Holiday Hoop Fest Day 3: Names You Should Know

I was able to catch the last two games of Pridgeon Event Management’s Holiday Hoop Fest. Here are some of the standout performers from North Carolina. Let’s first look at these athletes from Central Cabarrus. Amari Haley (pictured above, 2022) was doing a little bit of everything for her team. She used her height in the middle of the paint to grab some rebounds, and she was an effective ball handler and passer when it came to breaking her opponents’ press. She sealed off her opponents with her back to the basket, and she knew exactly how to make her move and score some points. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Mariah-Barrie-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1640293803.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-368219 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Mariah-Barrie-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1640293803-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="219872" first="Mariah" last="Barrie"] (2022) came right in the game making her impact felt handling the ball, driving hard to the basket and creating plays for her teammates. She was effective at breaking the press from her opponents. She was a one man show bringing the ball up the court scoring in transition using some nice spin moves to score her points. Amiyah Jones (2022) was a rebounding machine hustling inside to grab the board. She knew how to extend plays on offense or end the possession for her opponents on defense. She would look right up the court to push the ball on a fast break. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Kyra-Lewis-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1640293868.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-368221 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Kyra-Lewis-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1640293868-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Kyra Lewis (2024) had some nice post moves to get to the rim. She did well making her shots from the free throw line, too, battling through contact for her points. She sees the floor well turning to face the basket and make her move driving hard down the baseline. The last game featured 1 of 1 Prep Academy playing against Hickory Ridge. Let’s start with the athletes from 1 of 1 Prep. Abi Svenson (2022) came out shooting strong from behind the arc. She used this to her advantage to add in some fakes to her arsenal and drive around her opponents for some midrange floaters, too. She handles the ball well and makes moves to find her open teammates for some assists. <img class="size-medium wp-image-368223 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/Ella-Hobbs-1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="276147" first="Ella" last="Hobbs"] (2024) seems to be unstoppable no matter who she plays against. She was scoring in many ways using offensive rebounds for second chances, and having her back to the basket definitely didn’t slow her down. She reads the ball well coming off the rim grabbing rebounds with ease. [player_tooltip player_id="221932" first="Tatum" last="Bowen"] (2023) picked the pocket of her opponents and pushed it up the court. She can certainly step back for her own three pointer, or she does a great job facilitating plays finding her open teammates for their own points. She was crashing boards grabbing rebounds, too. Lastly, Hickory Ridge had a player in particular who was putting the team on her back. Erica McClary (2023) was shooting well from behind the arc, and she was a terror on defense deflecting passes and grabbing steals. She gave her team some life in the second half knocking down shots from deep. She controlled the tempo of the game, and she did well moving without the ball finding the open areas on the court.