Victory Region Preview- Team Firstep

In their sixth year of existence, Team Firstep brings their program to the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit Victory Region this spring, and coach Robert Broughton is excited to see how his team competes against all the great talent that will be in attendance. The former semi-pro player created the program in 2017 and he stated some of the important aspects of his program that are a staple when people see Team Firstep play. “I believe that we have to play a team game, play good defense and trust your teammates,” he said of his five teams in his program. The central Kentucky program will be taught the basics of the game and will have good fundamentals. While this group is the first group that Broughton put together in seventh grade and none of them are in college, but as a trainer he has helped many players reach their goal to get to college and beyond including Darien Huff who is still playing in Sweeden. Team Firstep has some outstanding players who are on track to take their game to the college level, including players such as Janiesse Armstrong Janiesse Armstrong 5'3" | PG Elizabethtown | 2023 State KY and Brooklyn Cann Brooklyn Cann 5'6" | SG Elizabethtown | 2023 State KY  from their 17U team along with Khania Jones who play on the 16U team. Armstrong sees the game better than any young guard I have seen with great court vision and puts her teammates first, while Cann is a lights out shooter with high intensity and a great motor. Jones also has a high motor with a long wingspan, good multiple positions and is willing to learn. Also there are a couple of players who are flying under the radar with qualities allowing them to shine this spring such as Taylor Broughton from the 16U team and Mattie Clanton from 17U. Broughton is a player who is a great on-ball defender, can shoot and makes it look effortless. Clanton has a high endurance level and can pressure the ball all night long. Other key players from his 17U team include : Katie Durbin 5’9- a long athletic wing who can slash, great defender who can block shots. Sage Crawley 5’10- plays forward and good footwork and passer, under the radar help defender, great post footwork in the paint. Emma Filiatreau Emma Filiatreau 6'2" | C Bethlehem | 2023 State KY 6’1- likes to face-up and score from the mid-post, can knock down the three, good lateral movement. Natalie Gentry Natalie Gentry 5'9" | CG LaRue County | 2023 State KY 5’7- can attack and get into the paint, good midrange off the dribble, gives so much on the defensive end. Ashlyn Cann 5’7- a great basketball mind, becoming more confident as a player. Makes the right plays and understands time and score. Desiree Bryant 5’6- returns from ACL injury, very strong guard high motor. Can post up and face players up. Broughton is impressed how the circuit has grown and is looking forward to competing again season. “They are really invested in the girls game, and this will give us the best chance to showcase our girls,” Broughton said. “I also like the coverage I have seen and great effort being put into this.”