Music City Showdown: Saturday Afternoon Session

The morning session started off with a bang, but the afternoon session was even hotter. Top girls from the south came out to showcase their skills at the TOA Center in Franklin, TN. Girls were out hustling, grinding, and making a statement to show scouts why they deserved to be considered amongst someone the best. Effort is one thing, but showing grit, heart, and tenacity, all that was on stage during the afternoon session at the Music City Showdown. Games were close, going down to the wire, with many ending in dramatic fashion. As teams went toe to toe with each other, some of the stars of prospective programs started to shine bright during the afternoon session. Spectators were in for a treat as up and coming stars descended upon the MCS stage. Here are some standouts from session 2 of the Music City Showdown. [player_tooltip player_id="290953" first="Angel" last="Martin"] (FR., CG, EAB Tennessee Clarksville)- The 5'7 combo guard repped her city this past weekend, showing everyone why she is an up-and-coming star. Angel is a shift guard and is nice with the ball in her hands. She sees the floor well, knowing when to attack or kick the rock for an easy bucket. Angel displayed a nice shooting touch, knocking down a couple of clutch jumpers. Defensively, she was scrappy, creating turnovers for easy transition buckets. Look for her to rise up the rankings as she creates momentum this travel ball season. Ta'Mia Scott (Jr., SF, EAB Tennessee Clarksville)- The 6'0 SF is a beast with the ball in her hands. She has great footwork, that allows her to dominate the low post area, as well as attack from the wing, unleashing a bevy of euro steps and counter moves. She is tough to guard coming downhill, as she has a quick step that enables her to either finish at the rim or knock down the mid-range jumper. Her length and versatility allow her to guard smaller guards or bigger posts. Defensively, she is a shot blocker and a board collector, leading to transition buckets. She has handles of a PG as well as the ability to pass the ball on time to open teammates. As the D1 offers keep rolling in, look for Ms. Scott to receive some power 5 offers as she continues on an upward trajectory throughout the course of the summer travel ball season. Lauren Hassell (6th grade/ C/ Tennessee Sol)- This 6'3 young lady is a rare and special talent. Only in the 6th grade, she was going toe to toe against some of the best in the high school ranks. Lauren can do it all and has a high basketball I.Q. She can handle and distribute the ball well, control the boards on both ends, and block shots. Offensively, she knows how to use her body to her advantage. She can attack from the wing, creating mid-range opportunities or finish at the rim. If she is down low, she has great footwork that allows her to dominate from block to block. Doesn't matter if she faces up or has her back to the basket, she is super tough to deny. Defensively, she plays with a high motor and is an enforcer in the middle. The kicker is she isn't done growing. Look for her to entertain power 5 offers as she gets older. Skies are the limit for this young lady. She is hungry and humble. Bailey Blair (7th grader/PG/ EAB Tennessee 2025 Gold)- This 5'4 ball of energy is super tough with the ball in her hands. She is a floor general who has a quick first step that enables her to knock the mid-range shot down. She was commanding her team, providing a spark whenever they needed one. Bailey was all over the place during her team's win. From trapping to grabbing boards, her relentless effort was on display as she showcased her talent for those to see. Offensively, she knocked down a couple of 3 balls, leading to a momentum shift in the game. Look for her to become a household name in Tennessee as she gains experience. [player_tooltip player_id="285387" first="Emaleigh" last="Tarpley"] (So./ PF/ EAB Tennessee 2023 Gold)- The 5'10 power forward from Rockvale high school finished with 21 pts and 8 rebounds. She was the catalyst for her club during their afternoon game. Tarpley displayed some long-range shooting as she lit up her opponents from downtown. She had 3 blocks and brought down 7 defensive boards to contribute to her team's victory. A vocal leader, Tarpley plays the game with a chip on her shoulder. She is a fierce competitor who hustles, dives on the floor for loose balls, and is the first to help any teammate up off the floor. Offensively, she shoots consistently from all 3 levels. Defensively, she is scrappy and a tough opponent to get around. Look for her to make a name for herself throughout the course of the year. [player_tooltip player_id="245280" first="Caroline" last="Watts"] (Jr./SG/ Tennessee Sol )- The 5'7 SG was a knockdown shooter for her Clarksville Sol team. Caroline possesses a good feel for the game, allowing her to effectively shoot coming off screens or by knocking down catch n' shoot opportunities. She displayed toughness as she did the little things that helped elevate her team to a victory. Though her strength offensively is shooting, she has the ability to create opportunities for others with her passing ability. Defensively, she plays with tenacity and creates intense pressure while she is playing on the ball defense. Any program looking for a shoot should tune into to see this young lady. [player_tooltip player_id="276720" first="Brooke" last="Dowlen"] (Jr./SF/ Tennessee Sol)- This 5'10 SF is long and rangy. She has deceptive speed that allows her to manipulate the outcome of a game. Brooke defensively has a great feel for the game. She created turnovers by jumping gaps for steals, controlled the boards, and dove for many loose balls. Offensively, she was a swiss army knife, driving to the bucket, knocking down the mid-range, and unleashing deep 3s. Brooke knows how to put the ball in the hoop and can do that pretty much anywhere on the floor at a high clip. Look for her to receive some pretty good offers moving forward this upcoming travel ball season. [player_tooltip player_id="157947" first="Monica" last="Lindsey"] (Jr./ PG/ EAB Tennessee Gold 2022)- The 5'6 PG is very shifty with the ball in her hands. She has a little bounce in her step, as she gets ready to set up her opponent with one of her killer crossovers moves. She is a floor general who plays the game at one speed, fast! Monica displayed her ability to get to the rim and finish with contact, shoot the mid-range jumper, and unleash a couple of clutch 3s in her team's success. Defensively, she is a lockdown defender with quick hands, which enable her to poke balls loose. This special talent will be a steal for any program needing someone to lead their collegiate team.