Recapping Polk County Hoopfest – Top Scorers Part 2

Recapping Polk County Hoopfest – Top Scorers Part 2 By Michael Wholey 1/3/22 2:00 PM EST The Polk County Hoopfest was held in the AdventHealth Fieldhouse in Winter Haven, FL hosting 50+ teams at the Varsity and JV level in the two-day event. Presented by SUTS Report, the event featured some of the state’s top teams and players. We previously featured some of the events top scorers, here are some additional players that filled up the stat sheet at the event! <img class=" wp-image-371684 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/Ortiz-209x300.jpg" alt="" width="170" height="244" />   [player_tooltip player_id="248263" first="Karishma" last="Ortiz"] (Timber Creek HS) had an impressive second half vs Central Pointe Academy. The 5’9 Sophomore guard dropped 15 points including three 3-pointers on her way to 19 points in a 54-44 loss to Central Pointe. Ortiz displayed a versatile offensive skill set, utilizing her length and athleticism to score in a variety of ways as well as high energy activity level on both ends of the court. [player_tooltip player_id="248869" first="Ionna" last="Garcia"] (Holy Trinity) was one of my favorite players of the weekend. She dropped 19 points in a 49-64 loss to SLAM! Academy out of Miami and then followed that up with 9 points in game number two vs West Orange helping lead her team to a 54-36 win. At 5’10, Garcia can play the guard and wing positions and is currently leading Holy Trinity in scoring, averaging 13 PPG and averaged 14 PPG over the course of her two games in the Polk County Hoopfest. She has a strong offensive skill set and utilizes her length and athleticism well on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. <img class=" wp-image-371686 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6122-scaled-e1641235072674-168x300.jpg" alt="" width="142" height="254" />   Senior [player_tooltip player_id="91592" first="Kayla" last="Smith"] (Winter Haven HS) showcased why she is considered one of the state’s top unsigned Seniors. Smith is a 5’10 Guard/Wing who can play and guard multiple positions. She both attacked her defenders off the dribble and knocked down several mid-range jumpers on her way to 19 points. Smith accounted for nearly 50% of Winter Haven’s points but in the end it was not enough as Winter Haven fell to a talented Colonial squad 40-37. Karyna Rivera was a bright spot for COLCA at the 2021 PCH. The 5’5 Sophomore guard dropped five long range 3-pointers on her way to 19 points in COLCA game vs Doral Academy. Rivera is a small, quick combo guard who can handle the ball and launch it from several feet behind the 3-point line.   <img class=" wp-image-371689 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6171-scaled-crop-1430x939-1641235324-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="156" />[player_tooltip player_id="91592" first="Kayla" last="Smith"] led Winter Haven in scoring in game two, but it was [player_tooltip player_id="166213" first="Bre’asia" last="Washington"] who led the Lady Blue Devils in game one vs Central Pointe at the Polk County Hoopfest. Versus Central Pointe, Washington scored nearly half of Winter Haven’s points, dropping 18 points in the teams’ 64-39 loss to Central Pointe. At 5’5, Washington mainly played Point Guard, handling the bulk of the team’s ball handling responsibilities, while also picking her spots to score. She is explosive with the ball in her hands, and very good at getting into the paint and wreaking havoc on opposing defenses.   [player_tooltip player_id="248856" first="Sacoya" last="Burgess"] for Wesley Chapel was one of the weekends most consistent scorers dropping 18 points vs South Fort Myers on Friday and followed that up with 15 points on Saturday vs West Orange. On Saturday Burgess scored 14 of her 15 points in the second half helping Wesley Chapel overcome a 23-11 deficit. Burgess scored 14 of the teams 29 second half points, helping her team outscore West Orange 29-14 in the second half and leading them to the 40-37 win. Throughout the weekend, Burgess was effective both inside and out. She used her strong, 5’11 frame to compete down low and also displayed 15” range. <img class="wp-image-371687 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6013-scaled-e1641235190407-300x275.jpg" alt="" width="249" height="229" />[player_tooltip player_id="221639" first="Gianna" last="Robles"] for Doral Academy was the highest scoring Freshman at the 2021 Polk County Hoopfest, dropping 19 points vs COLCA on the way to leading Doral to a 75-44 win. We have followed Robles for several years now, and it is impressive to see her development. At 5’5, Robles handled both ball handling and scoring roles for Doral. She was consistent throughout the weekend and played very composed when facing pressure and shoots a high percentage from 3 when left open. While [player_tooltip player_id="248869" first="Ionna" last="Garcia"] led Holy Trinity in scoring in their first game, [player_tooltip player_id="372064" first="Alinah" last="Sarratt"] picked up the scoring in game two. She scored 18 points in 54-36 win over West Orange, getting it down off the dribble and from outside. Versus West Orange, Sarratt knocked down two 3-pointers and 2/2 from the from line after scoring 14 points the day before vs SLAM! Academy. Sarratt is one of three players for Holy Trinity that is averaging double digit points and averaged 16 PPG across Holy Trinity’s two games at the Polk County Hoopfest.   <img class=" wp-image-371691 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/495A6411.jpg" alt="" width="178" height="267" />USF signee [player_tooltip player_id="219996" first="Daniela" last="Gonzalez"] showcased why she is headed to Tampa for Central Pointe by scoring 18 points, including 12 points from the 3-point line, going 4/6 from 3. Gonzalez is long, athletic and versatile and can knock down the open 3 as a trail post, put it to the floor from the wing and high post as well as play physical and aggressive down low. She is an extremely active player, who is not afraid of contact, nor is she afraid to play physical vs players 2-3 inches and 20-30 pounds heavier than her. Sophomore Autumn Brown (Oasis Christian) did all she could do vs Winter Haven Christian, leading her team with 18 points. In the end, she accounted for 70% of her teams scoring but couldn’t seal the deal as her squad lost a hard-fought battle 27-26 in the final game of the night. 5’7 Junior Forward Taniya Brown was a force on the inside for Lake Gibson. Brown did all she can, as she played extremely aggressive and physical in the paint. She led Lake Gibson in both points and rebounds, scoring 18 points vs Central Pointe. 13 of Brown’s 18 points came from the free throw line, as she did a great job flashing into the high and mid post and putting to the floor going right and drawing contact.   Michael Wholey is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech. He also serves as the Director of SUTS Report and was the host of the Polk County Hoopfest. In his role with SUTS Report and Prep Girls Hoop, Wholey covers girls basketball all across the state of Florida, providing in depth coverage of events, analysis and evaluations of individual players performance and seeks to bring exposure to girls basketball in Florida in hopes of creating opportunities for players to continue playing at the collegiate level. Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information. If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.