IAAM B Conference Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The post season is upon us, and several teams are poised to make a run at the IAAM B conference championship. Last year the IAAM crowned two champs, Mercy and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and they have both been moved up to the A conference. This has created an opportunity for a new champion to be crowned and that is what is going to happen on February 20th. Before we get to Championship Monday at Harford Community College, we have get through these preliminary rounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A first round Friday match up will feature Maryvale Prep, who will travel across town to Mount De Sales to take on the Sailors. Some players to watch are junior <strong>Sophie Kelly</strong> from Maryvale, who has been shooting lights out recently. She has a total of 18 threes over their last four games, including five in their big match up against Mercy. If she can keep that up she gives them a puncher's chance against Mount. Mount comes into the match-up with a 12-12 record and they feature 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455404' first='Shelby' last='Lewis']</strong>, who is capable of dominating the paint, and guard <strong>Caroline Sloop</strong>, a capable scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Carroll (12-7) is set to take on 17-4 Gerstell Academy. Gerstell is riding an 8-game winning streak into the playoffs thanks to strong play by <strong>Eniya Stinnette</strong> down the stretch and contributions from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='616559' first='Kiara' last='Hardy']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='253937' first='Annie' last='Jackson']</strong> and freshman guard <strong>Kendall Williams. </strong> John Carroll has been playing well lately thanks to sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755090' first='Vivian' last='Carrico']</strong>, and freshman standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='620773' first='Pieper' last='McCue']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Mary's has been the team to be all year, as they are sporting a 24-0 record heading into the playoffs. Freshmen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='433799' first='Bailey' last='Harris']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='433841' first='Alexandra' last='Vandiver'] have teamed up with junior point guard Bailey Walden to form a potent attack that looks poised to pull off an undefeated season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concordia Prep is battling injuries to multiple starters at the moment and health will determine how far they can go. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389452' first='Hailee' last='Ford']</strong> (Albany) is their key player, and she is hoping to return for Tuesday's match up with Notre Dame Prep who leapfrogged them in the standings late. Senior <strong>Cori Barnes</strong> is also injured for Concordia, and they recently lost guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389451' first='Gabby' last='Smelcer']</strong> (Dickinson) for the year. They will have to deal with a solid NDP team that finished with a surprising 15-6 record and features one of the best shooters in the area in senior <strong>Maya Mercandante. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='142830' first='Aryss' last='Macktoon'] has turned in a stellar season so far, leading St. Timothy's to a 15-3 record along the way. She is one of the top scorers in the area and has given opposing defenses fits, even as they game plan for her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next few days will be exciting as things play out and we find out who will be in the championship game on President's Day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->