Joe's Standouts from the East Fairmont Girls Basketball Classic

FAIRMONT – Referees and scorekeepers alike were busy during Day 2 of the East Fairmont Girls Basketball Classic inside The Hive on the campus of East Fairmont High School on Saturday.   They were keeping up with ten schools around the state competing inside the home of the Big 10's Bees.   Five games took place one after the other and kept the lights lit up and the whistles sharp. Here are a few of the girls who stood out the most:   [player_tooltip player_id='473111' first='Kaydance' last='Bradley'], Martinsburg, Post, 6-5, Jr. - When evaluating post players 6-foot-4 and above, there are always a certain number of abilities I look for during the evaluation process. Do they want the ball on offense? Can they pass out of trouble if the offensive play doesn't materialize? Do they run the floor back on defense? Can they move their feet on defense? When they block a shot, do they swat down or keep their arms straight up?   Call them the Tim Duncan skills if you will, but they are what makes a great post player.   After finally seeing Martinsburg's [player_tooltip player_id='473111' first='Kaydance' last='Bradley'] in her person, she answers all these questions in a positive light. Not only does she answer in a positive way, but she knows she's a big part of the Bulldog attack and plays accordingly.   She's excellent at establishing herself in the post, and just as good as getting passes out to her teammates in good scoring positions. She moves around the floor well on both ends of the court. She's comfortable coming out on smaller guards, and she runs the floor back on offense as to not force her team to wait in establishing the offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='375427' first='Sophie' last='Nichols'], Ripley, SG, 5-11, Jr. – How did Sophie handle being the primary scorer against Brooke? The same way she's handled it every other time. Against the Bruins, she showcased her entire arsenal and helped break open a tight game that shouldn't have been as tight as it was.   She punched up her output, even when the Bruins had her figured out.   Heck, even when they had her figured out and assigned two girls to her, they couldn't do much from keeping her getting a shot up. Whether it was making the smart dribble in from the 3-line for a short jumper, being aggressive, or acrobatically twisiting her way to the rim, she always threated points. Overall, it was a game where the Vikings needed her scoring at the forefront, and she always answered the call.   [player_tooltip player_id='570275' first='Natalie' last='Blankenship'], Logan, G, 5-1, Sr. – [player_tooltip player_id='570275' first='Natalie' last='Blankenship'] drew a tough assignment against Lincoln scorer [player_tooltip player_id='496331' first='Ashlyn' last='Riley'], but she didn't shy away from it. Time after time down the court, No. 1 found No. 24 and the dance of defense commenced. Sometimes they glided around the court in a sort of tag rendition, other times they battled on a spot as Blankenship dared Lincoln to put up a shot or drive by her. More often than not, Blankenship won the matchup, especially when Riley tried to drive. Head of steam? Yeah…right. Riley rarely if ever found momentum for a drive to the bucket, and never got a chance to come off a screen for a shot.     Autumn Adkins, Logan, G, 5-6, Sr. – Lincoln was currently on a run that gave them the lead, and Logan couldn't hit a bucket. Everything was missing. Shots hit the rim. Shots missed the rim. Shots bounced all over the backboard and even through the net, but to no avail. The Wildcats needed help – in came Adkins. She sparked a game-changing run with a 3-point shot from near the top of the arc. Her first points since the first-period came at the best time. Those points gave the defending Class AAA state championship the Wildcats never relinquished against the Cougars.   Kyleigh Fridley, East Fairmont, Wing, 5-8, Jr. – What do you get when you supercharge a defender?   Hopefully, it is Kyleigh Fridley.   As one of the girls who may get overlooked, Fridley runs with a high-level defensive motor.   Wherever the ball is on the court, you are likely to find Friday not far behind. The latest example came against Sissonville.   In a game against an Indians team featuring standout scorer [player_tooltip player_id='384095' first='Kynna' last='Britton'], Fridley jumped and filled passing lanes early and often. If she made a mistake on the offensive end, she delivered another tough play on the defensive end. And more often than not, her steals helped the Bees.   Any coach looking for that high-level, high-motor defender should take a look at Fridley. She isn't going to score a ton, but, in the meantime, her defense will give a coach time to develop her offensive game.

FAIRMONT – Referees and scorekeepers alike were busy during Day 2 of the East Fairmont Girls Basketball Classic inside The Hive on the campus of East Fairmont High School on Saturday.