Jenks-Union Tourney: Day 2

The semi-finals of the Jenks-Union Tournament were filled with excitement and some very good basketball. Game one saw the host No. 2 Union face off with No. 5 Mustang in a tremendous show of Union’s lock-down defense which has seen them go undefeated to this point. Game two at Jenks between No. 14 Putnam City West and No. 3 Edmond North was a bruising affair with some very good up-tempo basketball. <strong>Game One: Union vs. Mustang</strong> Union’s defense was too much for a very good Mustang team that the previous day had scored 30 points in the paint. On Friday they were limited to 20 and zero second-chance points, which most likely proved to be their downfall. Union moved on to the championship game by a final score of 50-37. <strong>Player of the Game</strong> <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0041-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611380502.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249031 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0041-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611380502-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="139701" first="Kaylen" last="Nelson"] | 5-10 F | Union | 2021 | <a href="https://x.com/nelson_kaylen21">@nelson_kaylen21</a></strong> Nelson is an absolute beast. I haven’t seen a Union game this season where Kaylen was not an absolute scoring machine. She is a drastically improved player from last season and is a threat in every facet of the game these days. She finished one rebound shy of a double-double with a game leading 21 points and nine rebounds. Nelson showed outstanding touch from 10 feet and in with an otherworldly jump shot with such a soft touch that were it not to roll in - which it more often than not did - it provided an easy rebound were her teammates to get in position. Nelson is committed to D-I Old Dominion who are currently 5-5 during this very difficult Covid-19 season. <strong>Other Standouts</strong> <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0008-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611380645.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249033 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0008-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611380645-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="160445" first="Jaki" last="Rollins"] | 5-8 G | Mustang | 2022 | @JakiRollins</strong> The entire Mustang team really had a hard time getting anything done against Union’s stellar defense. The outside shot didn’t fall enough for the Broncos (4-16 in the game) and the inside points were far more difficult than they were in the previous game with Ponca City. Rollins put forth a valiant effort, finishing third on her team in scoring with eight total. She showed outstanding vision to go along with very good handles and great size for a guard. Rollins is very athletic and shows tremendous skill on a team filled with very, very good players. <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0025-2-scaled-crop-2324x1526-1611380787.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249035 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0025-2-scaled-crop-2324x1526-1611380787-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Germari Harris | 5-7 G | Union | 2021 | <a href="https://x.com/germhrs">@germhrs</a></strong> Union is a well-oiled basketball machine. Harris is not a big cog in the machine, but without her, the machine would not run. She is the first off the bench and is an absolute pain in the butt for opposing ball handlers. She is very hard working and - when called upon - can fill it up. Germari finished the night with two points, two assists and most importantly, two steals. She is the "sixth man" that could end up helping to lead Union to a state championship very soon. Harris appears to be uncommitted as of yet. College coaches, you have a few more chances to get a look at this very good guard with great size and upside. Now is your chance! <strong>Game Two: Putnam City West vs. Edmond North</strong> A bruising, punishing game was eventually won by Edmond North against a cold shooting Putnam City West squad with a final score of 60-35. A 33 point second-half was enough to widen a seven point halftime margin to an unreachable level. The game was up-tempo from the start with each team preferring to score at the rim. In the end, Edmond North was left standing to face Union in the championship game tomorrow afternoon. <strong>Player of the Game</strong> <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0148-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611381094.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249037 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0148-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611381094-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="197981" first="Laci" last="Steele"] | 5-10 G/F | Edmond North | 2023 | <a href="https://x.com/LaciSteele2023">@LaciSteele2023</a></strong> Steele came out on fire and did not cool down. She made five out of six free throws in the first quarter after triple technical fouls to Putnam City West in a very heated affair. She has great size and is unafraid to bang underneath. She showed outstanding touch around the rim and finished despite contact in a game where the refs really decided to let the players play. Laci had seven field goals and seven free throws to end the day with 21 points. Steele already holds one D-I offer from UT-Arlington with presumably more on the way. Laci is a great scorer who will not be denied. She needs to be on your radar. <strong>Other Standouts</strong> <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0026-scaled-crop-1816x1193-1611381374.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249039 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0026-scaled-crop-1816x1193-1611381374-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>T’Nya Ray | 5-10 F | Putnam City West | 2022 </strong> There isn’t much video out there of Ray and she doesn’t have much of an online presence, but if you get a chance to see a PC West game, Ray will stand out to you. She is a very long power forward who does a great job of high pointing the rebound and fights hard on the block. Her scoring is coming around, but it is easy to be overshadowed on a team with absolute stars like [player_tooltip player_id="242119" first="Caya" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="238723" first="Shamar" last="Bert"]. Ray finished today with two points and at least seven or eight rebounds (nobody kept track, unfortunately). She had seven points in the previous game and showed outstanding ability to get up and down the floor. Ray is a glue player that any coach should be happy to have. D-II and D-III coaches, check out a PC West game as soon as you are able. <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0101-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611381479.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-249041 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/DSC_0101-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1611381479-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="211915" first="Ataya" last="Casaus"] | 5-6 G | Edmond North | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/AtayaCasaus">@AtayaCasaus</a></strong> Casaus is not very tall, but she has a ton of ability and shooting skill. I mean, on this Edmond North team you have to be VERY good to start and she does. She had two big dagger three pointers and shows a flair for the dramatic. She has very good handles and is supremely confident with the ball in her hand. She drew the difficult card of covering one of the better scorers on PC West and held her in check more than anyone could have been expected to. Casaus is quick and smart and has great hands on defense. Ataya was a big reason for the Huskies win and should be a lot of fun to watch in the championship game tomorrow.