Highland Shootout:2023 Evaluations
Saturday was the opening day of the 34th Annual Scott Credit Union Highland Shootout. The opening games were mostly easy wins for the better seeded teams. We did have the chance to see all of the teams and some excellent…
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Continue ReadingSaturday was the opening day of the 34th Annual Scott Credit Union Highland Shootout. The opening games were mostly easy wins for the better seeded teams. We did have the chance to see all of the teams and some excellent talent. Here we take a look at the 2023 talent that was on display.
Collinsville played the most freshman in their game, although the minutes were limited for two of the players. Jordan Gary saw the most minutes, including starting the second half. Each time we see Jordan we come away impressed with her athletic ability. She is a 5’6 guard that shows well in the open court and on defense. Her offensive opportunities were minimal in this game but she did show better ball handling and poise than in previous games. Jenna Scheller is a 6’2 post player that has a nice touch around the basket. She is somewhat limited right now in her mobility and agility, but she can score the ball. As she improves her ability to turn off both shoulders she will be a very good offensive player. Megan Janson is a 5’1 point guard that handles it very well. She has the ball on a string and has her head up to see the floor. Her minutes have been limited this year but she had a nice 4 minute stretch at the end of the first half where she held her own in a key stretch.
Okawville relies heavily on a pair of freshman guards. Briley Rhodes is 5’3 and is probably best known for her 3 point shooting, at this point. While she has certainly proven to be able to shoot the rock, Briley does much more. She can handle the ball and was very fundamental and patient in dealing with pressure from a much bigger group of Highland guards. Megan Rennegarbe is a little taller at 5’7 but is fairly thin at this point. Megan was also adept at handling the pressure. I thought both girls might have picked up their dribble when they didn’t have to, but they were actively pivoting and looking for open teammates. Megan has a nice mid range shot and seems to find ways into open spots. She made all 4 of her shots in this game.
Laylah Jackson of Belleville East continues to show a well rounded offensive game. Just like any incoming freshman she does struggle with shot selection at times, but that is natural with a scorer that is used to carrying the load. Laylah had the most exciting shot of the opening day when she drained a half court shot at the second quarter buzzer. She ended the day with 14 points in the loss to Nashville.
Shannon Dowell is a 5’9 guard from O’Fallon that has been getting better and better. As she has adjusted to the speed and talent of the varsity game Shannon has adjusted her motor to play more consistently. Shannon has superior athletic ability that is highlighted by her jumping ability. She is able to use this and her length to finish consistently in the lane. As her outside shot develops the sky is the limit for Shannon. She led her team in scoring with 15.
Haley Ottenschneider is a 5’7 guard from Breese Central that has been instant offense this year. While she did not have her usual game in the opening round, she has averaged over 8 points per game. Haley had 30 points in a huge win over Highland. She can score inside and out, showing a very well rounded offensive game.
Layne Rupert has become a consistent scoring threat off the bench for Hillsboro. At 5’7 Layne provides a guard that can compliment the inside scoring punch provided by the upperclassmen. Layne does a good job of penetrating and finding mid range shots that she can hit with frequency. On a team replacing a senior class that did almost all of last years scoring, Layne has been a pleasant surprise.
All of these players have made an impact on their team. Dowell, Jackson, Rhodes and Rennegarbe have been starting all year. These players deserve to get an early look from colleges and tracked throughout the process.