8 Standout Players: Traditional Bank Holiday Classic Day 2
Saturday’s action featured some truly complete performances, both from teams and individuals, as some of the stars of the tournament were able to come out and dominate. The exception was the crazy comeback by Dunbar which, showcased an entirely different…
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Continue ReadingSaturday’s action featured some truly complete performances, both from teams and individuals, as some of the stars of the tournament were able to come out and dominate. The exception was the crazy comeback by Dunbar which, showcased an entirely different side of their players as they battled against the odds and ended up coming out on top. Here are all the players who stood out Saturday, for their domination or for their grit.
Xaviara Smalley, Elizabethtown- Much like Friday, Smalley dominated E-Town’s 2nd game by grabbing offensive rebounds and putting them right back up and in with apparent ease for a total of 22 points and 9 rebounds, 5 of them on the offensive end. What really stands out for the freshman center are her physical traits, standing 6’2” with great length and athleticism. Combined with her excellent timing, good posts moves, and the range she showed by knocking down her only 3 point attempt, it creates a deadly package that looks to get even deadlier.
Ellie Taylor, Elizabethtown- A complete offensive player can not only create their own shot but also create shots for their teammates. That is what Taylor did on Saturday, alternating between making great passes to set up her teammates and using her own skills to create her own shot with a variety of perimeter moves and a smooth stroke. The senior guard also played strong defense, all of which resulted in an 18 point, 6 assist, 2 steal, and 1 block statline, as well as an overall impact that isn’t seen in the box score.
Maggie Jones, Simon Kenton- The key to being an efficient scorer is knowing when to pick your spots. That is what made Jones so efficient for the Lady Pioneers against Conner. The senior guard managed to knock down 5 three-pointers without jacking up shots all game long. She only pulled up when she knew she had a good shot, and as a result, ended up as the game’s leading scorer with 20 points despite not dominating a large number of offensive possessions.
Morgan Stamper– Versatility is a concept that can be difficult to convey with statistics, but Stamper’s box score Saturday showed her wide array of contributions pretty well. The senior wing ended up with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. As this would indicate, she did well in pretty much every facet of the game. On offense, she both scored inside while consistently making good passes to keep the offense going. On defense, she was constantly knocking balls loose and generally making life difficult for Conner. Stamper’s ability to do it all really stood out in this game.
Elise Ellison-Coons, Paul Laurence Dunbar- Being at the head of the tournament’s biggest comeback so far earns Ellison-Coons a spot on this list. The junior guard stepped up as a leader on offense and at the center of Dunbar’s suffocating defensive press, helping create turnovers and converting them to points. She made consistently smart passes and always seemed to find loose balls, keeping things rolling for the Lady Bulldogs. Ellis-Coons was also money at the free-throw line, knocking down 7 of her 8 attempts. Her finals stat line shows she scored 18 points, pulled down 7 rebounds, and had 1 steal, but it doesn’t show how much of an impact she truly had on the game.
Aziah Campbell, Paul Laurence Dunbar- The other head of Dunbar’s valiant comeback, Campbell contributed to the Lady Bulldogs performance just as much as Ellison-Coons. In fact, their scoring charts look eerily similar, as both made 5 field goals, including one 3, and shot 9 free throws, with Campbell making 2 fewer to give her 16 points. The rest of her box score is much more diverse, as she had 2 rebounds, both in key moments, 2 assists, a steal, and a block, while turning in more great defense in Dunbar’s press. After making this list Friday for her defensive performance, Campbell showed Saturday that there is much more to her game than her defense.
Shelby Calhoun, Central Academy-Louisville- Calhoun has so many skills on the court, it’s difficult to say which ones she’ll use on any given night. The senior forward used many of them Saturday night, but her defense stood out in particular. The length and athleticism that help her pull down 10 rebounds, tonight also let her constantly be in passing lanes, defend the rim, and make whatever plays her team needs. This resulted in 6 steals and CAL holding a strong South Warren team to just 33 points. And as the cherry on top, Calhoun added 13 points in a good offensive performance.
Sydney Raque, Central Academy-Louisville- While CAL dominated with their athleticism and defense, they needed someone to knock down shots to give them a complete victory, and Raque was happy to oblige. She knocked down 4 3’s and led the team with 14 points, playing a vital role in the Lady Centurion offense. She also contributed in all the other areas of domination, coming down with 5 rebounds, swiping 4 steals, and swatting 2 shots, showing she is able to be both a shooter and an athletic presence.