Kentucky Holiday Tournaments: Standouts (Part 1)
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I got to attend the Queen of the Commonwealth before the holidays and while I had to go back to work after the holidays, I still got to catch a lot of great games via livestreams from tournaments across the…
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Continue ReadingI got to attend the Queen of the Commonwealth before the holidays and while I had to go back to work after the holidays, I still got to catch a lot of great games via livestreams from tournaments across the state. Some of those tournaments include the Lady Invitational of the South at Allen County-Scottsville, the Pikeville Invitational Tournament at Pikeville, and the Central Bank Holiday Classic at Anderson County, among others. The talent at each of these events was top notch and I really enjoyed watching these teams compete. Below are some of the notes I took on players who stood out to me in the games I was able to catch.
Such a solid player overall. She finds ways to score no matter what is thrown at her, but she’s also very much so a team player who consistently works to get her teammates good looks at the basket. Was really the driving force behind everything her team was doing. NKU is getting a fantastic all-around player.
Continues to dominate for Boyd. She has been such a big presence down low all season long and on both ends of the court. She was scoring at-will around the basket, grabbing rebounds strong off the rim, and timing blocks so well.
First time watching London play and walked away so impressed by what she brings to the court. Has great body control and showed a lot of versatility. Her shot and ball fakes were very effective and made the defense shift completely. Made good reads defensively and ran the floor well. Offensively, showed an ability to score inside or out, including excellent range on her outside shot. Strong passing game as well.
Cooper Lady Jaguars
Cooper Lady Jaguars
I really struggle to pick a standout from Cooper every time I watch them play because they quite literally all stand out. Logan Palmer Logan Palmer 5’7″ | SG Cooper | 2024 State KY is a player they can rely on when they need a basket. She can score at all 3 levels and she can finish in some tough ways. Felow seniors Liz Freihofer Liz Freihofer 5’10” | SF Cooper | 2024 State KY and Bella Deere Bella Deere 6’1″ | PF Cooper | 2024 State KY are other staples when it comes to Cooper’s scoring. Freihofer always seems to come up in the clutch for the Lady Jaguars, hitting big shots when they need it most. Deere has been a huge presence inside, but has also shown she can knock down outside shots at a high percentage. Haylee Noel Haylee Noel 5’10” | SG Cooper | 2027 State KY , only a freshman, is a true glue player. She makes a difference on both ends of the court and her shot selection has been very impressive each time I’ve watched Cooper play. Zene Thompson continues to show she’s extremely tough to stop when she drives to the basket, finishing in some very crafty ways. Maleah Alexander Maleah Alexander 5’7″ | SG Cooper | 2024 State KY is their motor – she plays with so much energy and you never have to question her effort. You can also rely on her coming up with multiple steals each game. Damysia Knox Damysia Knox 5’9″ | PG Cooper | 2024 State KY and Addyson Brissey bring great energy and while they don’t take too many shots per game, they still demand respect from the defense as they can score inside or out. Top to bottom, they are so solid and the way they truly play together as a team is very special, not to mention they are playing one of the toughest schedules you’ll find across the state.
Impressed by her shifty guard skills. Showed she’s a true 3 level scoring threat, finishing tough off her drives and knocking down shots with deep range. However, not just a scorer as she made great extra passes to get her teammates open looks. Athletic and plays with a lot of heart.
Very strong and works so hard on the boards. Really goes after rebounds with a clear purpose in mind and won’t stop until she comes up with the ball. Can score through contact and has good moves in the post. Great hands on both ends of the court and made some excellent reads in zone defense.