ToC Championship Scouting: Hornets, Hornets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Closing the book on 2024 with the evening session contest at the Tournament of Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Place Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broken Arrow 56</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Gibson 48</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For much of the contest, it looked like Broken Arrow would stay in cruise control and coast to a victory. But Fort Gibson made a late push, through the efforts of their seniors [player_tooltip player_id='310154' first='Laynee' last='Stanley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='315234' first='Addy' last='Whiteley']. Stanley heated up from three with a pair, and then played with her hair on fire for the rest of the contest. While the Fort Gibson branded Tigers made some pushes, the Broken Arrow branded Tigers never crumbled. None other than [player_tooltip player_id='309979' first='McKenzie' last='Mathurin'] drilled a tough three pointer as a response to stifle a Fort Gibson run. She would score 23 on the night, which also gives her over 1,500 points for her career. Good end to an exceptional calendar year of 2024 for Mathurin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Booker T Washington 49</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Christian School 33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the ToC preview from earlier this week, I tagged the hosting Hornets as the favorites. They back it up in the title game by handling Lincoln Christian with a double digit win. It was their swarming, smothering defense that forced turnovers and bad looks. They thrived in transition off those turnovers, and cemented themselves as a top 5 (and they're not 5) team regardless of class in Oklahoma. It was a rough shooting night for a Lincoln team that is usually lights out from the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["309984"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67718d4386862"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Big time players make the biggest plays when the lights are brightest, and that describes Johnson to a T. She scored a game high 23 points on only 12 shots from the field. Simply too fast and too strong when getting downhill. Either scored though contact or knocked down her free throws (7-8). There's a lot of elite scorers in Oklahoma right now, but none might be better than Johnson at being fouled and still finishing. Special type of athlete, with a complete scoring game. Needless to say, Baylor is getting a good one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["556050"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67718d43868ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The speedy guard was once again a pest on defense. Picked up on the ball, harassing with quick hands and her even quicker feet. Based on the last two games, it looks like BTW trust her on taller, primary scorers. Trusting her speed and instincts to be disruptive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Great anticipatory skills in the passing lane too. Mainly a defensive specialist, who also gets the Lady Hornets into their sets. But did a have nice 6 point scoring spurt in the third, where she hit a three. Then seconds later was fouled at the rim, where she converted the free throw for the And 1. The Lady Hornets are kinda nice, and one big reason is because Owens is nasty as a defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751190"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67718d4386977"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The athletic sophomore often did the dirty work for Booker T Washington around the rim. Finished with 7 points and 10 rebounds in the title game. Including 6 of the offensive variety. Also battled on defense, even taking a charge. Had a nice push in transition, that ended with a good Euro Move at the rim. Big time athlete who's competing now around the rim, with upside to be much more down the road. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898800"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67718d43869ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sophomore that brings energy off the bench by flying around on defense. Running the floor extra hard in transition. And most importantly, hitting three point shooting. The newcomer has fit into her role and surely will have moments that swing a game or two this season as Booker T Washington goes Gold Ball hunting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->