Microupdate: Big Mac

Below are prospects who had big performances over the past few weeks.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-380949" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/FA17C20B-6CEB-447B-AD7E-7C034B41E26C-crop-1537x1010-1643245775-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="184116" first="Lizzy" last="Gruber"] - Gardiner - 6’4’’ - PF - ’23 Gruber has been a rebounding machine the past few weeks. She has put up mind-blowing stat lines that have solidified her top 5 status in the ’23 class. She broke the school record for rebounds in a game with 28 last week. On Tuesday night vs. Erskine, Gruber came close to breaking that same record by grabbing 25 rebounds. Gruber is a force on the glass, defense, and the post and continues to widen the gap between herself and the next best power forward in her class.   [caption id="attachment_380948" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/74EAC593-4F72-41D5-931D-7DE6AF394977-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1643245700.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-380948" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/74EAC593-4F72-41D5-931D-7DE6AF394977-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1643245700-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Sam Jones[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="264333" first="Cecilia" last="Kay"] - Bishop Fenwick - 6’2’’ - PF - ’24 The last couple of weeks, Kay has been a force and has helped get Bishop Fenwick back on track. Her biggest performance came against a super talented Bishop Feehan team, who is ranked in the top 10 in the MIAA. Kay put up a ridiculous 22 point, 24 rebound double-double leading Fenwick to arguably their biggest statement win of the season. Kay is averaging about 17 points a game in her first year at Fenwick, and when she is locked in like this on offense, it makes her team very hard to beat.   [caption id="attachment_380946" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/40EBC301-53AB-4B0A-8781-F46B8A07DB00-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1643245528.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-380946" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/40EBC301-53AB-4B0A-8781-F46B8A07DB00-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1643245528-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Sara Decesare[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="273940" first="Gianna" last="Nichols"] - Marianpolis - 5’6’’ - PG - ’25 Nichols had her best game against St. Andrews, posting 25 points that led Marianpolis to a nail-biting double-overtime win. She was excellent all game long but was most impressive down the stretch of the second OT with clutch free throws to put her team over the top. It seems like Nichols has found her groove and looks more comfortable running Marianpolis’ offense. Her aggression and ability to knife into the paint have created many scoring opportunities for the players around her. I also like how Nichols deals with defensive pressure. Her ball security has been very good when facing a full-court trap, and she has been a good decision-maker over the past few games.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-380943" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/IMG_9954-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1643245306-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="269130" first="Armani" last="Rivera"] - Shea/Tolman - 5’4’’ - PG - ’24 This winter, Rivera has been a scoring machine and has been on fire recently. In the last 2 games, Rivera has scored 59 points total and has led Shea/Tolman to an undefeated record thus far. These numbers do not surprise me at all, considering I have watched Rivera terrorize opponents over the past six months. She is one of the most competitive players at her position, and on top of her elite scoring, she can lock up defensively as well as any point guard in her class.   [player_tooltip player_id="295872" first="Mya" last="Zaccagnini"] - Holy Cross - 5’7’’ - PG - ’23 Zaccagnini has strung together a few solid games in a row for #3 Holy Cross. She had 18 points in a win vs. Naugatuck, 17 points in a win against Kennedy, and a career-best 34 points in a victory vs. Windsor. Zaccagnini has good size and strength at the PG position, which creates a lot of mismatches for her on the perimeter. She is a strong ball-handler and sets up her defender well with hard, aggressive jabs. Zaccagnini has been pouring on the points recently, but is also an excellent passer and playmaker. She sees the floor well and consistently hits her teammates with accurate passes.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-380942" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/5B619195-038D-4F29-B24D-E25EEA8DAB96-scaled-crop-1700x1117-1643245272-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="267154" first="Cate" last="MacDonald"] - New Hampton - 6’2’’ - PF - ’23 Macdonald’s play this month has made her one of the biggest stock risers in January. She has dominated the paint, posting monster double-doubles against high-quality competition. She had 14 points and 18 rebounds vs. Holderness; 23 points and 13 rebounds vs. Bradford Christian Academy; and 23 points 10 rebounds vs. St. Paul’s. MacDonald has taken her game to another level, and the combination of her and [player_tooltip player_id="267455" first="Mia" last="Mancini"] make New Hampton a tough out in the NEPSAC AA.   [player_tooltip player_id="361345" first="Gianna" last="Donnarummo"] - Hamden - 5’4’’ - CG - ’24 Donnarummo has been filling up the scoring column this month, providing #8 Hamden with excellent guard play that has led to big wins. Her biggest game came in upset fashion vs. Daniel Hand. Donnarummo’s career-high 30 points included the game-winning buzzer-beating shot. Her scoring production does not surprise me, considering she has shown the ability to be efficient at all three levels. Specifically, Donnarummo needs little to no daylight to get her shot off from the outside. Even at 5’4’’, she has the confidence and skill to create and make shots from the perimeter and at the rim.   <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-380941" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/08/IMG_8484-scaled-crop-1660x1090-1643245235-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="184039" first="Sophie" last="Bradbury"] - East Bridgewater - 5’7’’ - CC - ’23 Bradbury has played a significant role in East Bridgewaters’ 9-1 record this season. She has been stuffing the stat sheet and impacting the game in multiple ways showing everyone how well-rounded her skill set is. Her 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against Middleboro the other week earned her "Patriot Ledger Player of the Week" honors. In East Bridgewater’s most recent victory vs. Cohasset, Bradbury again displayed her playmaking and facilitating by dropping 8 assists to go along with 7 points and 6 rebounds.