Richland Northeast HS vs A.C. Flora HS

A.C. Flora’s January 15 get-together with Richland Northeast was very much a one-sided meet up as the Falcons dominated the Cavaliers by a final score of 72-25. Richland Northeast scored the first three points of the game – then the rest of said game happened. The Falcons scored often – in the paint, inside the arc, outside the arc and at the free throw line. The Cavaliers were also hampered by only having six players available at the opening tip – and one of them - freshman center Victoria Foulks – suffering an injury early in the first quarter. Prep Girls Hoops was on hand at A.C. Flora to take in the proceedings. Here is a look at who stood out from this game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177510" first="Rosalina" last="Macon"] – 2021 – Richland Northeast High School</strong> – RM is an important piece to the puzzle at RN-E. Macon was the one who drained the first points of the game and gave the Cavaliers an early 3-0 advantage. As Friday night displayed, Macon will take (and make) her compliment of treys – including a buzzer-beating triple at the conclusion of the first half. She also adds ball handling skills, the ability to battle for rebounds, make tough layups and get to the free throw line. She led all Richland Northeast scorers with 14 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171787" first="Trinity" last="Delaney"] – 2023 – A.C. Flora High School</strong> – The play of Delaney in her first season and a half at A.C. Flora suggests she is just getting started. There are plenty of elements to Delaney’s game that make her a force to be reckoned with – including getting to the line, a tenacity around the rim, driving to the basket either in the half court or the full court and a defensive presence that includes shot blocking. Her being six feet helps too. Delaney finished the game with 17 points, leading all scorers. <strong>Kiana Wilcher – 2021 – Richland Northeast High School</strong> – Where there is a Wil, there can be a way for the Cavaliers. That “Wil” that makes a way can happen because Wilcher brings a great deal of energy to Richland Northeast on both ends of the floor. She will bring the ball up the floor to either drive into the basket or set up the Cavaliers half court offense. She also will convert on unconventional shots. Her hustle allows her to save offensive possessions by preventing the ball from going out of bounds to give her team another chance to score. Wilcher scored five points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185224" first="Terriana" last="Gray"] – 2024 – A.C. Flora High School</strong> – Gray is gold for the blue and scarlet. And given she is only a freshman, she may be platinum by the time her high school career concludes. Gray particularly showed plenty of effectiveness on the Fastbreak in transition. Gray also has an ability to get in position near the rim for high-percentage shots. She, similar to her sophomore star teammate Delaney, is another who is ferocious in the paint. Gray will sometimes find her way through defenders. She concluded her game with 14 points. <strong>Taniyah McClinton – 2021 – Richland Northeast High School</strong> – Even with the Cavaliers down to essentially no bench, and down double-digits, McClinton managed a strong close to the game with A.C. Flora. In the fourth quarter with the Falcons, McClinton tallied three field goals for a total of six points. In closer games, coaches appreciate it when players step up in the fourth quarter like McClinton did vs. A.C. Flora. One of the attempts from the field came off a pass from Macon where she was in the right place at the right time near the basket – as she does often. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-246846" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/218B1BF9-F6B1-433C-B8EA-C2F965AC9FCF.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="175350" first="Jasmine" last="Frierson"] – 2024 – A.C. Flora High School</strong> – The freshman Frierson is fearless for the Flora Falcons. And this rings true on both the offensive and defensive ends. Frierson made things difficult for whoever was her Richland Northeast defensive assignment was. And on some occasions, those defensive stands turned into Cavaliers turnovers. Frierson has also proven herself as a ball distributor. That fearlessness for Frierson plays out well for the Falcons on the offensive end because she has no problems finding her way to the free throw line in the first quarter – and making both tries from the stripe. She will also shoot from midrange. Frierson finished her evening with 10 points – one of four A.C. Flora players (all starters) that had a double-digit scoring output.