Battle at the Border: Peak Performers in the Foothills

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 24^th&nbsp;annual Battle at the Border is in the books – and it was another rendition that featured a great deal of exciting basketball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landrum HS, the 2A school nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was a focal for many basketball fans in the surrounding area. For three days, 16 teams – eight girls assemblings and eight boys squads called the area home.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were also on hand for the festivities. There were plenty of eye-opening performances that took place at the Cardinals. Without further adieu, here is our top five from the day of action on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":829197,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Peyton Thompson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"First Presbyterian Academy at Shannon Forest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ePeyton was making Woodruff pay all morning at The Cage. Her Shannon Forest assembling was involved in the first contest of the day against the 3A Wolverines. With a 16-point performance, Thompson led her team to victory – the team's first of the season. Thompson effectively ran point all contest for the Crusaders and showcased her ability to put points on the board at all three levels. She also understands that being a reliable scorer has to translate into being a reliable ball distributor as anyone who puts plenty of points on the board will attract a bevy of attention from opposing defenses. Thompson also plays volleyball at Shannon Forest.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ecbbfde091"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["637610"],"_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":829202,"_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 style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIf they have not already, they will start referring to her as Hopper The Hooper in Gaffney circles. Hopper's 5A Gaffney assembling began this year's Battle at the Border in emphatic fashion with a dominant 79-40 win to dispatch of West Henderson. A pair of 22-point scorers (sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='567025' first='Korbyn' last='Lydia'] being the other) were instrumental in the big Indians win. Hopper's 5-foot-10 frame fused together with her length provides a pack of problems for teams looking to execute an offense against her. Those attributes also come in handy when looking to bolster a team's rebounding efforts and those offensive boards will often translate into two-point putbacks. Hopper primarily plays as a forward in the frontcourt.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ecbbfde11f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["380650"],"_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":829208,"_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 style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFollowing the St. Joseph's Catholic boys earning a victory over Chapman earlier in the day, it was time for the girls to hold up their end of the bargain to go 2-0 against Panthers assemblings. Helmer made sure that did indeed happen as she led all Knights scorers with 17 in a highly entertaining contest. What gets Helmer plenty of praise in hoops circles is how accurate of a 3-point threat she is. She did do plenty of that with three of the team's seven from behind the arc. What Helmer also displayed in this year's Battle at the Border opening round is how she can draw contact and come through with clutch baskets at the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ecbbfde190"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["399239"],"_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":829217,"_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 style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIn 2023-24, Landrum has re-established its status as one of the teams to beat in the 2A ranks. A big reason for the success of Jared St. Charles' Cardinals has been the play of his star two guard. The Cardinals successfully defended The Cage against 5A Boiling Springs to close out the girls portion of Battle at the Border's first day. Cortez tallied 17 points. She is an efficient runner of the floor including moving very quickly with the ball in her hands. A 3-point shot is part of Cortez's offensive arsenal and she understands when the right times are to score when to pass.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ecbbfde1fe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["249923"],"_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":829212,"_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 style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eChapman is a staple at Battle at the Border tournaments. The 3A Panthers time at the 2023 rendition may have began on an inauspicious note with a close defeat to 1A St. Joseph's Catholic, but it was not because of the star Panthers junior. Wilder put 19 points on the board to lead her team. What makes Wilder so dangerous is not only her scoring ability, but how her stifling defense can lead to more opportunities for her team to generate offense. And much of that offense comes by way of the 3-point shot. A good bit of it also comes via free throws. She also uplifts a team's rebounding efforts and knows when to pass and score.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ecbbfde270"} /-->