Premier Playmakers: D1 Rice vs D1 Essex

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were top 802 prospects from nearly every class hooping in this cross-county matchup! Check out who balled out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446534' first='Bianca' last='Williams'], 5'11 G/W - Essex High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The all-around gamer was back at it. Bianca's game is composed and so steady, and she showed once again how simple the game can be. She played in control the whole contest, both in the open court and halfcourt settings. Her decision making was top tier; she never forced anything and took care of the ball as she passed and moved through Rice's zone defense. Offensively, Bianca found her production in the flow of the offense. She hit four threes on the night and finished a few interior looks off of high post flashes. Defensively, Williams headed the full court press and corralled ballhandlers into defensive help. Moreover, she had 10+ boards and limited Rice to single shot possessions. Highly effective and efficient. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496147' first='Kelli' last='Cieplicki'], 5'9 G - Rice Memorial High School Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelli can do it all and then some. Cieplicki's usage is as high as ever but she's just as efficient. Kelli is handling PG responsibilities quite well as she broke the EHS press with apparent ease. She took care of the basketball, made the simple play, and got Rice into sets. Offensively, Cieplicki showcased her three-level scoring with smart slashes, a couple mid-range jumpers, and a plethora of threes off of feigned drives into side-steps jumpers. Moreover, Cieplicki worked the glass on both ends and got in the passing lanes out of Rice's zone for multiple turnovers and transitions finishes. She's hooping right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='576153' first='Alexa' last='Rabidoux'], 5'8 G - Essex High School Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EHS' starting PG was sidelined in this one so it was Rabidoux who took on the majority of ballhandling duties. She took care of the ball rather well, only coughing it up a few times on drives into the zone. Regardless, Rabidoux made up for it and then some. Alexa moved the ball quickly and instinctively against the zone, making the defense work. She was an aggressive scorer, knocking down six threes on the night, all in the rhythm of the offense. And defensively she was up to her usual antics. Rabidoux moved her feet when applying ball pressure and was reluctant to reach. She was in the passing lanes too, collecting a few steals on the night. This was Rabidoux's second 20-point game over the last week. It's safe to say she's heating up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645653' first='Atika' last='Haji'], 5'10 G/W - Rice Memorial High School Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Atika was in foul trouble throughout the game but highly productive nonetheless. Haji is Rice's second option and she showed her three-level scoring abilities with a few jumpers from deep and numerous strong takes to the rim. She has good senses in the second layer, snaking through the defense and extending into her finishes. Plus, when she sees the paint is clogged, she pulls out the two-foot floater package for controlled finishes. She rebounded the ball well when and had a couple coast-to-coast takes against a defensively minded Essex team. Defensive decision making can be a concern, but when Haji is on the floor she's as impactful as anyone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='579538' first='Rosa' last='Kori'], 5'10 W/F - Rice Memorial High School Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two things jumped out at me after Rosa's performance last night. First, her pursuit of the ball. Kori was near double-digit boards if not at 10+ and it's largely because of her hustle and determination. She hit box outs fairly consistently out of the zone and pursued the ball immediately when it came off the iron. She coughed the ball up a few times to EHS' pesky guards who dug in on boards, but she hit quick outlets otherwise and then ran the floor. Second, she had an attack mentality on offense. When Kori saw driving lanes she took them and as a result she finished at least four solid takes and got to the free throw line. If Rosa consistently puts up a near 10x10 game, Rice will be much more competitive with two stars sidelined.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabrielle Spagnuolo-Chawla, 5'8 G Essex High School Class of 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabrielle's versatility was interesting to see. She might be 5'8, but her instincts against the zone were impressive. Spagnuolo-Chawla moved into the forward slot as a short corner/high post flasher and she made good decisions out of those areas. On the catch she peeked at the rim and hit one or two short range jumpers. But her progression from there was textbook. She looked to the low post and hit a couple nice passes there, then looked opposite for weak side shooters. Gabrielle's shot wasn't falling from outside, but she adjusted quickly and made plays around the rim. She's a hustle player with good instincts on both ends. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='630364' first='Emma' last='Hogson'], 5'11 F - Essex High School Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The forward freshman made some impressions in this one. Emma's post work against the zone was exemplary. Hogson made strong flashes to the high post and used her strong frame to muscle for position. Her decision making wasn't quite up to speed as Rice collapsed on her, but that comes with time at the varsity level. Regardless, her movement was crisp, she battled for boards on both ends, and held down the paint defensively. Good stuff from the young one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->