Sandy's Spiel Showcase Preview

The third annual Sandy's Spiel Showcase tips off at 10:30 AM this Saturday at Grayson High School. In what looks like the strongest field in any one-day event this season, 11 out of the 14 participating teams are currently ranked including four teams slotted number one in their respective classifications.   <a href="https://gofan.co/app/events/826822?schoolId=GA4315">Tickets are now on sale via GoFan.</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/SS-12.10-Showcase.jpeg?w=540" alt="" class="wp-image-562156" /></figure>   10:30 – 7A No. 9 North Paulding vs. 1A D-II No. 1 Lake Oconee Academy   Last year's Class A-Public State Champion Lake Oconee Academy enters play on a 29-game winning streak but faces their biggest challenge yet in North Paulding. The Titans are led by a veteran backcourt consisting of sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='361387' first='Hannah' last='Heinen'], freak athlete [player_tooltip player_id='440940' first='Jada' last='Williams'] and state title game hero [player_tooltip player_id='402177' first='Georgia' last='Bosart'], also a star golfer. The Titans press and shoot the three extremely well for a 1A D-II school, but will be challenged by the size and balance of North Paulding, who has cut their teeth in 7A. [player_tooltip player_id='371784' first='Ava' last='Andrews'] is a game-changer with elite length and major athleticism, able to completely disrupt opponents with her defensive acumen. [player_tooltip player_id='484962' first='Kaden' last='McCorvey'] is a skilled low block scorer while [player_tooltip player_id='302966' first='Alex' last='Willis'] and Ijeoma Ozurumba provide even more size and physicality each standing 6-foot tall. North Paulding can match Lake Oconee Academy's talented backcourt with a strong core of their own headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='461960' first='Marina' last='Sippola'], an up-and-coming junior that plays with great energy and can score efficiently from all over. [player_tooltip player_id='402193' first='Jayda' last='Jackson'] just picked up a Union (KY) offer while [player_tooltip player_id='947808' first='Lillie' last='Harris'] is a savvy freshman playmaker. Outside shots will need to drop for LOA and keeping the Wolfpack off the glass will be imperative. Aside from Williams, expect Kensi Stevens to play a big role on the backboards as a physical guard.   12:00 – Loganville vs. Pebblebrook   Flag football has hindered the Loganville roster but when they get to full strength, the Red Devils will be prepared to make a run in Region 8-5A. 6-foot-3 [player_tooltip player_id='218611' first='Emaya' last='Lewis'] can take over games with her length. The burgeoning star was named Class 5A Most Improved Player a season ago, upping her average to 14.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. She is a shot eraser inside that can snag rebounds and start her own fastbreak. Multiple D-I programs have already offered. Sophie Farmer, Rebecca Oji and Caty Beth Boleman have all played key roles while Matelyn Genske is the most experienced player on the roster. While availability has been an issue for Loganville, participation has been for Pebblebrook as they carry just nine players on the roster. Depth is a major concern as foul trouble has already cropped up early in the season but the Falcons' top five can play with almost anyone in the state. Keleci Rivers is off to a hot start averaging 18.5 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. [player_tooltip player_id='449544' first='Iryana' last='Muckle'] is a tough-nosed undersized guard that knows how to score in traffic, currently averaging over 15 points per game. Nia Morgan, [player_tooltip player_id='253956' first='Kania' last='Seymour'] and Aaliyah Capers round out Pebblebrook's core.   1:30 – 2A No. 4 Central-Macon vs. 4A No. 4 Stockbridge   In a battle of backcourts, [player_tooltip player_id='218682' first='Taliah' last='Grier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='205145' first='Alaya' last='Grane'] will go toe-to-toe with [player_tooltip player_id='252267' first='Carrington' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='383005' first='Janiyah' last='Jones']. While Grier and Grane provide playmaking and firepower, Central-Macon has hung their hat on defense, allowing 39.6 points per game over their first six contests. [player_tooltip player_id='922536' first='Frances' last='Anyakudo'] is a defensive anchor inside while Jaz Johnson, Kayla Prior, Tayelor Davis and Aniya Dugger have all been consistent scorers that do the dirty work on defense. They will be tasked with slowing down Wilson, a two-time All-State selection currently averaging 18 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. At 5-foot-9, Wilson is a dynamic athlete that likes to get downhill and draw fouls. Jones averages 14.8 points per game and provides some outside shooting and ball handling on the perimeter. Fellow sophomores Kahli Ingram and Des'Mya Croom are 5-foot-9 forwards that help round out the Tigers' top scoring options.   3:00 – 1A D-I No. 3 Elbert County vs. 2A No. 10 Murray County   Last year's Class 2A State Champ Elbert County hasn't skipped a beat as nearly all of their roster is back for their senior seasons. Class 2A Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='286834' first='Aaniyah' last='Allen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='335898' first='Niya' last='Moon'] are jitterbug quick guards that lockup opponents with their full court pressure. Allen thrives at getting to the basket and scoring in transition while Moon is a lethal three-point shooter that spaces the floor. Both are receiving D-III offers while Allen has snagged a D-II Georgia Southwestern bid. [player_tooltip player_id='286835' first='Terrace' last='Hester'] is the third head of the backcourt, another stingy defender and a quality scorer. Murray County will have to be cautious around Elbert County's ball hawking guards. The Indians have been dinged up all season, missing the services of Carson-Newman-signee [player_tooltip player_id='253953' first='Mattie' last='Nuckolls']. Picking up the slack in place of the All-State forward has been [player_tooltip player_id='471233' first='Ella' last='Dotson'], a consistent perimeter scorer that holds an from NAIA Bryan College. 