Essex County Tournament First Round Standouts Pt. 2
The Essex County Tournament officially has its quarterfinalist teams after Monday’s action. Congrats to the eight teams advancing on, but we wanted to further talk about the Sweet Sixteen games that took place over the weekend. Here are some more…
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Continue ReadingThe Essex County Tournament officially has its quarterfinalist teams after Monday’s action. Congrats to the eight teams advancing on, but we wanted to further talk about the Sweet Sixteen games that took place over the weekend. Here are some more standouts from the First Round of the Essex County Tournament.
Aliyah Sanchez (Sr.) – 5-10 PF, Bloomfield
Sanchez’s offense has come around this season more than any previous one as her defense and rebounding continues to be consistent and very productive. Where Sanchez shines most is as a post player for Bloomfield and the more confidence she’s gained on the offensive end over the past four years, the more gradual her improvement with scoring. We have to make sure to talk about that defense as she attacks the boards well and is a very agile, but nimble defender for someone at her height. It gives Sanchez an inherent advantage when going for the stop to get Bloomfield going positively down the floor.
Paradise Fisher (Fr.) – G/F, University
Fisher’s scoring output as a freshman has been impressive to watch as she’s quite easily exploiting defensive mismatches to attack the basket and finish strong. Her x-factor in her game is not her scoring, but her passing as she’s regularly recording 5-7 assists a game so far for University. She’s able to be that effective with assists due to her impressive offensive game. Fisher can attract the double and quickly get the ball off to an open teammate for a clean look at the basket. Watch out for her on the break as she’s often the catalyst off a quick steal and either finishes the play herself down the floor or gets the rest of her team involved for a close-range field goal.
Kayla Ishigami (So.) – PG, Caldwell
Ishigami has burst onto the scene as a sophomore after a very quiet freshman season. She’s really taken the reigns from the program and ran with it as one of their best, if not their best player so far. Ishigami has a knack for scoring in bunches and scoring when it matters most. She’s not overly reliant on the three as she runs the point, but she can hit them when she gets an open look. Her game is focused on driving into the lane or pulling up from midrange. If she’s not open, that ball is immediately getting dished off to an opponent. Ishigami operates best on the break and at a faster tempo, hence her strong defensive game when it comes to steals and deflecting passes while she guards at the top.
Jade Larkin (Sr.) – F, Mount St. Dominic
Larkin has impressed this season as one of Mount St. Dominic’s main forwards and she’s arguably been more consistent this season than any previous. She operates well starting from the foul line, receiving a pass and then going to work toward the cup. While she’s more than able find open lanes to drive and look for contact as she finishes strong on a field goal attempt, she’s more than willing to dish the ball off to a teammate. Larkin creates versatility in her own game to throw off opponents and give better offensive opportunities to MSD.
Shana Desir (Jr.) – SG/SF, Columbia
Desir is currently having a career year for Columbia, but we’ve seen this level of improvement coming over the past several years. Her scoring arsenal helps set her apart as she can hurt you from a number of places on the court. She can push defenders to the brink as she drives into the lane. Her dribble penetration into the lane is fantastic as well as her perimeter shooting, which is more consistent than ever. What’s more impressive, however, is her post presence, where she’s able to disrupt offenses and block shots with ease. That confidence is being seen in a big way so far.
Emily Baumgard (Jr.) – SG, Verona
Baumgard continues to have a great deal of success shooting beyond the arc and that’s been consistently the biggest part of her game. She operates well off the catch-and-shoot and utilizes screens effectively to create space beyond the arc. She’s also able to create her own shots off her dribble to add that extra dimension to her game. Baumgard can knock down shots from just about anywhere, from the top of the key to the wing, and whether off-ball or on-ball, she’s finding ways to shoot at a high clip to keep Verona in games.