These WVPrepBB Girls Showcase players pulled a reverse Twain

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WHEELING - The best of the best in W.Va. High School girls basketball went head-to-head at the Highlands Sports Complex last Sunday in Wheeling. Here are the girls who pulled the opposite of the Shania Twain song "That Don't Impress Me Much:" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342217' first='Kaitlyn' last='Blake'], Wheeling Central, SF, 5-9, Jr</strong>. - Blake entered the Wvprepbb.com Girls Basketball Showcase as a known player, thanks to her time at John Marshall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She's flying even higher, now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Presented with the opportunity to unleash her entire skill set, Blake did just that on Sunday. From her post game to her defense, she flashed a little bit of everything during her court time at the Highlands Sports Complex. All of her game showed up in full force. The most impressive part, and a part I didn't know she had, her post game, especially shined. Game after game, she battled down low, pulled down boards and went nuts on the offensive end. Basically, she took advantage of the showcase. 100%. Her motor never stopped. Ever. Every minute was important. Every board was hers. Every moment, she looked great. During her first game, she showed a post-game more developed than I believed at first. With a great handle on the ball and a feel for the downlow position, she dominated on the court. She didn't just succeed against the players she will see in AA, she succeed against players from every glass. She can moved her feet and established her position, early. She grabbed plenty of boards, thanks to her boxout skills. And, she really didn't do anything wrong. I really can't wait to see what this season has in store for her. Brook Edge and her have the makings of Central's first pair of all-state first-team players since Kaylee Reinbeau and Taylor Duplaga last graced the court for the Maroon Knights. They compliment each other very well. Blake's stock has rocketed up after her impressive showing in Wheeling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378962' first='Trinity' last='Balog'], Parkersburg High, SG, 5-7, Sr.</strong> - If Blake was the MVP on Sunday, than Balog finished inches away from the honor. Offensively, she showed off a game filled with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises. She showed a maturity in her scoring and a great feel for her scoring ability and what was working and what wasn't working. One game, she used her three-point shot to open up the lane when it was often closed off from her. During another game, she used her ability to get to the basket as a way to open up her outside shot. Opponents had to respect both approaches, because she excelled at both takes. Greatly excelled. Her outside shot looked solid, but the most impressive part of her Sunday came when she drove to the rim. Often presented with five girls in her way, she sliced and diced her way to the rim, then finished in multiple ways once she arrived. Whether she laid in the ball, shot the over-and under, or simply bulldozed her way to the basket and an and-one, there was a lot to like about Balog's game after Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570500' first='Ava' last='Dobbins'], Gilmer County, C, 6-4, So.</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='570500' first='Ava' last='Dobbins'] looked much improved. In every aspect of her game. Not one tool looked unpolished or neglected. She clearly took the time to improve in the offsesason. Already in possession of a strong offensive game, she received entry pass after entry pass and immediately turned around and tried to make things happen offensively on Sunday. The biggest thing that impressed me was her ability to receive an entry pass followed by her immediate willingness to make magic happen. She shot her turnaround shot as soon as she caught the ball with no dribble. She drove to the basket if need be. And, her defense looks comparable to her cousin Riley Fitzwater. Gilmer County expects to do big things, this winter. With Dobbins entering the season with big improvements, the Titans have a chance to accomplish said goals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496340' first='Haylee' last='Pryor'], Bridgeport, PF/G, 5-8, So.</strong> - How did Pryor look as she played on a team full of kids expected to contribute to their groups during the upcoming season? Flexible. Very flexible. Perhaps, she didn't play all five positions. Yet, she showed a willingness to adjust and do what was asked of her. Playing alongside a guard heavy lineup, Pryor kept up with her ballhandling and scoring skills. Quite simply, she played a lot bigger than her height. Sometimes, she took command in the paint. Other times, she shone in her ability to get to the rim or come out of a scrum with the ball in her hands. She showed a multi-skilled attack that will cause problems for many teams this year. She needed the additional weapons, too. Bridgeport will be without Gabby Reep for the first time in four years, and Pryor will be looked at to step in to fill a portion of those shoes. If Sunday was any indication, she's ready to help in her assignment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389208' first='Jaycee' last='Elzy'], St. Albans, C/F, 6-0, Jr.</strong> - Elzy showed off an improved range during her court time. Her repertoire ranged from low-post play to all along the perimeter. Three's weren't out of the question, but she also didn't say no to going strong to the hope. It's true. In every game, she showed off something new and different. In the opening game, she displayed her ability to learn her teammates on such a short notice. Her voices echoed across the gymnasium as she directed traffic and took leadership of her group. In her second game, she showed off a much-improved mid-range game. She looked comfortable outside of the paint, but didn't shy away from taking the plunge into the lane. Overall, the most impressive aspect of growth came in her ball control and her ability to look comfortable on the court in many different positions. Coaches should keep their eyes on this young lady. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->