2024 Playoffs: Another Game Day, Another Eye-Opening Performance
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Yesterday was another round of the State Playoffs for the 2023-2024 season. In the article below, we highlight five prospects that put together some productive games in their efforts last night. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy! Brani Jackson POS…
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Continue ReadingYesterday was another round of the State Playoffs for the 2023-2024 season. In the article below, we highlight five prospects that put together some productive games in their efforts last night.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!
Brani Jackson
Brani Jackson
Whenever you have heard about Bellevue East this season, it was usually because of a performance out of the their star Freshman, T’Niyah Wilson Smith but another Guard that has been a constant for this group has been Brani Jackson. Jackson is a Point Guard and another scorer that this team can rely on. She isn’t the type of prospect that needs to be ball dominate all the time but she is a PG, so she is at her best when she is in full control. Last night in her teams 10 point Playoff win, Jackson recorded 20 Points (6-13), 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Steal, and 1 Block. In a narrow victory, all efforts are appreciated and Jackson’s were vital in helping this team move onto the next round. If they want to continue on this path of success moving forward, they are going to have to stay locked in and continue to prepare properly. If they do that, they will always have a chance.
Naomi White Naomi White 5’9″ | CG Bellevue West | 2024 NE and her Bellevue West Thunderbirds team got another convincing win last night against Lincoln High by a final score of 83-21. In this victory, there were several players that chipped in but the most impressive and efficient was Naomi White Naomi White 5’9″ | CG Bellevue West | 2024 NE . White is a GCU commit and a heck of a player. She is offensively gifted while also holding athleticism, smarts, and discipline. When the final buzzer of this game sounded, White had 19 Points (7-10), 9 Rebounds, 3 Assists, and 3 Steals. This isn’t the best game of White’s season up to this point but it is one to talk about. It helped her team move on and they looked great doing it. This Thunderbirds team is dangerous. They have 3-4 players that can get hot in the blink of an eye, completely changing the outcome of game. If they can all consistently show up for the rest of the season, I’m not sure who is going to be able to stop them in the long run.
Khadijah Phillips Khadijah Phillips 5'7" | CG Lincoln Northeast | 2024 NE
Khadijah Phillips Khadijah Phillips 5'7" | CG Lincoln Northeast | 2024 NE
The Lincoln Northeast Rockets tallied another win last night against Westview High School, 76-50. In their win, the Rockets looked hungry. They came out and blitzed their opponent, opening up a big lead and holding that lead until the very end. A player that stood out in a number of different ways throughout this contest was Khadijah Phillips Khadijah Phillips 5’7″ | CG Lincoln Northeast | 2024 NE for The Rockets. Phillips ended the game with 13 Points (5-11), 3 Rebounds, and 3 Assists. On a team where most of their production and action happens in the middle of the lane, this was a nice outing. I don’t know the exact path that the Rockets are going to need to go down to bring home a State Title but they are definitely going to need production from a number of positions moving forward. The teams they will have to play at this point are no joke. If anyone wants to keep on going, they have to play each possession like it’s their last.
The Omaha Westside Warriors beat Kearney High School in their contest yesterday, 68-48. In the Warriors win, they had five different players score in double-digits, all while doing it pretty efficiently. A prospect that has been one of the Warriors more sound-players this winter has been their Forward, Sanai Foster Sanai Foster 6’2″ | PF Westside | 2026 State NE . Foster has some real skill when it comes to the game of basketball and I’m not sure what it’s going to take for college coaches to see that. Foster stands at 6’1-6’2, she moves really well for her size, and she demonstrates a balanced shooting stroke on almost every attempt. It might not always go in, but her foundation is there to build something really special over the next few years. Last night in their victory, Foster scored 13 Points (5-9), 7 Rebounds, and 1 Block. If you sit down and watch Foster compete for a half, you can see the potential. For right now, I’m sure that her mind is on bringing home a Championship but she has a promising future on the hardwood, if put in the correct situation and with the right guidance.
The Gretna Dragons may have fallen last night at the hands of the powerhouse that is Millard North but there was a shining light and that light is named Maggie Miller Maggie Miller 5’8″ | PG Gretna | 2026 NE . Miller is a Sophomore Guard, that has been productive all winter long for the Dragons in a number of ways and last night was no different. In a game where the Dragons were held to 38 points, Miller had 20 of those. Other than Emma Martin for the Dragons, no one else scored over 2 points and I think that pretty much paints the picture here. It’s a tough challenge to beat a team like the Mustangs in general. To do it with limited personal, makes it almost impossible. If I were on the Dragons coaching staff, I would keep it positive. It was a tough loss but they can build on their young players moving forward and that is promising as we look toward the 2024-2025 season. As for Miller and her individual game, she can do some things. She is positive and she makes the most of her opportunities, all while staying aggressive. If she keeps at it during the off-season, she is going to come back better then ever.