Upon Further Review: Post Pivots
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Closing the book on this past high school basketball season with a week spent in the “Film Room”. You can’t teach height! It’s an old saying it remains true, and here’s a group of players who stood out by taking…
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Continue ReadingYou can’t teach height! It’s an old saying it remains true, and here’s a group of players who stood out by taking advantage of their blessing of height.
Game Watched: vs Glenpool, March 7th
A mobile forward who looks like she loves to beat up opponents on the glass? That will always stand out. Against an athletic Sapulpa team, there were spurts where it looked Bond grabbed and fought for rebounds like her life depended on it. Especially on the offensive glass.
The sophomore was one of three Locust Groves player to average double figures on the year, the others were a fellow sophomore and a freshman. (Who were also covered in this “Upon Further Review” series.) The future looks very bright for the Lady Pirates program, with the potential to continue to make more March trips westward for the Class 4A State Tournament.
Highlights
Game Watched: vs Shawnee, January 4th
The unsigned senior was a force to be reckoned with her strong performance in a double overtime victory for Rogers. She consistently showed her great touch around the rim with quality finishing. When she got established down low and the defender sealed on her back, it felt like an automatic two points for the senior. Simmons was also active on the offensive glass, using her height and strength advantage to either tip rebounds to herself or outmuscling the opponent for positioning. In the second overtime, she scored the late go ahead bucket that helped the Lady Ropers to a victory.
Malerie Hawk
Malerie Hawk
Game Watched: vs Broken Arrow, January 30th
Hawk has good size and had a Swiss Army Knife type feel for Choctaw. She made good cross court passes out of post ups, knocked down threes, even being able to use a dribble or two to relocate before pulling the trigger. While also making use of her height advantage to be active on the glass and mobility by tracking down longer rebounds too. The 2025 prospect is also a volleyball standout, she provides important size and shooting for one of the 405’s best girls basketball programs.
Game Watched: vs Lawton MacArthur, February 6th
With great height and promising movements, Thornton was a very interesting prospect to scout at the 5A State Tournament earlier this month. That continued when watching back the game against Lawton, where she was a force on the offensive glass. She has good hands and activity level, which allowed to feast on putbacks. Her high potential also showed with a face up move from nearly the three point line. She saw a clear lane, put the ball on the deck, it only took a few dribbles and she was at the rim where she finished through contact for an old fashion three point play. Height, moves well, and promising as a finisher around the rim, what’s not to like about the 6 foot 2, Class of 2025 center?
Joceyln Bell
Joceyln Bell
Game Watched: vs Merritt, March 8th
When last checked on social media, Bell was still an unsigned senior. Which is surprising as in this contest she showed two things that would seem appealing to collage coaches. Threes and defensive instincts. Her first three pointer was even a few steps from beyond the three point line at the top of the key that she hit as a trailer in transition. Her blocks were good evidence of her quick hands, with good anticipation skills that allowed her to make helpside blocks or block shots while defending post ups.