17U Triumph Region Finals Preview

It all comes down to this! The Triumph Region of the PGH Circuit has been to: Bradenton, Knoxville, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Daytona Beach, and Council Bluffs. And now, The Triumph Region Finals will take place in Spartanburg, SC this Saturday/Sunday at the Upward Star Center. Here is a link to the schedule/bracket: <a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/info?website_id=2&event_id=423">https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/info?website_id=2&event_id=423</a> <hr /> We have 15 teams participating in the 17U division this weekend. Our Power Rankings indicate that Alabama Twisters Elite has played the best in qualifying tournaments with a record of 9-4, but they will not have an easy path to the Championship. I want take a look at some of the top 2023 teams and top players below that have a Power Score over 70: <img class="wp-image-422853 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/0-Nailah-Mayes.jpg" alt="" width="227" height="151" />Alabama Twisters Elite (AL) | Power Score - 95.87 AL Twisters comes in as the top-ranked squad that has gone 9-4 through three of our events: Knoxville Knockout (4-0), The Exclusive (1-3), and Peach Games (4-1). In Knoxville, they knocked out their first round opponent, Richmond Heat, by 3 points. That will be a fun rematch on Saturday morning in SC! Outside of that game, they have impressive wins over EAB Tennessee, Team Firstep (KY), WR Allstars (GA), Grindhouse Elite Club (FL), and Nona Basketball Academy (FL). Their four losses have been to really good teams that they hung tight with. They took L's to FBC Legacy by 11, Chapman Basketball Academy (WI) by 4, Wisconsin Blizzard by 9, and Overtime Performance (KY) by 3. They've been tested, and they will be ready to roll! Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="419733" first="Ashaunte" last="Monday"], [player_tooltip player_id="335914" first="Nailah" last="Mayes"], [player_tooltip player_id="382406" first="Jamiyah" last="Hill"], [player_tooltip player_id="335850" first="Skylar" last="Lassiter"], [player_tooltip player_id="330738" first="Kennedi" last="McCray"], Tameria Taylor <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-412075 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_5862-scaled-crop-2413x1585-1649617720-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="154" />FGC Miracle Gold (FL) | Power Score - 89.09 FGC Miracle Gold came to our Triumph Region Kick-Off in Bradenton and went 2-2. They lost to FGB South Florida Runnin Rebels and by forfeit to WR Allstars (GA). Their two wins came by 5 points over IMG National Spotlight and by 2 points over Lady Grinders (GA) who are listed just below. They've played in some tough tournaments this summer, so we will see what they are made of this weekend with an opening round game against One Step Away. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="352555" first="Bryanna" last="Griffiths"], [player_tooltip player_id="248322" first="Aryianna" last="Lockey-Progl"], [player_tooltip player_id="331744" first="Delaini" last="Morris"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-412477 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_0428-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="132" height="176" />Lady Grinders (GA) | Power Score - 88.14 D. Shine Lady Grinders have participated in two of our Circuit events this summer: Triumph Region Kick-Off in Bradenton and Peach Games in Atlanta. They did lose to the team above by 2, but they beat the team below (Lady OTOD Pink) by 12. The Lady Grinders will face Lady OTOD Blue in their opening game of the Triumph Region Finals. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="335879" first="Sha'nya" last="Lake"], [player_tooltip player_id="434292" first="Ciara" last="Turner"], Aniya Moon, [player_tooltip player_id="386398" first="Kiara" last="Turner"], [player_tooltip player_id="286834" first="Aaniyah" last="Allen"], Kennedy Armistead, [player_tooltip player_id="335917" first="Ja'Siiyah" last="Holmes"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-412501 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_0575-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="106" height="141" />Lady OTOD Pink (FL) | Power Score - 88.00 Lady OTOD Pink has played in our two Florida events: Triumph Region Kick-Off in Bradenton and Southeast Slam in Daytona Beach. They lost to the above team, Lady Grinders, by 12 in Bradenton. But, they did beat a team in the field by 3 in Daytona Beach (MHD Elite). Lady OTOD has the pieces to make a run if they play as well as they did in Daytona. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="352604" first="Xaniya" last="Jackson"], [player_tooltip player_id="430453" first="Alexia" last="Taliferro"] <hr /> Georgia Domi<img class=" wp-image-427539 alignleft" style="font-size: 1rem;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/Ashanti-Bryant.jpg" alt="" width="203" height="135" />nance (GA) | Power Score - 81.64 I would say GA Dominance has played the toughest schedule out of anyone in the 17U field when it comes to our Circuit tournaments. They attended the Music City Showdown in Nashville and Peach Games in Atlanta which were the two most competitive, non-live events. Their losses have come to solid teams like Wisconsin Blaze Inferno, Stars Basketball Club (TN), FBC Legacy, Bounce Nation FBC, Alabama Twisters (above), and TMP Basketball. They did beat a team in this field already by 3 in Richmond Heat. Georgia Dominance has drawn Q4 Elite in their first round matchup. Players to Watch: Kennedy Coleman, [player_tooltip player_id="316146" first="Janaya" last="Evans"], [player_tooltip player_id="335838" first="BRIANNA" last="SPRUILL"], [player_tooltip player_id="154600" first="Ashanti" last="Bryant"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-427495 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/Amanda-Ogbonna1.