Thoroughbred Classic: Defense

With the month of April nearing its end, girls and boys basketball talent from both South Carolina and Georgia got together at the Convocation Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina-Aiken for the Thoroughbred Classic. Prep Girls Hoops were excited to attend the latest travel which occurred in the CSRA. Here is a look at who made it difficult for opponents to put up points. <strong>Tamia Timbers – 2024 – Southern Queens – North Augusta HS</strong> – Tough, talented and tenacious can be three words used to describe Tamia Timbers. She is likely a commonality in many towns whose metropolitan areas comprise parts of two states – someone who plays for a school in one state and the travel team in the other. She will attract contact and will deliver at the free throw line. Timbers is a rebounder either on the offensive or defensive glass and was impressive with her ball handling skills as well. Her tenacious play includes the will to collect rebounds, hustle for loose balls and save the ball from going out of bounds to preserve a possession for her team. <strong>Kelsey Chisholm – 2025 – Palmetto Pressure – Kelly Mill M.S. (Blythewood) </strong> – While Chisholm’s travel slate involves donning Palmetto Pressure pink, she is very used to wearing the color green. It is the primary color for the Panthers at Kelly Mill M.S. and she will soon mix in gold with her green when she becomes a Viking at Spring Valley High School this fall. Foul Chisholm and she will make her free throw tries. Show Chisholm less than her appropriate level of respect as a defender and she will intercept a pass and go the other way with it to turn defense into offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="173097" first="Albany" last="Wilson"] – 2022 – South Florence HS – One Force</strong> – For every time there is a way, there appears to be a Wilson. Last season at South Florence may have been a trying one, but a graduating Wilson next year will surely be motivated to ensure 2021-22 will give Bruins fans something to remember her and her team by. Blink and one may miss her as Wilson is very quick. In addition to ball handling abilities, she is tough and does not give up on any play even if it looks precarious. Wilson knows how to pass the rock to her teammates and will give an all-out hustle-based effort when she plays on defense and offense. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/A71EE4DB-E7E3-4781-8B50-602F96010A34-scaled-crop-1293x849-1619477960.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-278137" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/A71EE4DB-E7E3-4781-8B50-602F96010A34-scaled-crop-1293x849-1619477960-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185426" first="Delilah" last="Soltys"] – 2025 – Hillcrest M.S. (Simpsonville) – SC76ers</strong> – Soltys had anyone looking to score on her feeling salty. When she got to the other end of the floor to play defense, the task was simple – make things difficult and she did every bit of that. Soltys played stellar defense even against bigger ball handlers and also displayed plenty of skills in transition. Look out for Soltys, wearing No. 4 for SC76ers eighth graders on offense as well as she makes efficient passes and will also take and make her shots if need be. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/523BED85-EB60-458D-BFB3-9973A2730E6D-scaled-crop-1701x1117-1619478021.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-278138" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/523BED85-EB60-458D-BFB3-9973A2730E6D-scaled-crop-1701x1117-1619478021-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="252633" first="Anyah" last="Henderson"] – 2025 – Blue Ridge M.S. (Blue Ridge)  – SC76ers</strong> – Soltys did need some assistance in SC76ers’ defensive efforts. Henderson had lent a helping hand. This proved to be the case on the glass as she provided a defensive and offensive rebounding lift to SC76ers eighth graders. Henderson also was a threat to get opponents to cough up the ball and when they did, it would end up in her hands. She utilized her speed not only on defense, but on offense and also managed to absorb contact and get chances at the free throw line.