AAU Team Preview: OV Lady Dragons Red

The Ohio Valley Lady Dragons Red are prepping for the Run 4 the Roses tournament coming up in a few weeks in Indianapolis. The split 2021/22 team is coming off a solid showing at The Clash in Indiana, finishing runner-up in the Aqua Gold Championship bracket, falling by five to Indian Flight, 48-43. Red recently finished 4-0 in capturing the Pool F championship at the USJN MidAmerica Challenge in early August. There, it was a pair of 2022s in Parkersburg South’s [player_tooltip player_id="153384" first="Skylar" last="Bosley"] and Warren’s [player_tooltip player_id="159365" first="Abbie" last="Smith"] that were named pool all-stars. But this team is packed with a number of quality options. Chiefly among them, is Marietta’s do-it-all Morgan Altenburger. Need a knockdown shooter? How about a tough rebounder? Good defender? Someone willing to step up and be a leader? She checks all the boxes. The jury is still out if she does windows, but all kidding aside, coaches at the Division II level should be beating down the door for her services. But she’s far from alone. Need a point guard? Do you like them tall with eyes in the back of their head and pint-sized and ferocious? Logan’s Avery Thompson stands 6-foot and is dangerous on the move. She is dangerous attacking the basket, but even more so with her ability to dish off at the last minute, seemingly through the tightest of spaces, to an open teammate. Her size draws attention when moving through the paint and her ability to hit in traffic demands respect. It also creates opportunities for her teammates. With an equal ability to pass, albeit in a smaller frame, is the 5-4 Kenzie Dalton, a 2022 from Fort Frye. If anyone’s mentioned to Dalton, she’s undersized, she hasn’t been listening. She’s a tremendous man defender, using her speed to apply constant pressure and force opponents into mistakes. She has range, but can also attack the basket off the dribble. She’s not afraid to ‘fight amongst the trees’ either working dribble penetration or fighting for rebounds, out-leaping taller players. Her motor doesn’t quit. Need a lockdown defender? Berne Union’s [player_tooltip player_id="32594" first="Emily" last="Blevins"] not only takes pride in her defensive skillset, she loves that part of the game. It’s obvious, as her ability to nullify an opposing team’s offensive threat will attest. Blevins can get it done on the offensive end as well, but defense and her overall effort in even the smallest parts of the game truly stand out. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="54"><strong>No.</strong></td> <td width="186"><strong>Name</strong></td> <td width="84"><strong>Grad</strong></td> <td width="299"><strong>High School</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">00</td> <td width="186">Abby Smith</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Warren</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">3</td> <td width="186">Katelyn Web</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Jackson</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">4</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="153401" first="Hannah" last="Wingrove"]</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Parkersburg South</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">11</td> <td width="186">Kenzie Dalton</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Fort Frye</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">13</td> <td width="186">Avery Thompson</td> <td width="84">2021</td> <td width="299">Logan</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">15</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="32594" first="Emily" last="Blevins"]</td> <td width="84">2021</td> <td width="299">Berne Union</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">22</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="159360" first="Hannah" last="Archer"]</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Fort Frye</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">23</td> <td width="186">Morgan Altenburger</td> <td width="84">2021</td> <td width="299">Marietta</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">24</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="153384" first="Skylar" last="Bosley"]</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Parkersburg South</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">25</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="153356" first="Jayla" last="Wiseman"]</td> <td width="84">2021</td> <td width="299">Williamstown</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> &nbsp; 2021 team &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_196773" align="alignleft" width="126"]<img class="wp-image-196773" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/KenzieDalton2-184x300.jpg" alt="" width="126" height="205" /> <strong>Kenzie Dalton</strong>[/caption] Kenzie Dalton –Plays like she is on fire. Her defensive effort and energy are infectious to the team. Fast, quick, outstanding ballplayer that can shoot the ball as well. Morgan Altenburger – A true, all-around basketball player who can burn the nets up with the 3-ball as well rebound with tenacity. Boasts a good, strong frame. Outstanding team leader. The straw that stirs the drink, she is our glue. [player_tooltip player_id="159360" first="Hannah" last="Archer"] – A highly-skilled basketball player that’s only getting [caption id="attachment_196774" align="alignright" width="128"]<img class="wp-image-196774" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Morgan-Altenberger-184x300.jpg" alt="" width="128" height="210" /> <strong>Morgan Altenburger</strong>[/caption] better with time. Has a good all-around game, can shoot the ball. Best shooter on the team. &nbsp; Avery Thompson – Outstanding ball-handler. The point guard for her high school team, can score on her own. Creates offense well for herself and also dishes the rock around well. Communicates on defense and a good, hard-nosed defender. [caption id="attachment_196776" align="alignleft" width="101"]<img class="wp-image-196776 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Jayla-Wiseman-109x300.jpg" alt="" width="101" height="278" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153356" first="Jayla" last="Wiseman"]</strong>[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="153384" first="Skylar" last="Bosley"] – A tenacious basketball player. She’s fast, quick, has a high basketball IQ, and can score in volume. A great defender. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="153401" first="Hannah" last="Wingrove"] – High IQ player with drive to work at her craft and already has seen improvements in her offensive game. A varied skill set with much to offer. [caption id="attachment_196775" align="alignright" width="96"]<img class="wp-image-196775" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Avery-Thompson-122x300.jpg" alt="" width="96" height="236" /> <strong>Avery Thompson</strong>[/caption] &nbsp; Katleyn Web – Splits time with this team and the 2021 team. An aggressive point guard that runs the offense with confidence and limits her mistakes. Able to attack the basket despite her size. Abby Smith – Post player with high ceiling, deceptive quickness for size, gets up and down the floor well. Solid rebounder who rarely yields position. Can score against contact and get to the line where she’s a consistent free throw shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="153356" first="Jayla" last="Wiseman"] – Nice forward with great interior post moves that can also knock down a 3-pointer. [player_tooltip player_id="32594" first="Emily" last="Blevins"] – A defensive specialist that actually enjoys the challenge of playing defense. A coach’s kid with a huge basketball IQ. Would run through the wall for any coach.