SGGC: New Hope vs St. John’s

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>SGGC: New Hope vs St. John’s</strong></span> This was the big game of the evening.  Two of the area’s top programs that rarely get to meet.  Two of the area’s top coaches that are polar opposites in every way.  The Cadets coach Jonathan Scribner dawning his customary Under Armor apparel while the Tigers coach Sam Caldwell always looks to impress with the latest fashion from Cavalier Men’s Wear Steve Harvey Collection.  Scribner usually paced and methodical in he is game plan, while Caldwell looks to overwhelm his opponents with relentless pressure until they break.  Which style would prevail?  Now for the talent in a game that literally went down to the wire as New Hope Academy outpaced St. John’s College 56-51. <strong>Standout Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="88773" first="Kennedy" last="Fauntleroy"] - 5’8" - Combo Guard - New Hope Academy - 2022</strong> The Georgetown commit ran the show with her future coach on the side watching.  She shot the open three effortlessly like a free-throw and had an off balanced contested buzzer beater that hit nothing but net.  She can both control the pace and take over games here she had a balance of both. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27870" first="Jalyn" last="Brown"] - 6’2" - Wing - New Hope Academy - 2022</strong> Jalyn is so athletic but, the way she twists and maneuvers her body in the air to slip between defender is incredible.  She has great control while performing her aerial theatrics that she can still finish from ridiculous angles.  She got going late but once she got it going she didn't let up. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365241" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0196-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="142836" first="Delaney" last="Thomas"] - 6’3" - Small Forward - St. John’s College - 2022</strong> Delaney opened the game up with a fluid contested floater and had a couple of three pointers, one of which tied the game at 41.  She had bodies around her on every touch but still managed to lead all scorers with 17 points. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365240" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0092-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="149853" first="Zakiya" last="Stephenson"] - 5’6" - Point Guard - New Hope Academy - 2023</strong> After playing great defense for :29 seconds of the shot clock and have Zakiya drop a 3-pointer n the last second has to be debilitating for a defense.  Yet there she was knocking down the needed three every time you thought that the Cadets were making a run. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365245" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0192-1-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27883" first="Gianni" last="Boone"] - 5’11" - Wing - St. John’s College - 2022</strong> This may have been the best game I've seen Gianni play.  She showed skill handling the ball under pressure and had good control when attacking.  She was super aggressive keeping her foot on the gas and looked to attack whenever she touched the ball.  She got to the line repeatedly with sixteen attempts from the line and showed separation speed in transition. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365239" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0095-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="319223" first="Alphonsia" last="Eleko"] - 6’0" - Forward - New Hope Academy - 2022</strong> Alphonsia isn't small at 6'0" and a college body she, however, the defense would consistently lose her as she would find an open gap to slip in for a catch and finish.  Time after time she got wide open for a layup but, also looked to put on her hard hat and go to work on the boards battling to get the 50/50 and the 60/40 balls.  There were a few boards that she had no right getting but the relentless effort not only got her the ball but a bucket to go with it. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365246" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0198-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="238690" first="Kyndal" last="Walker"] - 5’9" - Combo Guard - St. John’s College - 2024</strong> Kyndal has one of the smoothest mid range pull-ups in the game.  She executes the move in one fluid motion and its a highly accurate shot for her.  She has great form from beyond the arc and if the shot becomes consistent she can easily be a 20 plus a game average player.  She had 12 points in this game knocking down one of her three balls. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-365238" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0101-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" />