Skyhawk Holiday Classic – Top 5 Performers
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This year’s Skyhawk Holiday Classic is in the books – and there were a litany of noteworthy performances that took place at Hammond School this past Tuesday that we had the privilege to witness. The 2022 version of the event…
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Continue ReadingThis year’s Skyhawk Holiday Classic is in the books – and there were a litany of noteworthy performances that took place at Hammond School this past Tuesday that we had the privilege to witness.
The 2022 version of the event featured 12 teams converging on the home court of the SCISA 4A Skyhawks. Eight of the teams were girls teams with boys teams comprising the other two.
With so many outstanding outings that occurred while at this year’s gathering, it was awfully difficult to narrow down the list to five that we decided to feature. But here are the ones that stood out to us.
The veteran 5-foot-9 guard for the host Skyhawks had herself a banner performance in a hotly contested matchup with SCHSL 4A Irmo. Khalil tallied 29 points to lead Hammond to a 50-41 victory over the Yellowjackets. Khalil had all three of the team’s made 3-pointers for the game. She also excelled as an efficient runner of the floor, displaying her court vision and making accurate passes to her teammates. She also managed to draw contact on some occasions which gave her opportunities to drain her attempts from the free throw line. Khalil is coming into her own as a leader of the SCISA 4A Skyhawks.
Her Yellowjackets may have been on the less-than-desirable end of that very 50-41 result to host school Hammond, but one has to give credit to her team for not backing down despite falling behind big early. Collins finished with 25 points in a matchup that Irmo made very competitive as the game wore on. Collins came through with four of the five 3-pointers that Irmo made for the game. She managed to impress as a ball handler, runner of the floor and ability to get to the free throw line after drawing contact. This year’s Yellowjackets rendition is already halfway to the six wins they picked up last season.
Ward’s Eagles were involved in what was unarguably the game of the day among the four girls contests that took place on Tuesday. Concord Academy was on the receiving end of a 58-50 decision to Heathwood Hall, but Ward had a stellar outing with a 20-point performance. She stands at an even six feet and is listed as a shooting guard and small forward but has the ability to also make plays deep in the painted area. Ward will also try a few 3-point attempts and can absorb contact which will give her opportunities at the free throw line.
The Highlanders faced a test that they have seldom faced all 2022-23. Prior to Tuesday, 3A Lower Richland was the only team able to put a scare in to the SCISA 4A juggernaut Heathwood Hall is. Monsanto was instrumental in helping the Highlanders pass the test of the Eagles with an 18-point performance. She can get out into the open floor and make plays in transition and also can excel as a 3-point shooter. Rebounding is another element of her game that she is gifted in. Close games such as Tuesday’s are won at the free throw line and Monsanto greatly bolstered the Highlanders’ efforts at the charity stripe in the game’s latter moments.
Janiyah Boyd
Janiyah Boyd
If one were to have watched Boyd for the first time in her game with Northside Christian, which concluded in a rout for the Raptors, one may have figured she was either a senior or a junior. In fact, she scored 21 points and is only a seventh grader. She is a newcomer to the team and has already proven herself to be integral to 1 of 1 Prep Red’s success. Among her skillset is an ability to sink her 3-point attempts, absorb contact and get to the free throw line and attack the basket with consistency. Boyd is just getting started.