Gateway Tournament Finals: 2024 Guards Shine

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gateway tournament finals was full of electricity and really shined the lights on girls basketball in Jacksonville, on the First Coast, and the State of Florida. In this article, we look at the top performing seniors guards in the Finals. This article is the first of a series of articles we will release on the Gateway Conference Tournament.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["374464"],"_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":842135,"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='374464' first='Ansley' last='Hicks'] took her game to another level in the Gateway tournament and played lights out. First is the scoring. Hicks averaged 25 points in the final 2 games of the tournament, scoring an incredible 32 points against first seed Ribault and 18 in the finals against Atlantic Coast. Hicks's ability to play on both ends of the court is what really stood out in the Finals. She hit some few nice threes from the corner, attacked the paint , and had key offensive rebounds that she put back in for scores against the bigs in the paint. Hicks was equally impressive on the defensive end (as she has been all season). She can outright play on-ball defense with a combination of athleticism, determination, and a high basketball IQ.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["349325"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":842142,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='349325' first='Kennedy' last='Waymer'] played well in the finals and had some spectacular finishes at the rim. From the moment the finals kicked off, Waymer was in attack mode. She put a lot of pressure on the opposition and was crafty at getting the bucket and drawing the foul as well.  Waymer found  a way to get through the defense whether they were in a zone or man to man.  She was also at her peak in the transition game where she was throwing dimes to the open teammates and finishing as well.   Waymer Sis crafty and uses it to her advantage.  In the finals, Waymer was the top playmaker on the floor.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["842130"],"_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":842146,"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='842131' first='Ka'Lynn' last='Hobbs'] had a very good tournament and also turned some heads. Her ability to shoot the three was impressive. She wastes no time when she makes her mine to shoot and she is very effective. Hobbs was also effective at getting second shots and finishing in the paint. Despite being an undersized forward, Hobbs is a physical player and does a good job of mixing it up. She doesn't mind doing the small things on the court, fueled by effort and desire.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":"","_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["730176"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":842159,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='730176' first='Salyse' last='Dillihay'] was a standout and had a great Gateway tournament performance. If folks didn't know who she was before the tournament, they do now. Her performance in the quarter finals and semifinals was attention getting. Her ability to score in a variety of ways was very impressive. Dillihay scored with the floaters off the glass, drives through the heart of the defense, finishes with the left and right hand, and good shooting  from behind the arc and in the midrange area.   She was also very good on defense, especially playing in the passing lanes.  She has a high basketball IQ on the floor and she was one of the top standouts in the tournament.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":"","_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ad17f5a4660"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->