She Got Next: Midlands Standouts (Part 3)
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It is relatively early in the high school girls basketball season across South Carolina. Do not tell that to its many teams as many are in midseason form as one of the state’s premier events displayed throughout the final weekend…
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Continue ReadingIt is relatively early in the high school girls basketball season across South Carolina. Do not tell that to its many teams as many are in midseason form as one of the state’s premier events displayed throughout the final weekend of November.
This year’s rendition of She Got Next, hosted by A1 Hoops Report, emanated from White Knoll HS this season as opposed to Brookland-Cayce HS. Teams from all regions of the Palmetto State converged onto the home of the 5A Timberwolves for what was two days of exciting and competitive basketball.
We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trip to central Lexington County for the festivities. Here is a look at even more from the Midlands that turned in great performances this past weekend.
It may not have been the result Tucker and the 5A Gators were looking for as they were on the bad end of a 51-50 result to Northwestern. But Tucker gave it her all for coach Candice Cobb’s squad as she scored 17 points. She has no problems absorbing contact and finding her way to the free throw line. In fact – nine of her 17 came via the charity stripe. Tucker plays mostly in the backcourt and can play either at the one or at the two. Tucker will also look to make things happen from behind the 3-point line and her defense can leave many an adversary uncomfortable – especially if said adversary has the ball in her hands.
Logan Smith
Logan Smith
Depth is one of a coach’s favorite words and the 5-foot-5 senior guard provided plenty of it for the Vikings in its get-together with Marlboro County. Smith came up off the bench and provided a great deal of production – including at one point making back-to-back 3-pointers in the first half. She finished the game with 11 points in her team’s win over the Bulldogs. On defense, she will keep her hands and arms outstretched can hustle to grab her own rebound in case she misses an attempt. Smith also maintains a high degree activity away from the ball when her team is running an offensive set.
Jasmyne James
Jasmyne James
The veterans for coach Megan Assey’s Vikings played like the upperclassmen they were as the 5A Vikings began the 2022 rendition of She Got Next with an emphatic victory over Marlboro County. James was a tone-setter for Spring Valley as she tallied the first five points in what was an imposing offensive attack by the Midlands-area squad. James also showcased how active she is with her hands and arms on defense and managed to find her way to the free throw line on the heels of drawing contact. She concluded the matchup with the Bulldogs having scored 10 points in the win.
Hayes assumes team captaincy duties for the Timberwolves and can play a variety of positions when she is on the floor. While Hayes can find times as a two, she will also put forth productive minutes as a three. Hayes will try her hand at the 3-pointer and she can play lockdown defense on whoever she is guarding. She approaches the game with a fearless attitude as she displays when she drives to the rim even against a number of opposing defenders. Impressive handles, creative finishes at the rim and the ability to cut to the rim away from the ball are other attributes to her overall game. Hayes tallied 15 points in a dominant win over Irmo.
Imposing post play has returned to the Timberwolves in the form of their young six-footer who find minutes either as a big or a power forward. Anderson gives her young team a height advantage which is only more notable when ball handling capabilities come with them. Defensively, she puts her length to good use by keeping her arms outstretched. If she or one of Anderson’s teammates misses a shot, she makes sure to get in position to grab an offensive rebound and will look to box out in case an opponent misses a free throw. Anderson scored 21 points in a dominant win over the Yellowjackets of Irmo.
Highlights
Aaliyah Lee
Aaliyah Lee
Typically in matchups involving Denmark-Olar, it is usually coach Terence Jones’ Vikings making things difficult for would-be point-getters. Lee and the rest of her Silver Foxes assembling did just that to the Vikings en route to a commanding win on Friday night. In addition to being one of the team’s primary scorers, she also came through with all-out hustle. Lee also managed to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. The backcourt is where she does most of her work as a 5-foot-6 guard. Lee finished with 10 points – including six in the second half – in what turned out to be a one-sided get-together with the 1A Vikings.
The Bulldogs already have the present of its program in a certain nationally-recognized 6-foot-3 forward who wears No. 12. Camden also has the future of its program in this rising star guard who has already been offered by Coastal Carolina and UNC-Charlotte. Mungo had an impressive performance on Saturday night against 5A Mauldin as she scored 12 points en route to the Bulldogs defeating the Mavericks by a final of 65-41. Eight of Mungo’s 12 points were put on the board in the second half. She stands at 5-foot-8 and her many strong areas include scoring, ball handling and defense.