5-foot-11 sophomore Bayleigh Winkler and senior Kiersten Hixson are an important inside-outside duo for the Indians. Skyler Mahoney is a forward that will be asked to help keep Elbert County X-Factor Brenasia Faust off the glass, a post that holds a Piedmont offer.   4:30 – 7A No. 1 Archer vs. 4A No. 5 Baldwin   Newly minted Class 7A No. 1 Archer will battle the bigger Baldwin Bravettes, anchored by 6-foot-3 [player_tooltip player_id='386999' first='Janaye' last='Walker'] who enters averaging 12 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2 blocks per game. Walker does a great job sealing deep inside and has soft hands to collect lob passes over the defense. [player_tooltip player_id='529203' first='Sanaa' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='302912' first='Kyndall' last='Collins'] and possibly even [player_tooltip player_id='153205' first='Taniya' last='McGowan'] could see time defending her inside. McGowan, a South Carolina State-signee, is a physical wing that scores inside and out and has earned multiple All-State honors. Baldwin has experience playing in tight games albeit they haven't gone their way, their four losses coming against three ranked opponents by a total of 14 points. [player_tooltip player_id='253973' first='Madison' last='Ruff'] (11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 3 spg) is a great athlete that loves to get downhill and create for others. She's a strong defender that can apply on-ball pressure the full length of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='520245' first='Kassidy' last='Neal'] (9.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg) is a unique forward with a soft touch from the perimeter while 6-foot-4 sophomore Kyla Levester is an intimidating center that continues to improve. Archer has a balanced backcourt with major firepower between [player_tooltip player_id='302958' first='Courtney' last='Nesbitt'], [player_tooltip player_id='507949' first='Taj' last='Hunter'], [player_tooltip player_id='154600' first='Ashanti' last='Bryant'] and defensive dynamite [player_tooltip player_id='288506' first='Mearah' last='Whitehead'] that will challenge Baldwin.   6:00 – 1A D-I No. 1 Galloway vs. 6A No. 8 Langston Hughes   Galloway boasts one of the most talented rosters in the state headlined by High Major sisters [player_tooltip player_id='218690' first='Tianna' last='Thompson'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='541418' first='Taryn' last='Thompson']. [player_tooltip player_id='196119' first='Kyla' last='Cain'] is headed to North Florida as a physical tweener forward while [player_tooltip player_id='252750' first='Kailyn' last='Fields'] is a swift playmaking guard signed to Kennesaw State. Sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='253952' first='Allison' last='Hoffmann'] has interest and offers from multiple levels. [player_tooltip player_id='387955' first='Jasmine' last='Baxter'] is a workhorse post presence that plays bigger than her size, a powerful bruiser with a polished low post repertoire. Danaya Stokes is a burgeoning double-double threat with great size inside. Langston Hughes has major talent in their own right led by [player_tooltip player_id='302916' first='Savannah' last='Robinson-Holmes'], a do-everything sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='425451' first='Michell' last='Besong'] is a long and athletic swingman that averaged 18 points per game at Creekside last season while [player_tooltip player_id='311571' first='Kyla' last='Greene'], [player_tooltip player_id='335881' first='Taylor' last='Harris'] and Sydney Smith all have big game experience in the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='330538' first='McKayla' last='Taylor'] is an X-Factor for Langston Hughes inside when healthy.   7:30 – Grayson vs. 6A No. 1 River Ridge   A preseason injury to [player_tooltip player_id='196117' first='Erin' last='Rodgers'] could have sunk the psyche of Grayson but the Rams have pulled it together with a 5-2 mark coming off a significant win over Rabun Gap. [player_tooltip player_id='302914' first='Tatum' last='Brown'] has shouldered the load averaging 21.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2 steals. Howard, App State and George Mason have all offered the sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='302960' first='Samara' last='Saunders'] has stepped up inside averaging 10.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, drawing offers from Piedmont, North Central, Houghton, Oglethorpe and Illinois-Springfield. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='302915' first='Jayla' last='Bennett'] has chipped in 8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game while [player_tooltip player_id='171792' first='Jyahni' last='Smith'] has contributed 7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.1 steals. The Rams' core depth will be tested against River Ridge, one of the best teams in the entire state. Penn-signee [player_tooltip player_id='154599' first='Mataya' last='Gayle'] is an electric playmaker averaging 15 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 3 steals while 6-foot sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='350683' first='Kayla' last='Cleaveland'] has emerged as the team's leading scorer, the versatile lefty putting up 19.6 points and 8.2 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='296847' first='Sophia' last='Pearl'] (12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.2 spg) holds offers from Lipscomb, Marist, LaSalle and Quinnipiac. [player_tooltip player_id='253976' first='Allie' last='Sweet'] is a double-double threat nightly, the 6-foot-1 volleyball standout collecting 8.3 points and 11.5 rebounds. 5-foot-9 [player_tooltip player_id='476459' first='Makayla' last='Roberson'] has a chance to be special, the impact freshman averaging 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds with D-I offers not too far away.

The third annual Sandy's Spiel Showcase tips off at 10:30 AM this Saturday at Grayson High School. In what looks like the strongest field in any one-day event this season, 11 out of the 14 participating teams are currently ranked including four teams slotted number one in their respective classifications.