Portsmouth v. Cranston West: Falcon Vision

Thursday night, I watched a competitive Rhode Island matchup between Portsmouth High and Cranston High West, ending in a 54-35 Cranston High West victory. The game was competitive from the start, with Portsmouth taking the early 15-11 lead after the first quarter; but from that point, it was a Cranston West takeover. Below are the standout players.   Player of the Game: <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365707" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/0980605D-8665-4086-863C-A4AFA3313266-scaled-crop-1852x1216-1639746443-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="328972" first="Kiley" last="Abendroth"] - Cranston High West - 5'3'' - PG - '23 Abendroth finished the game with 9 points and impacted the game on both sides of the ball. She is only 5'3'' but rebounds the ball at a high level for her position. In a matchup where rebounding was the difference, Abendroth contributed to that on the offensive and defensive glass. What will fly under the radar is how good she was on defense. Abendroth is an excellent weak side defender who was always alert and on time with the help. Lastly, I can't say enough about how good her court vision is. She scanned the floor well all night and set up her teammates with beautiful assists.   Cranston West Standouts: [player_tooltip player_id="359057" first="Maylina" last="Santiago"] - 5'6'' - PG - '23 Most of the game, Santiago was plagued by foul trouble, but when on the floor, she was one of the most dynamic players. Her on-ball defense was game-changing. Her quick hands and anticipation resulted in a few pickpocket steals, and she did a good job shutting down Portsmouth guard [player_tooltip player_id="298220" first="Ava" last="Moore"]. Santiago has a strong handle which was put to good use when isolated on the wing. She can break down defenders easily and get to the rim whenever she wants. Santiago pushed the tempo and was a smart playmaker in transition, too.   [caption id="attachment_365658" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-365658" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/BA566862-206C-4410-9901-21B9B1BAF6AB-scaled-crop-1684x1106-1639716004-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption]  [player_tooltip player_id="365655" first="Kaitlyn" last="Antonucci"] - 6'0'' - PF - '22 Antonucci led Cranston West in scoring and really got going in the 4th quarter. She asserted herself more during that period and emphasized rim running and getting to the lower block. Antonucci dominated the paint area and showed how great her hands are catching many difficult passes in traffic. She is a long, athletic big who can fill up the scoring column in a hurry when the offense is flowing through her.   [player_tooltip player_id="365648" first="Maia" last="Riccio"] - 5'7'' - SG - '24 Riccio only had 5 points but was one of the most impressive players in the first half of Thursday night's action. With [player_tooltip player_id="359057" first="Maylina" last="Santiago"] in foul trouble, Riccio, I thought, was the most aggressive player on the team. She has the upper body strength to muscle defenders, drew a couple of fouls, and converted some tough finishes. I also liked how hard she played on defense. Riccio tipped a handful of passes and forced the opposing offense to rush.   Portsmouth Standouts: [player_tooltip player_id="296979" first="Morgan" last="Casey"] - 6'1'' - PF - '23 On Thursday night, Casey was a dominant two-way player and got Portsmouth off to a good start with 7 points in the 1st quarter. What impressed me most about Casey's game was how comfortable she was using her off-hand. Her swooping left hook shot was effective in the beginning stages of the contest, leading to her game-high 15 points. Casey also had at least 5 rejections. She protected the rim well and did so without fouling. Her shot-blocking ability helped anchor the team and kept Portsmouth in the game in the 1st half.   [player_tooltip player_id="365647" first="Emily" last="Maiato"] - 5'9'' - SF/PF - '23 Maiato is a strong forward who finished with 7 points and a handful of offensive rebounds. Her activity on the glass stood out along with her post-game. She overpowered her matchup on the block, got her shot off repeatedly, and showed her mid-range shooting touch. I also liked how active her hands were on defense. She made a living from poking the ball free on drives and disrupting entry passes.