Louisvile Invitational Tournament Champions

In a repeat of the 2021 season, Bullitt East wins the prestigious 2022 L.I.T. Title and becomes the only team in the Commonwealth to defeat the defending 2021 State Champions, Sacred Heart, since a 4 point loss to Bardstown on March 9th of last season (a streak fo 25 games against Kentucky teams). More will follow on other teams that participated in the LIT. For now, let’s discuss the repeat Champs.   [player_tooltip player_id="106153" first="Gracie" last="Merkle"] - ’22 6’6"/C - Bullitt East To the untrained eye, Merkle only does one thing. Apparently, all she can do is Dominate. That is what I hear in my mind when I hear any criticisms of her game. If only she didn't spend all that time dominating in the paint. LOL. To the trained professional you can see a well-trained player that plays to her strengths and lets her teammates handle their own roles. She catches and keeps the ball high and scores with at least 4 different post moves and no need for any others because most of them would require her to give up her height advantage by bringing the ball down. In fact, I can only suggest she develop the Sikma Move, a reverse pivot move designed to create space for a short jumper. She might need that to compete against the other Bigs she will encounter playing NCAA Division 1 basketball. But she will not need it for the rest of her High School career. She also scores by catching the ball close to the basket while facing it. Those would be alley-oop dunks in the Men's game and I seriously doubt anyone would be criticizing her play if she, like most Men, had the extra leg muscles needed to rip the rim off the backboard. Throwing out the 7+ minutes she played in a blowout against Eastern, Merkle had a double-double in all 3 tournament games. She totaled 72 points, 38 rebounds, 5 blocks, and made 31 of 48 shot attempts. Dominate.   [player_tooltip player_id="106141" first="Emma" last="Egan"] - ’22 5’8"/SF - Bullitt East Unlike the last time I witnessed Egan playing, she was looking more like a lead Guard than a Wing or Forward. Her team is best in Hafl-court situations and despite her ability to play at high speeds and high above the court this is a team game. She was key in handling defensive pressure and bringing the ball up the court and that made all the difference. Egan was especially effective grabbing rebounds on the weakside of the paint and in traffic pulling down 37 in the tournament. The team really struggled on the glass after she fouled out late in the 4th Quarter.   [player_tooltip player_id="199613" first="Lilly" last="Reid"] - ’23 5’8"/PG - Bullitt East Reid was critical in winning the tournament scoring in double figures 3 times and totaling 44 points. In the finals, she made 5 crucial baskets on penetration against excellent defensive pressure and collected 5 rebounds. She was also instrumental in facing the full-court press and facilitating team offense while playing all 36 minutes of regulation and overtime. She made 17/33 of her 2 point field goals in the tournament, made 11 assists, 8 of her foul shots.   Anna Rodgers - ’24 5’10"/SG - Bullitt East Rodgers contributed 13 points and 3 rebounds playing the full 36 minutes of regulation and overtime in the finals. She made 2 three-points and made 5 of 6 free throws to help her team achieve a 2 point victory.   Jada Hughes - '24 5'9"/SF - Bullitt East Hughes was instrumental in the semifinals game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. She was extremely efficient shooting for the game making 60% of 2 point shots, 33'3% of three-pointers, and all 4 free throws. She was only able to play about 5 1/2 minutes of the finals possibly due to entering concussion protocols for some rough contact.

In a repeat of the 2021 season, Bullitt East wins the prestigious 2022 L.I.T. Title and becomes the only team in the Commonwealth to defeat the defending 2021 State Champions, Sacred Heart, since a 4 point loss to Bardstown on March 9th of last season (a streak fo 25 games against Kentucky teams).

More will follow on other teams that participated in the LIT. For now, let’s discuss the repeat Champs.

Gracie Merkle Gracie Merkle 6'6" | C Bullitt East | 2022 State KY - ’22 6’6"/C - Bullitt East

To the untrained eye, Merkle only does one thing. Apparently, all she can do is Dominate. That is what I hear in my mind when I hear any criticisms of her game. If only she didn't spend all that time dominating in the paint. LOL.

To the trained professional you can see a well-trained player that plays to her strengths and lets her teammates handle their own roles. She catches and keeps the ball high and scores with at least 4 different post moves and no need for any others because most of them would require her to give up her height advantage by bringing the ball down.

In fact, I can only suggest she develop the Sikma Move, a reverse pivot move designed to create space for a short jumper. She might need that to compete against the other Bigs she will encounter playing NCAA Division 1 basketball. But she will not need it for the rest of her High School career.

She also scores by catching the ball close to the basket while facing it. Those would be alley-oop dunks in the Men's game and I seriously doubt anyone would be criticizing her play if she, like most Men, had the extra leg muscles needed to rip the rim off the backboard.

Throwing out the 7+ minutes she played in a blowout against Eastern, Merkle had a double-double in all 3 tournament games. She totaled 72 points, 38 rebounds, 5 blocks, and made 31 of 48 shot attempts. Dominate.

Emma Egan Emma Egan 5'8" | SF Bullitt East | 2022 State KY - ’22 5’8"/SF - Bullitt East

Unlike the last time I witnessed Egan playing, she was looking more like a lead Guard than a Wing or Forward. Her team is best in Hafl-court situations and despite her ability to play at high speeds and high above the court this is a team game. She was key in handling defensive pressure and bringing the ball up the court and that made all the difference.

Egan was especially effective grabbing rebounds on the weakside of the paint and in traffic pulling down 37 in the tournament. The team really struggled on the glass after she fouled out late in the 4th Quarter.

Lilly Reid Lilly Reid 5'6" | PG Bullitt East | 2023 State KY - ’23 5’8"/PG - Bullitt East

Reid was critical in winning the tournament scoring in double figures 3 times and totaling 44 points. In the finals, she made 5 crucial baskets on penetration against excellent defensive pressure and collected 5 rebounds.

She was also instrumental in facing the full-court press and facilitating team offense while playing all 36 minutes of regulation and overtime. She made 17/33 of her 2 point field goals in the tournament, made 11 assists, 8 of her foul shots.

Anna Rodgers - ’24 5’10"/SG - Bullitt East

Rodgers contributed 13 points and 3 rebounds playing the full 36 minutes of regulation and overtime in the finals. She made 2 three-points and made 5 of 6 free throws to help her team achieve a 2 point victory.

Jada Hughes - '24 5'9"/SF - Bullitt East

Hughes was instrumental in the semifinals game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. She was extremely efficient shooting for the game making 60% of 2 point shots, 33'3% of three-pointers, and all 4 free throws.

She was only able to play about 5 1/2 minutes of the finals possibly due to entering concussion protocols for some rough contact.