Top Shooting Guards of the 6th Region
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As we continue on with this series on the Top Players of the 6th Region we move into the backcourt to talk about the Shooting Guards. I know one of these players is listed and a Small Forward and I…
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Continue ReadingAs we continue on with this series on the Top Players of the 6th Region we move into the backcourt to talk about the Shooting Guards. I know one of these players is listed and a Small Forward and I think 1 is listed as a Combo Guard. But we have that Small Forward in the wrong category, probably based on how she performed before I started doing this And since I am not doing a specific article on Combo Guards I had to break out the deserving players into one of the two boxes I am going to use to write about them.
This article also has an unranked player potentially never covered before on this site waiting for you to read about at the bottom of it.
After averaging just under 20 points a game as a Freshman and leading the team in scoring and into the All “A” State Tournment, Spieker has had to adjust to playing with a few talented upperclassmen that can aso put the ball in the hoop at a high clip and are noth more ball-dominant players. The transition has been tough at times but it has really helped her to grow as a player into a larger role playing off the ball and focusing on other aspects of her game. I look forward to seeing her play this year, but next season she will be posied to breakout even further when she will potentially return to being the fetured ofensive player on the aquad. rnFrom what I have seen there is no other player in the 6th Region with better In-the-Gym Range than Spieker. She can and will fire up an open shot from anywhere across halfcourt and with as rong likelyhood of sinking it. Despite being a excellent Stretch player she has a real knack at penetrating for the pull-up, floater or layup and is an excellent passer off the bounce.
Dillman returns seeking a 4th straight All Region team apearance as the top screr and ballhandler on her team. She is the leading returning scorer (15 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg), and probably assists (KHSAA does track them for some reason). She is very quick with the ball and great at pushing tempo and finding open teammates. When I have seen her play she is very careful with the ball and makes good decisions on when to release the ball from the safety of her hands. It is not uncommon for her to have the ball in hand right after a defensive rebound and away into the break. rnSHe has a great outside shot and the ability to score with pull-ups and floaters, but it seems to me she either gets to the rim for the layout or distributes the ball if the layup or open three are not there. SO it’s hard to know how good she is in the mid-range as opposed to her abilities to drive and or shoot. Those skills are always part of the menu wen you get to see her play.
Rogers was a key contributer as one of the 6 primary starters on her teams journey to the Finals of the Sweet 16. As a defender she was instrumental on closing off penetration to the lane, denying the pass into the paint and harrassing opponents on the break. As one of the top two shooters and top three ballhandlers on the team Rodgers fulfilled her role on a team that just graduated two players into the ranks of Division 1 Women’s Basketball. rnThis makes room for a new era of Bullitt East Basketball that will likely be better at highlighting the talents of the players that remain. Expect full court pressing and a hard driving offense into the paint with shooter waiting around the perimeter to make teams pay whetehr they do a good job stopping the pentration or not. Rodgers will perform excellently on those drives or waiting on the perimeter.
This article is heavy with players from schools in Bullitt County with one player from each team now that I am talking about Downey. I was shocked when I checked the stats that she didn’t average scoring more points on the season that she did. I think maybe I caught her on some of her best performances last season and missed the games where she didn’t put up the spectacular numbers. But what I did see was impressive and it continued into the summer.rnShe has an excellent stroke and all the best skills a smaller Guard needs to get off an open shot outside the three-point line. She has a great hesi move that she can use to drive or set up a deadly stepback for the three. Her handles are good enough to be a Point Guard but she shoots too well not to want her off the ball. rnThis year she becomes a high school student. Not just a player on a high school team playing for her cousins (Head and Assistant Coaches at North Bullitt) one of which played in a game I got to Referee back when my old bones could still get up and down the court fast enough to almost keep up with her. (Older than I look.) The biggest question going forward is when does this young group fully arrive. Could it be this year?
Fox is the top outside threat on a good team that could make some stride this year after filling what was a vacant Centee position with an actual Center instead of a Forward. This could really help FOX and the other players from the Ridge to have someone around to hold down the middle. rnAfter making 44 three-pointers last season at a rate of 30.8% and free throws at 70.4% Fox could be ready to add even more scoring punch after a solid summer of work. As a defender, Fox puts out a ton of effort to deter penetration and gives good help to her teammates. From what I have seen this summer I think the Panthers will be a team to watch in the 6th this year after a disapointing 17-17 record last season.