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="132" />Georgia Queen Elite (GA) | Power Score - 79.70 GA Queen Elite is in the same boat as Georgia Dominance as they've played in two of our tougher tournaments: Music City Showdown and Peach Games. This will certainly help them with their opening round game against Grind To Shine (GTS) Basketball on Saturday. Players to Watch: Anissa Brailsford, Amanda Ogbonna, Amyah Woodmore <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-435624 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/f916a4965e39c799607f286510801283-crop-865x568-1653601183-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="218" height="143" />MHD Elite (FL) | Power Score - 74.21 MHD Elite has been to two of our events: Peach Games and Southeast Slam. They played much better in the Daytona event and will hope to bring that same energy to Spartanburg. They'll start off with a tough Carolina All-Stars team on Saturday afternoon. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="331713" first="Nia" last="Blocton"], [player_tooltip player_id="370059" first="Nacoya" last="Blocton"], [player_tooltip player_id="426240" first="Autumn" last="Nesmith"], [player_tooltip player_id="352596" first="Paetyn" last="Miller"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-427546 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/Bailey-Hensley1.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="143" />Richmond Heat (KY) | Power Score - 72.23 Richmond Heat has shown the PGH Circuit a lot of love as they've already participated in three of our events: Knoxville Knockout, Music City Showdown, and River City Run. They've played against a wide variety of competition, so it will be interesting to see how much they've grown since I last watched them. They drew a tough matchup with Alabama Twisters Elite, but they only lost to them by 3 in mid-April. That will be a rematch to watch this weekend! Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="413440" first="Rachel" last="Shropshire"], Ashton Harris, [player_tooltip player_id="329430" first="Natalea" last="Clark"], [player_tooltip player_id="258407" first="Bailey" last="Hensley"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-415549 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/Kymani-Freeman.jpg" alt="" width="186" height="124" />FGC Miracle Black (FL) | Power Score - 71.87 FGC Miracle Black came to our Triumph Region Kick-Off in Bradenton and lost three good games before picking up a win before the end of the tournament. It sounds like they have been improving, so they will get another shot at the team below, Grindhouse Elite Club, who beat them by 15 in early April. Players to Watch: Kymani Freeman, [player_tooltip player_id="401030" first="Zeri" last="Tyler"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-415513 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/Geriya-Grady1.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="150" />Grindhouse Elite Club (FL) | Power Score - 71.46 Grindhouse Elite Club is just that - a bunch of players that grind it out. They will play hard and fast all game long. They are another team who has showed the PGH Circuit some love with three event appearances: Triumph Region Kick-Off, Peach Games, and Southeast Slam. They are 3-1 against the field coming to Spartanburg with the lone loss coming from Alabama Twisters Elite. Grindhouse Elite will need to get by FGC Miracle Black again to advance to the second round. Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="331750" first="Karimah" last="Nix"], [player_tooltip player_id="331748" first="Geriya" last="Grady"] <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-435625 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/Image-1-300x300.png" alt="" width="158" height="158" />Carolina All-Stars (NC) | Power Score - 70.96 Here is my darkhorse and sleeper pick for the weekend. They only played at our Peach Games event in the top bracket, so that's the reason for a lower Power Score. They beat ATL Cagers BlueChip and Tennessee Sol Black after they struggled in their first game against a talented Team Huncho squad. Keep an eye on this Carolina All-Stars team this weekend! Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="385136" first="Maya" last="Robinson"], Maddie Pounds, [player_tooltip player_id="427075" first="Briana" last="Hughes"], Maya Hood, Kailyn Young, Gianna McManaman, Michaela Hogde, Keyah Bland <hr /> Georgia and Florida have the most representatives - can one of them bring it home? Or will a state with only one team repping bring it home like Kentucky, Alabama, or North Carolina? Power Scores, Rankings, and what happened in the past...they don't matter this weekend! Whoever shows up and wins will take this thing home. Let's get it! <hr /> <div class="article-content"> <hr /> Brandon Fisher is a Senior Scout for Prep Girls Hoops Florida and a Regional Scout for the PGH Circuit. If you have any information on players or teams, please email Brandon at brandonpghfl@gmail.com or DM him through Twitter/Instagram at @BrandonPGHFL. For all things Circuit, follow @PGHCircuit on Twitter and @PrepGirlsHoops on Instagram! </div>