Helen’s Hot Chicken Classic: Observations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops took in the action from the Legion Collegiate Academy in Rock Hill, SC on Saturday at the Helen's Hot Chicken Classic. The event featured 5 girls and 1 boys' game during the day. Once again Prep Girls Hoops and Prep Hoops were in the building. Let's take a look and see what we saw from the Palmetto State teams in attendance along with our neighbors to the west over in Georgia. <strong><em>SUBSCRIBE today and use the passcode "Swanny30" at checkout to save 30% off your first billing cycle. #RecruitThePalmettoState </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Falls Short</strong></em>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Eagles fell short here today vs 1 of 1 Academy (NC) 52-47. The Lady Eagles are located in Rabun Gap, GA in the Northeastern part of the state play in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. The Lady Eagles were without the services of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617127' first='Ola' last='Noworol'] </strong>this past weekend. She will sign this week with a NCAA D1 school according to Head Coach Dale Earnhardt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058554,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-42-53-8060AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058554" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446085' first='Emmie' last='Moore']</strong> is headed off to Emmanuel University next fall to play basketball for Lady Lions. Moore was able to connect on some short jumpers here today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058557,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-42-39-7880AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058557" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1057178' first='Kadence' last='Vanover']</strong> is a new face at Rebun Gap-Nacoochee this season. Vanover who reclassified back into the 2027 Class played last season at East Rutherford HS in Forest City, NC. Kadence is a shooter from the perimeter and really does a nice job of setting her feet and shooting the ball at a good percentage clip. She was able to pop off screens at times today and seems most comfortable as a catch-shoot player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058552,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-43-10-7340AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058552" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1058504' first='Blanca' last='Martinez']</strong> originally hails from the southern part of Spain. Martinez was ALL OVER the court today with her play. She picked up her game with<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='617127' first='Ola' last='Noworol']</strong> not being in attendance. Martinez has a high skill set when it comes to passing the ball, rebounding on both ends, finishing at the bucket and just outplaying others on the floor. Blanca constantly finished on the left-side of the bucket here today despite being right-handed. She used her body well to fight off defenders and collecting contact along the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blanca plays the game with a very good basketball mindset. She played down in the post a lot here today out of necessity despite being a small forward. Martinez scored 18 points and collected a ton of rebounds in the tough loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Legacy Early College loses a Close One</em></strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Lions had a chance to defeat Cannon School (NC) but fell just short 56-54. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375908' first='Reagan' last='Buff']</strong> had a 3-point look just before time expired but couldn't knock it down. St Louis University signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176612' first='Zhykera' last='Brown']</strong> led the way with 15 points today. Brown is a downhill physical guard for the Lady Lions. Zhykera can really punish defenders on the way to the bucket with her physical mindset. She really sees the floor so well when it comes to setting up her teammates along the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058539,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-45-55-6220AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058539" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='257990' first='Jaida' last='McClure']</strong> made the move down from the Hoop State this off season to join the Lady Lions. McClure can play both guard spots in the backcourt. Jaida uses ball-screens well to get by defenders at times and race to the bucket. She has good court vision with her ability to penetrate-kick to the bucket. Jaida scored 14 points here today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058523,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-49-39-2750AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058523" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399248' first='Janyia' last='Williams']</strong> plays down in the post and close to the bucket. Williams is most effective when playing in this type of game with her blue-collar mindset. She will jump on the deck for a loose ball and simply manufacture points just on hustle alone. Janyia finished with 11 points in the loss to Cannon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058538,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-46-12-5010AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058538" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375908' first='Reagan' last='Buff']</strong> is a very confident left-handed shooting guard. She can play some point guard when called up on at times. Buff previously played at Wade Hampton HS before coming over to the Lady Lions this past off season. Reagan certainly has the green light to let it fly when called upon from downtown. She knocked down some three-pointers early to start the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Lions played without the services of senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235705' first='Makailah' last='Davis']</strong> who was out with an injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Lady Lancers Go Scoreless Last 3:30 of Game</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Legion Collegiate Academy went scoreless the last 3:30 of the game in the nightcap vs Grace Christian on Saturday. The Lady Lancers fell to Grace Christian 47-37. The Lady Lancers were playing shorthanded and were without the services of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='389297' first='Devin' last='Long']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651635' first='Kaitlyn' last='Garvin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651810' first='Kaelyn' last='Poindexter']</strong> all out with injuries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058542,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-45-22-7210AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058542" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496215' first='Ayona' last='Alexander']</strong> the #2 player in the 2026 Palmetto State Class finished the night with 16 points for the Lady Lancers. Alexander looks to do a little bit of everything for Head Coach John Edwards squad. Alexander is like a bull in a China shop at times with her physical play on the court. She surely has no problems mixing it up on both ends of the court. Ayona transferred in this past off season after winning a Class 2A State Championship at Andrew Jackson HS last March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1058531,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_17-11-2024_09-47-52-7360AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1058531" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='637608' first='Amelia' last='Williams']</strong> was an able to drop some floaters and some perimeter jumpers here today. Williams a left-handed guard anchors the backcourt with<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='840365' first='Jaylen' last='McMurray']</strong>. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='562105' first='Aiyana' last='Murrell'] </strong>provides production down in the paint when called upon. Murrell came in this off season from nearby Lewisville HS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Lancers along with Legacy Early College both play in the "The League" National Athletic Association for Independent Schools. Both programs play an independent schedule throughout the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Helen's Hot Chicken Classic was quiet a success in its first year of being held. Look for this event to be an annual stop for us here at Prep Girls Hoops every year to attend. <strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->