Kentucky Holiday Tournaments: Standouts (Part 2)
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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.
I really didn’t get to see much of Bardstown’s half court offense because their guards really weren’t letting the opponent past half court. Grabbed a number of steals both in the press and from applying excellent pressure defensively. Made great decisions with the ball, including some impressive passes in transition. Scored at all 3 levels in a variety of ways. Made some crafty moves to finish at the rim.
Excellent defensive pressure – was making everything so hard on each player she guarded. Showed she can not only come up with steals herself, but can also create opportunities for her teammates to get in the passing lanes. Smart decision maker with and without the ball. True floor general who can also score at all 3 levels. Tough finishes at the rim and quick release on her jumper along with her ability to make plays for others made things very hard on the defense.
Highlights
Ella Buckman
Ella Buckman
Plays at a much higher level than your average 8th grader. Displayed a very strong skillset. Showed she can score in a variety of ways, including an excellent outside shot. Consistently ran the floor well and played fearless. Was very impressed that despite being so young, she wasn’t forcing stuff that wasn’t there.
Alexis Knifley
Alexis Knifley
Was really showing everything you’d want to see from a PG. Strong ball handling skills, made good strong drives to the basket, and created well for teammates. Loved how aggressive she was defensively, applying a lot of pressure and getting into the passing lanes. Really just competed hard, but my favorite part was the leadership she displayed both on the court and from the bench.
Was a huge scoring threat because when the defense played off of her, she knocked down shots (with excellent range), and when they played her too close, she went right around them and got to the rim. Took contact and finished well at the free throw line as well. Loved the way she was relocating on the perimeter and she grabbed some big rebounds on both ends of the floor.
So quick with and without the ball. Really has a solid game all-around. Great handles and very shifty with the ball. Defenders were really struggling to stay in front and she recognized that, constantly making plays for both herself and for her teammates. Applied excellent defensive pressure as well. Strader, Jordynn Miles, and Brittany Campbell were all 3 really making it hard for defenses to stay in front and made some great drives to the basket.
Stats don’t show how much of a difference maker she is. Others may have been scoring more, but she was doing all of the little things. Great court awareness led to excellent passes to her teammates. Moved without the ball, made good drives using her body to keep the defense away, and constantly looked to make plays.