted the ship. The Penguins jumped out to an early 22-9 lead after a quarter by forcing Pikesville into turnovers and aggressive play by junior guard Eniya Russell. IND’s other junior guard Grace Taylor got involved in the second quarter and helped the Penguins keep the momentum going into the half. IND was able to maintain a cushion of 7 to 10 points through 3 quarters before a furious late rally by Pikesville.
A long three pointer by Tyra Robinson gave Pikesville a brief lead in the 4th quarter before Russell took over. With the Penguins needing to score to fend off the Panthers, Russell made 3 big isolation jumpers to help her team hold on for a big win, 71-64. Four juniors stood out in this game. Let’s take a look…
Grace Taylor Steps Up
The junior guard scored 20 points which included several big shots when Pikesville was surging. Grace is a lefty combo guard that seems more comfortable in a catch and shoot role. In this game she was called on to handle the ball, make plays and deliver points. She did all of this including some early drives down the lane when Pikesville was attempting to double team Russell. She played with confidence and did not hesitate to attack when she had openings.
Eniya Russell Took Over Late
Eniya made three late shots in the fourth quarter that showed why over 30 division one colleges are recruiting her. With under two minutes left, she was able to milk the shot clock all the way down to single digits and then calmly launch a 3 pointer to seal the game. This was after making two other dagger type shots to stop Pikesville runs earlier in the quarter. She scored a game high 30 points and was the best player on the court.
Tyra Robinson Makes Big Threes
The 5’7″ junior shooting guard has a knack and a flair for taking and making big shots. Her preferred spot is the corner and she is not afraid to launch in any situation. It was her big shot late that gave Pikesville it’s only lead of the game. With some improved ball handling and attention to detail on defense she should have a good summer and set herself up for the next level.
Charia Roberts Is a Workhorse
Charia is a 5’11” power forward that is making the transition to wing. With 20 points and 8 rebounds she made her presence felt throughout the game. She is very active and will get her team additional possessions by chasing down misses and loose balls. She has a reliable mid range shot where she is able to rise up over the defender and use her touch. She is good for a couple of “and 1” situations every game because she can finish through contact.