Montini Xmas Tournament: Byron's Day 2 Standout's!

<h6 style="text-align: center;">A full slate of games from morning to night for Day 2. As the snow fell heavy in Illinois, the competition picked up and fans were pilling into "The Stable" to watch these girls play the game they love. </h6> <h6 style="text-align: center;">Regardless of the score, players showed up and put on a show.</h6>   Loyola Academy vs. St. Francis ‘22 [player_tooltip player_id="124865" first="Angelina" last="Giordano"] | 5’8 Combo Guard | Loyola Academy Tough as they come. Angie simply gets the job done. She contributes on offense from all areas of the court and has no problem picking up the best player on the opposing team. When she drives into contact… there’s no fear, she’s automatic at the line. She gets her team ready from tip-off and keeps them poised while the game is coming to an end. ‘23 Leann Ringsurd | 5’6 Guard | St Francis A disciplined and active guard who shows the quickness to get up and down the court.. with and without the ball. Leanns length matched with her fast hands allows her to pick up multiple steals per game. Shows effort on the board and provides the extra spark that her team needs on all possessions. Nazareth Academy vs Burlington ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="265970" first="Amalia" last="Dray"] | 5’8 Guard | Nazareth Academy Whether on defense or offense, Dray shows her aggressive style of play. When on D, her patience and IQ is noticed immediately. She’s pesky on the ball, doesn’t reach recklessly, and jumps passing lanes with perfection. Offensively, She’s safe and productive with the ball and is always looking for the right play to make. She can finish at the rim and knock down the long ball when open. ‘22 [player_tooltip player_id="124874" first="Rylie" last="DuVal"] | 5’7 Guard | Burlington Central A deep ball threat from 3-6 feet behind the arc. She has a standard but 100% correct form.. and she always holds that follow through. The release and from is a great showing of her efficiency from the 3. Duval shows the ball control and strength to take it the coast to coast after a steal, (usually a well-timed pass lane jump by her) and finish. Her defensive skills scream… high IQ, great awareness, aggression, quick hands, discipline and just always being in the right place at the right time. Loyola Academy vs. Huntley ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="334404" first="Mallory" last="Winters"] | 5’10 Forward | Huntley Tough-minded and tough-bodied. Winters in the post… on both sides of the ball is just all strength and skill. She’s fluid with the footwork, but will throw her frame around and get physical to get those tough finishes. She can defend the post and contain who’s ever down there. On the glass.. she wipes it clean. Never gives anything less than 100% effort when fighting or chasing those boards. A complete workhorse from buzzer to buzzer. ‘22 Morgan Van Horn | 5’7 Guard | Loyola Academy Physical and strong. Van Horn is a steady-paced guard who can make plays with or without the ball in her hands. She stays in constant motion, setting off-ball screens, going for loose balls. Good IQ, even better awareness when she’s handling the ball. She can beam a pinpoint pass from side to side with complete accuracy. The same strength is noticed on the boards and with her defense.. she shows brute strength and effort to get steals and rebounds. Morgan can shoot the long ball when left open as well, a hood threat of a guard to have on the floor at all times. Whitney Young vs. Naperville North *GAME OF THE DAY* ‘25 [player_tooltip player_id="335739" first="Destiny" last="Jackson"] | 5’7 Combo Guard | Whitney Young There’s not much Destiny can’t do.. she’s a young phenom, whose confidence helps the game feel easy for her. Her skill set is advanced, her package is elite and her bag is deep. She can score at every level on the court, defend and contain the best player and simply cause issues for who’s ever guarding her. She shows no fear when the ball is in her hand. On the attack, the perimeter, and the triple threat.. her creativity is shown. Nothing but years to add to her IQ and frame. She’s a problem, and it’s only going to get worse for her opponents ‘22 [player_tooltip player_id="78781" first="Kenzie" last="Hare"] | 5’10 Combo Guard | Naperville North The unsung hero and overall MVP of Day 2. Kenzie is an elite scorer.. and elite could be an understatement. There’s not a shot she doesn’t think she can make .. and that’s at all three levels. A feather-haired touch from the three and when finishing at the bucket. (get it?) She never seems rattled and is always poised no matter the situation. In specifics to this game.. she wheeled her team back countless times and led the charge to a comeback win with all 18 of her points coming in the second half. Hare is a hell of a player who seems to just get better every time she steps foot on the court. Remember the name, write it down.. cause this kid is gonna continue to make noise at the next level. Lyons Township vs. Taft ‘22 [player_tooltip player_id="158267" first="Hailey" last="Markworth"] | 5’10 Combo Guard | Lyons Township Hailey has an advanced offensive skillset and just plays so smoothly. Great ball-handling skills and can weave her way through traffic when attacking the basket. She’s a high effort player who gives 100% on both sides, which usually isn’t the case with great offensive players… so that’s a testament to her just being a very good all-around player. Positioned as a combo guard but has the frame and length to play the wing position when needed. Montini Catholic vs. York ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="335787" first="Lizzie" last="Baldridge"] | 5’10 Combo Guard | York Lengthy and poised. Lizzie is a high IQ point guard who only uses a couple of moves to get where she needs to be .. but those couple moves just seem to be unguardable. Quickstep back with an even quicker release, long strides when she’s attacking the rim and using the euro. Off the ball, she cuts hard and precisely. Shifty with the ball, and shows the same swiftness on D when she’s switching through multiple positions. Her defensive IQ/awareness matched with her length… is hand in glove. She will only continue to improve. ‘22 [player_tooltip player_id="346995" first="Shannon" last="Blacher"] | 5’11 Combo Guard | Montini Widely known as a scorer.. and that’s 100% true, however, Blacher’s defense and high-energy effort on the boards goes unnoticed. Aggressive on the ball, shuffles and defends with balance, and can lock down your best player from buzzer to buzzer... without draining a bit of energy. On the boards, she’s just as aggressive. She chases rebounds and constantly fights in the paint no matter the size of players that are down there… and that’s on the offensive boards as well. Finishing off the night with 8 offensive rebounds. Shannon is a complete basketball player.