Concord Academy Wins Second State Championship in Three Years

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NCISAA girls basketball state championships were hosted this weekend at Calvary Day School in Winston-Salem, NC.&nbsp; The 3A state championship opened the event where we saw the Concord Academy Eagles take on the High Point Christian Cougars.&nbsp; Concord Academy came right out ready to battle taking an early and demanding lead, and they never looked back.&nbsp; The Eagles won the game 64-43.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at the standouts from the matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["158300"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":605462,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eZoey Ward was my player of the game in convincing fashion finishing with 28 points in her last game as a high school athlete.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe has continued her dominant season seeing the floor well finding the openings and attacking the basket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can go up against all five positions on the court using her strength to battle in the paint.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was crashing boards grabbing rebounds leaving it all out on the court for her last game.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe has certainly showed that she is ready to play at the next level.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":605469,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Samantha Meyers","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Concord Academy","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eSamantha Meyers was showing off her beauty of a shot from around the perimeter knocking down four from deep in the first half.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was an asset pulling people away from the paint drawing defenders closer to her making sure her teammates had a chance to score, too.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe attacked the basket as well making sure she put her opponents in foul trouble.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":605448,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jada Steele","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Concord Academy","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eJada Steele was a dominant presence on the block using power dribbles to score her points, and she had some nice ball fakes to create space.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was able to get offensive rebounds and score some points off of those.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was always ready to shoot after getting the entry pass knowing exactly how to move to make her way to the hoop.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["558110"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":605449,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eMckenzie Taylor leaves it all out on the court flying on the floor grabbing loose balls and stealing the possession away from her opponents.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe attacks the basket well, and she is feisty on defense roaming all over the court causing problems.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe showed a lot of leadership keeping her team composed late in the game and made sure to celebrate her last game in high school.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":605453,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Justice Alexander","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Concord Academy","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Crown Academy 2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eConcord Academy also sees a lot of minutes from a young prospect in Justice Alexander.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was showing off her shot from deep getting to the open spots and scoring even through hands in her face.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe attacked the basket making sure to convert from the free throw line to increase the lead for her team.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer length is certainly an asset on defense being able to block the path of her opponents.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fb8ff80645a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The High Point Christian Cougars did lose a heartbreaking championship game, but they still have some prospects that should be on your radar including these three ladies who all scored double digits showing up on the big stage for their team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["323884"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eThe senior leadership for the Cougars is evident from [player_tooltip player_id='323884' first='Nadiya' last='Hairston'].u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe has a nice way of adjusting at the rim to score her points, and she made sure to attack the paint knowing she can convert from the free throw line.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe stripped the ball from her opponents and immediately found her teammates flying up the court for the pass and bucket.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe was consistently being aggressive on both ends showing by example how to leave everything out on the court for her team.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["253886"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eAngel Walker used her defense to throw off her opponents constantly getting her hands in the way.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe's an excellent on ball defender knowing how to be a constant nuisance for her opponents, and she anticipates their next move being able to cut them off or jump in front of a pass.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe knocked down her shot from deep on the offensive side of the ball, and used her aggressive drives to convert from the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["303465"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":552152,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eLastly, a young athlete getting a lot of attention from college coaches already is [player_tooltip player_id='303465' first='Kylie' last='Torrence'].u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe did a nice job anticipating passes and grabbing the steal on her press.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eIt's no wonder the Cougars have plays specifically to get her the ball and let her go to work.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe hustled up the court being ready for the pass in transition and scored through contact.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe uses her length to to show off her reverse layups even driving around her opponents.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fb8ff80654a"} /-->