Game Recap: Charlotte Catholic at Independence

Call me old fashioned, but I love watching basketball teams that have a good balance between guards and post players where it seems they have weapons all over the court at once.  That is why this matchup between Charlotte Catholic and Independence was one that I was excited about seeing because both teams meet that criteria.  The Independence Patriots ended up winning the game 44-40.  It was a pretty back and forth game until the fourth quarter where the Patriots outscored the Cougars 13-2 ultimately winning the game.  Check out some of the standouts from the competition.   Let's start with Independence.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Chloe-Moss-dribbling-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674669789.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589318" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='252848' first='Chloe' last='Moss'] has expanded the court knocking down shots from deep showing her ability to catch and shoot with ease. She handled herself well in the paint on defense making it difficult for a top post to get the ball and score. She's aggressive and persistent inside getting rebounds and she uses these offensive boards for points. She protects the possession no matter whose hands are trying to get in the way.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Jessica-Worthey-ball-high-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674669844.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589320" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='326215' first='Jessica' last='Worthey'] showed some great IQ on the defensive side of the ball knowing when to drop down and help double on some tough post players. She has the strength to guard them herself in the paint. On the offensive side of the ball, she uses crossovers to get by her opponents. She blocked shots with ease, too. She had a clutch floater off an offensive rebound making it a 2 point game late in the fourth quarter.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Jailun-Brimmer-layup-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-589321" /></figure>   Jai'lun Brimmer (PG, 2024) brought some strong ball handling in the second half attacking the basket and getting two points when her team needed them most. She made great adjustments going up for the shot to score. She didn't mind contact embracing it and taking advantage of the opportunity on the free throw line. On defense, she didn't back down from an aggressive guard. Late in the game, she made a three pointer through contact giving a lot of life to her team. She did a nice job boxing out her opponents even post players for the board.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Kamryn-Kitchen-shooting-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674669947.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589323" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='303060' first='Kamryn' last='Kitchen'] continues to show off her stroke from deep using her step back move and shooting off a pass. She was consistently showing off her stroke from deep, and she had a nice midrange pull up getting by her defender and making two points in the paint. She was the leading scorer in the game. The timing of her hands on defense was constantly deflecting passes and dribbles around her.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Hannah-Moss-shooting-crop-1290x848-1674669997.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589325" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='573553' first='Hannah' last='Moss'] has a finesse with the ball where she can get to the hoop.  She does a nice job selling fakes including making her defender think there's a screen coming and blowing by her going the other direction.  She ran offensive sets well knowing how to be patient to let the play develop.   Now, let's take a look at the Charlotte Catholic Cougars.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Aniyah-Scales-dribbling-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674670042.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589328" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='158279' first='Aniyah' last='Scales'] did a nice job boxing out in transition making sure her opponents didn't have another chance. She had a hard drive to the hoop finishing with a nice fingertip roll for two points. She can show off her shot from deep, too, putting it up at the perfect time responding to her opponents trying to make a run.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Gracynn-Gough-FT-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-589329" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='326208' first='Gracynn' last='Gough'] is lethal with her power dribble spin move to score some points in the paint. She scored the first four points for her team using her power dribbles going hard to the hoop. She makes sure to follow shots and grab the rebound on both ends. She isn't just an inside post, though, as she can make shots from deep. She had a nice old fashioned three point play in the second half quieting the opposing crowd. She finished with 16 points.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Blanca-Thomas-shooting-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674670136.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589331" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='253883' first='Blanca' last='Thomas'] uses her height to get inside for rebounds scoring off of second chances. She was blocking shots throughout the game making it difficult for anyone to score in the paint. She came right out in the second half coming off a screen on her cut to the basket scoring two points. She knew how to draw the foul when going up against her opponents and take advantage of the mismatch on the block.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/Olivia-Fava-FT-copy-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1674670187.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-589333" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='252862' first='Olivia' last='Fava'] strips the ball from her opponents trying to dribble by her.  She is quick with the steal scoring two on the other end.  She was crucial in controlling the tempo for her team being aggressive on defense and pushing the ball or settling down to run an offensive set.  She did everything for her team even running as fast as she can to deflect passes on fast breaks and dive on the floor for loose balls.

Call me old fashioned, but I love watching basketball teams that have a good balance between guards and post players where it seems they have weapons all over the court at once. That is why this matchup between Charlotte Catholic and Independence was one that I was excited about seeing because both teams meet that criteria. The Independence Patriots ended up winning the game 44-40. It was a pretty back and forth game until the fourth quarter where the Patriots outscored the Cougars 13-2 ultimately winning the game. Check out some of the standouts from the competition.