State Farm Holiday Classic Standouts: Part 1

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to check out the State Farm Holiday Classic tournament in Bloomington-Normal. I spent the day at Bloomington High School watching the Large School Girls division, which showcased several talented teams from all over the state. Here are some standouts from Thursdays games: <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/courtney-jones/">Courtney Jones</a></strong> from Morton had nice all-around day on both ends of the court. The 5’8” Senior and ICC commit can play on or off the ball and lead the offense well. Her ability to create turnovers on defense and consistently make the smart play on offense make her a nicely well-rounded player. Morton Senior and UAB commit <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/lindsey-dullard/">Lindsey Dullard</a></strong> had a nice day shooting the ball from outside. The 6’1” Guard has a nice lefty shot from deep and the length and athleticism to score at ease inside. Freshman <strong>Katie Barger</strong> from Bloomington High School showed some good things in a tough opening round match-up against Morton. The 5’6” Point Guard handled the ball well and led the offense the best she could against Morton’s stingy defense. Barger made plays in the lane and showcased a good-looking jump shot at times. St. Ignatius Junior <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/lauren-mcdonald/">Lauren McDonald</a></strong> had a great offensive outing against Geneseo, connecting on several three’s and posting 28 points for the game. Her outside shot is terrific, but the 5’9” Guard can use her strength to attack the lane and finish at the rim. Junior <strong>Abbi Barickman</strong> from Geneseo had a great day scoring the ball in the opening round match-up against St. Ignatius. The 5’10” Guard showed her wide range of offensive skills, hitting on several shots from all levels. Barickman’s Sophomore teammate <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kammie-ludwig/">Kammie Ludwig</a></strong> also had a great day scoring, particularly in the second half. The 5’10” Guard can shoot it well from deep, but really thrives in the lane and mid-range game with a nice-looking jump shot. Senior <strong>Paige Gross</strong> from St. Ignatius had a nice game on both sides of the ball against Geneseo. The 5’10” Guard did well in the transition game, using her length and athleticism to convert a few times at the hoop. Gross also plays solid defense and makes things tough on opposing guards. Lincoln-Way West Senior and Lewis commit <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/taylor-gugliuzza/">Taylor Gugliuzza</a></strong> led the Warriors to a first-round win over Springfield. The 5’8” All-Stater is a known successful three-point shooter, but her ability to get in the lane and finish in traffic makes her very difficult to stop. Taylor’s Freshman teammate (and younger sister) <strong>Ava Gugliuzza</strong> showed off her three-point shooting in the opening round. The 5’4” Guard knows how to get herself open so teammates can get her the ball and has a quick and consistent release to hit shots at a high rate. Springfield’s <strong>Sarah Byrd</strong> was a force against Lincoln-Way West. The 5’10” Junior Forward hit a couple mid-range jumpers, but she used her strength and body well in the lane to create open looks and finish at a high rate.