Opening Night Takeaways : Andover Central at Maize South

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A short schedule of games across the night tipped off the opening night of high school basketball season. Right away a statement game between a pair of ranked Wichita area 5A, Arkansas Valley Chisholm Trail League schools attracted a lot of eyes. The Jaguars of Andover Central came into the game ranked #7 by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, the home standing Maize South Mavericks #8. Below is a quick game summary followed by takeaways on several players for each team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Game Summary</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming out of the locker room at half time, with Maize South up 20-11, surges were the marker for the second half as the Jaguars stormed into the lead heading into the fourth quarter. Maize South responded with one of their own. The Mavericks would survive a late near "and-1" opportunity and game-tying free throws on the foul with seconds to go and take the win 41-38, sealing it with a pair of their own free throws. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Andover Central</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='192816' first='Haven' last='Deckinger'], 5'6", PG, 2025 - Has good handles and floor leadership mentality. Works hard defending in the full court. Fast and athletic, caught a transition pass on the run for a lay-in. Leads the break with confidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='192817' first='Hayden' last='Snodgrass'], 5'9", CG, 2024 - Snodgrass is perhaps the team's all-around best scorer in her ability to put up points at all three levels. Good speed with athleticism, has a tough mentality to not give up on plays if she has the ball stolen. Challenges finishers well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taylin Tabor</strong>, 5'6", PG/SG, 2025 - Works hard defensively and was the best half court defender against Maverick point guards. Quick with length on both ends of the floor, athletic around the basket, elevates well, and showed a scorer's mentality. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaylee Jefferson</strong>, 5'6", SG, 2023 - Jefferson is fast, quick, and athletic. She is a solid perimeter threat who can hit the three in pressure moments. Jefferson has a nice stroke shooting the three ball Shoots the three ball in flow off the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='94951' first='Maddi' last='Amekporfor'], 5'11", PF/C, 2023 - Amekporfor is a tough competitor on both ends of the floor. She showed three ball range but especially is a mid-range threat. I liked her handles and quicks to attack other big off the bounce and extend with elevation on the finish against contact. A competitive rebounder, she defended other bigs with quickness and physicality. She has good hands and transitions very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>Maize South</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='231281' first='Amani' last='Lipscomb'], 5"2", PG, 2024 - Lipscomb at times just ate up Jaguar guards on both ends of the floor with her quickness. She has strong handles, runs the break with confidence, and is a credible shooter in the mid-range and beyond the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191470' first='Avery' last='Lowe'], 6'2", PF/C, 2023 - Controlled the boards with the other post players due to their heighth, length, and hops. Attacks mismatches around the paint. Can take the ball end-to-end. Confidently but somewhat measured approach to attacking other bigs around the block. Fast, a mid-range and perimeter scoring threat. Will go off the dribble from the wing. Alters and blocks shots with good timing, length, and elevation without fouling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bella Peters</strong>, 5'6", PG/SG, 2024 - Had a great defensive game including a couple big steals late. Great hands. Showed strength, speed, confidence, and improved handles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='265120' first='Ava' last='Howie'], 5'10", PF, 2024 - Spelled at the center position well. Maintained inside position and rebounded well on both ends of the floor to help the team dominate on the glass. Showed good speed, quickness, and strength to defend on the perimeter and inside. Collected her share of shot blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='453816' first='Sophie' last='Hurley'], 5'8", SG, 2024 - Fast, works hard, and has decent quickness. Perimeter shooter who hit a couple three balls including a big one mid-fourth quarter. Sees passing opportunities well but needs to hit the entry pass with much more consistency.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaylee Bruton</strong>, 5'11", SF/PF, 2026 - Has a mature game. Confident on both ends of the floor. Fast and has shot blocking capabilities. Quick hands and feet. Nice turn around jumper from the block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maci Kratzer</strong>, 5'10", SF, 2023 - Fast, athletic and good length Kratzer showed that she is a perimeter shooting threat and can score around the basket out of her low block game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->