WHAT IF: Pinellas County Starting Five

What if the FHSAA had a tournament where each county had to play against the others in the state? Here is what I’d have for a Pinellas County starting lineup: <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="166161" first="Ava" last="Stoller"] | St. Petersburg</strong> I’d stick Ava at the 1 spot with her handles and ability to control the pace. She’s a tough defender with a lot of speed that bugs her opponents. She can dish it, but she’ll also score it from anywhere with a crafty spin move or some height on her jumper. <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="166172" first="Ace" last="Sturdivant"] | Clearwater</strong> Ace would be playing the 2, and she can help if the press needs to be broken as well. Ace has great rotation on her shot, and she is strong with the rock. I trust her to do some scoring, play hard defense, and throw some dimes to her Pinellas County teammates. She's helped lead the Tornadoes to 3 PCAC championships in a row. Don't forget to watch out for her sister, Pink, too! <strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id="248460" first="Alexis" last="Staton"] | Boca Ciega</strong> Alexis is a good fit for this lineup as she has some size, but she can also score from all three levels. She crowds those passing lanes and jumps passes for a steal and a fast break. She can shoot it too, but she knows when to make the extra pass for an easier shot. <strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id="91567" first="Olivia" last="Delancy"] | Boca Ciega</strong> Olivia will need to protect the paint and control the boards on both sides. She’s strong and can finish through contact against anyone. We will need her to score, rebounds, and block a few shots inside. <strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id="166169" first="Olivia" last="Fuller"] | Clearwater</strong> Liv completes the lineup as a player who isn’t afraid to play any position. Her outside shot continues to improve, and her motor is key to making the team go. She’ll also protect the rim by blocking shots and using that vertical to snag some boards. Liv is another key reason why Clearwater has won 3 straight PCAC titles. <strong>Subs:</strong> <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="219931" first="Zou" last="Raine"] | Calvary Christian</strong> Zou is a tough lefty who helped lead Calvary to an impressive 20 win season. She can score through traffic, shoot it, and rebounds well for a guard. I like her energy on the floor and her tenacity on defense when she snags a steal. <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="243977" first="Michel" last="Rivera"] | East Lake</strong> Michel is a big reason for East Lake getting 15 wins this year. She did a little bit of everything for them with a stat line of: 18.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, and 3.5 spg. Her defense is top notch and she communicates well on the floor. <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="331759" first="Peyton" last="Flournoy"] | Gibbs</strong> Peyton is a smooth operator who is very poised for her age. She’s a physical player with a pretty shot and an arsenal of crafty moves. It’s impressive how polished her game already is, so I’m excited to see her grow. <strong>F | Sumayah Lewis-McIntosh | Lakewood</strong> Sumayah is always active, plays on her toes, and brings good energy. She has a really strong drop step and finishes at the rim. If her shot continues to improve outside of 15 feet, she’s going to be an absolute force in the county for years to come. <strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id="331750" first="Karimah" last="Nix"] | Boca Ciega</strong> Nix is a long, athletic player that can really take over a game. She can score in bursts and will own the glass. On defense, she’s very active by contesting shots and making passes difficult for her opponent. <em>Special Mention:</em> <strong>F | [player_tooltip player_id="219945" first="Kyleigh" last="Welsh"] | Clearwater</strong> Kyleigh was injured early in the season, but she is the best true post in Pinellas County. The NJIT commit is the best shot blocker in Pinellas and she is tough to stop at the rim. Thankfully, the other half of the twin towers has stepped up in her absence - [player_tooltip player_id="243991" first="Phillicia" last="Jackson"]. <strong>G | [player_tooltip player_id="214172" first="Beckham" last="Hockley"]</strong> Beckham played with Clearwater for the majority of the year and helped them to some major wins. She’s a heady guard that knows the game and makes the right play. Her court vision, outside shot, and ability to take care of the ball made her one of the best guards in Pinellas.