Petit Jean Basketball Classic-The Final-Part 3

Bobby Brown

December 12, 2022 @ 07:53 AM

There were only two standing as the finals of the 14th Annual Petit Jean Classic was decided on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Morrilton. Russellville defeated tournament host Morrilton 63-53. There was a plethora of talent on the floor as these two teams battled for the championship. In the end, Russellville displayed the strength and fortitude to claim victory. The following group of players, from both schools, impressed me with their grit and desire to help carry their teams to the finish line;   [player_tooltip player_id='307198' first='Taleigha' last='Ealy'] F Russellville H.S. 2024-Big time inside presence. That's what Taleigha, pictured above, brings to the table. She has excellent footwork in the paint to create a high-percentage shot. Taleigha has the size to post up effectively. On offense, she's the go-to player for her team. Taleigha takes it to another level at crunch time, by dominating the boards and producing multiple possessions for her team. Defensively she clogs up the middle and reduces penetration in the paint. Clearly, Taleigha is one of the top players in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='869995' first='Brenna' last='Burk'] 5'6" PG Russellville H.S. 2024-Brenna is the quarterback. Her skill set at the point guard position is top-notch. Her touch-to-turnover ratio is very low, and she can shoot the trey. I'd say her game is "crafty" in that she can create on offense to produce high-percentage shots for her and her teammates. Defensively she appears to be a pass ahead on every possession. Her anticipation skills are excellent. The bottom line, Brenna is a smart basketball player.   [player_tooltip player_id='420388' first='Jennifer' last='Hartman'] SG Morrilton H.S. 2024-This junior has a clear size advantage at the guard position. And she takes advantage of it! Jennifer is not only tall but she is long. She makes many hustle plays that don't necessarily show up in the scorebook. Her anticipation skills are off-the-chart and she has no problem going inside and fighting for a rebound. A bit more upper body strength would elevate her game, but because of her skill set and size, she could play at the next level now.   [player_tooltip player_id='304737' first='Cheyanne' last='Kemp'] 5'7" SG Morrilton H.S. 2023-Cheyanne is a shooter. When she gets in a groove, she can pop threes from everywhere. Mostly a catch-a-shoot player, Cheyanna is versatile in that she can also play the swing or point position. She'll be a big part of the Devil Dog's deep playoff run.   [player_tooltip player_id='870508' first='Shyisha' last='Willis'] 5'9" SG Russellville H.S. 2024-Shyisha has superior size and strength to dominate her position. She likes to drive the lane and draw the foul. She's quick on the defensive end and is strong enough to compete with the bigs in the lane. Shyisha will be a key component in Russellville's playoff run.   Sophia Wahrmund 5'6" SG Morrilton H.S. 2024-A carbon copy of her teammate Cheyanna Kemp in that they complement each other by sharing the point and swing positions. This duo makes Morrilton very difficult to defend on the perimeter. Sophia is also a very good three-point shooter.   Zariyah Willis 5'4" SG Russellville H.S. 2023-Zariyah gets to the basket! Offensively her first step allows her to penetrate the lane and score or draw a foul. She plays much bigger than her size indicates. Because of her strong frame and athletic ability, her game will fool you. She can rebound and even block shots against much taller opponents.   In summary, this tournament was fun for a basketball junkie like me. Every year this tournament brings in awesome high school talent from all parts of the state. This year was no different. Job well done.   Bobby Brown

There were only two standing as the finals of the 14th Annual Petit Jean Classic was decided on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Morrilton. Russellville defeated tournament host Morrilton 63-53. There was a plethora of talent on the floor as these two teams battled for the championship. In the end, Russellville displayed the strength and fortitude to claim victory. The following group of players, from both schools, impressed me with their grit and desire to help carry their teams to the finish line;