Whale Branch HS vs Military Magnet Academy

When these two teams got together last season, the Warriors got the better of the Eagles in a 46-27 decision in early February. This time, it was the defending 1A state champions proving victorious as Military Magnet dispatched of Whale Branch by a final of 40-31. The Warriors assumed a 27-21 lead going into the final frame before the Eagles put together timely offense and suffocating defense on Whale Branch en route to a victory that ran its record to 13-3 on the season. Whale Branch now has a mark of 7-7. We at Prep Girls Hoops made it to Military Magnet for the contest between the two 1A combatants. Here is who impressed for their teams. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-375093" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/IMG_6328-scaled-crop-1797x1180-1642005184-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="252502" first="Sabri" last="Mitchell"] – 2025 – Military Magnet Academy</strong> – Mitchell was one of the five starters for coach Nathaniel Taylor’s Eagles. Big time players are supposed to step up in big time games in critical moments. When the Eagles went into the fourth quarter trailing 27-21, her ability to make shots near the rim in addition to getting to the free throw line proved integral in Military Magnet’s comeback. Mitchell also will hit her shots from midrange and can disrupt a team’s passing lanes with her ability to deflect and intercept passes. She can play tough defense on an opposing team’s inbounds passes as well. Mitchell finished with 15 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171758" first="Kynew" last="Barnwell"] – 2022 – Whale Branch HS</strong> – The Warriors went as Barnwell went. She was involved in virtually every play for coach LaToya Mack’s Warriors. When watching Barnwell on the court, it is no surprise that she has also excelled in track and field events given the tremendous amount of speed she possesses. Barnwell will change directions with the ball in her hand and has no problem going against a sea of defenders in addition to falling to the floor to complete a play. Barnwell’s offensive arsenal also includes making her 3-point shots and sinking her free throw attempts. Barnwell led all point-getters with 25. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-375095" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/IMG_6254-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1642005302-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172055" first="Chazmin" last="Bradley"] – 2023 – Military Magnet Academy</strong> – An element to the success that the Eagles have had has been how much depth the team has. Bradley came off the bench for Military Magnet and made the most of her minutes. Bradley stays active on offense even when she may not have the ball in her hands. She drained a 3-pointer at the end of the first half which trimmed Whale Branch’s deficit from 16-11 to 16-14. Bradley finished with 10 points for the game and managed to stay out of foul trouble as she only had one personal called against her for the game. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-375097" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/IMG_6270-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1642005395-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>Zhane Shuler – 2023 – Whale Branch HS</strong> – Speaking of two-sport athletes who sport the purple and gold Warriors colors – Shuler fits that description as well as she plays volleyball in addition to her basketball exploits, making her very familiar with the indoor court at Whale Branch. She actually was the recipient of a Barnwell assist as she converted into the first pair of points of the game. Barnwell brings hustle to Whale Branch with her ability to dive after loose balls and reject shots as an element to her interior defense. Shuler is listed at 5-foot-8 and can use every bit of her height to her advantage. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="366680" first="Zanyah" last="Sanders-Smith"] – 2024 – Military Magnet Academy</strong> – Sanders-Smith may have been held off the scoreboard in the first quarter, but managed to provide timely offense throughout the remainder of the game. In addition to the six points she tallied, she provided hustle to her Eagles team with her ability to dive for loose balls. She swarms on defense – an important element of one’s game to use to one’s advantage when a game is as defensively-based as this one was. She bolstered Military Magnet’s rebounding efforts with boards on the offensive glass and corralling in rebounds off free throw misses. <strong>Arianna Polite – 2022 – Whale Branch HS</strong> – One thing that there appears to be no shortage of for the Warriors is height. Whale Branch’s 5-foot-10 senior proves to be evidence of that as she is one of many veterans that comprises the Warriors roster. She also came off the bench for the Eagles. She has proven herself to be a potent scorer in addition to her rebounding capabilities. Defensively, she also adds a shot-blocking element and can also deflect passes. She got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter by scoring a pair of points in a contest where scoring seemed to be at a premium.