Battle of the Sophomores
It may have been senior night at Albemarle on Friday, but it seemed to be a battle of the 2025 class duking it out for the win. Albemarle hosted Union Academy in a game that was back and forth and…
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Continue ReadingIt may have been senior night at Albemarle on Friday, but it seemed to be a battle of the 2025 class duking it out for the win. Albemarle hosted Union Academy in a game that was back and forth and certainly showed how basketball can be a game of runs. Check out these sophomores from each school that were the top performers. Don’t worry, though, we have some seniors who showed their abilities and leadership in the game where the Bulldogs ended up taking home the victory.
Let’s start with Albemarle.
Amari Baldwin
Amari Baldwin
Amari Baldwin was all over the court crashing the boards for rebounds and handling the ball pushing it up the court. She even showed off her ability to block shots on a fast break hustling back for the stop. She had a nice putback off an offensive rebound in the paint. She has a nice shot from deep, too, showing how she can create plays from anywhere. She stripped the ball from her opponent scoring through contact for an old fashioned three point play off the turnover.
Jasmine Brown
Jasmine Brown
Jasmine Brown is a strong presence on the block grabbing rebounds and battling through contact for some points. She’s aggressive making her opponents work in the paint for their points. She uses a nice up and under move to create her own space for points. She can use power dribbles, too, to get around her defender. She had a nice spin move in the paint for two points.
Bianca Robinson
Bianca Robinson
Bianca Robinson makes sure she boxes out, and no one around her has a chance for the board. She made a nice decision on a fast break putting up a floater, and she hustled right back down the court blocking a shot in transition. She is so strong in the paint having her way moving wherever she wants to go. She had a dominant second half scoring at the rim using her power dribble to get her way.
Lastly, we place a spotlight on one of their seniors.
I’ll continue to say it, but Nyleiah White Nyleiah White 5’6″ | CG Albemarle | 2023 NC is so explosive with the ball getting to the hoop off a pass or dribbling herself up the court. She gets around her defenders with ease finishing at the rim. She hustles back on defense getting the fast break stop. She had a strong third quarter knocking down shots from deep and attacking the rim leading the charge for her team to take the lead after halftime.
Now, let’s take a look at the dynamic sophomore duo for Union Academy.
Ranon Suttle running the top of the press is fun to watch as she anticipates moves from her opponents to drive them to the trap or jump into passing lanes. There’s a reason her teammates automatically look for her to get the ball to when trying to get the ball up the court. She can certainly shoot all around the arc. She throws the ball to where her teammate is moving to making sure the play is run effectively.
Paisley Boatright
Paisley Boatright
Paisley Boatright does a nice job using her length to go up for the pass, and she can use power dribbles to get open for some points. She is always ready for the pass on fast breaks. She used her presence inside to draw defenders and open up shots around the arc for her teammates. She does a nice job sitting on the block waiting for the opening to get the pass and score. She hustles after loose balls on both ends of the court. On defense, she was able to block shots. She doesn’t shy away from contact. She had a strong three point play battling through contact at the rim late in the fourth quarter giving her team some life to cut into the lead.
Lastly, the Cardinals were also led by one of their seniors taking over late in the game.
Liz Saunders
Liz Saunders
Liz Saunders showed off her stroke from deep on multiple occasions. She did a nice job penetrating the paint and opening up the court for her teammates. She hit a clutch three pointer late in the fourth quarter cutting into the lead for her opponents. She came alive in the fourth quarter setting a fire in her team to get the ball to her for her shot, and she was aggressive driving the ball drawing fouls to convert from the free throw line.