Dynamic Scorers & Pace-Pushers

I had a lot of fun watching the Solon Spartans host the Monticello Pathers last night. Both teams played an uptempo style and turned up the heat defensively — it made for an exciting, fast-paced matchup.   Throughout the game I was impressed with a few players' ability to score at all levels. From stepping out for jumpers, to finishing off the bounce or pulling up for the midrange, these players showed their ability to convert across the floor and at a high level.    [player_tooltip player_id='766449' first='Delainey' last='Durr'] was the spark the Spartans needed to push them to victory last night. Durr's confident three point shooting (4/10) and aggression off the dribble (5/7 inside the arc) kept Monticello's defense scrambling and led to 23 points on the night. If defenders closed out too hard Delainey blew by for multiple finishes at the rim. If they didn't close out enough, she drained it in the defender's face. Durr will score outside of the half court offense too — she sprints ahead in transition, crashes the boards hard for putbacks, and will post up if she has a desirable matchup. Overall Durr definitely made an impression with her decision-making...and she definitely has the clutch gene.     [player_tooltip player_id='311367' first='Jayden' last='Kuper'] is the complete package for the Monticello Panthers — no matter where she is on the floor she is a matchup nightmare and converts at a high level. The All-Stater plays with a head full of steam at all times and her decision-making around the rim is excellent. If you don't slow her down in transition, the small forward will run the PG spot and take it coast-to-coast or pull up from midrange. She also thrives driving downhill off of ball screens. If that isn't enough, Kuper is shooting the three at an eye catching rate — 51.4%. Jayden's scoring ability, combined with her handle and finishing package, truly sets her apart on the floor. I'm really excited to see Kuper as an UMSL Triton.     [player_tooltip player_id='609545' first='Kennedy' last='Hermsen'] is definitely Up Next for Monticello — the 5'7" combo guard brings a diverse skillset and is unruffled in big moments. Last night, Hermsen showed she's more than capable adjusting to defenses and scoring against them. Against high-pressure defense, Hermsen used a number of dribble moves to get to the rim (including a spin move, between the legs, and hesitation). She also moves well off the ball and scored on a slick back cut to evade the denial defender. She also looked very comfortable shooting off the dribble and popping three pointers from deep.    In addition to multi-level scorers, this matchup also featured a few speedsters who pushed the pace for their teams. Transition is the name of the game for these players, and they added such a fun element to the game last night.    [player_tooltip player_id='1143219' first='Quinn' last='Armentrout'] is a player to watch in the state of Iowa. The freshman point guard has a solid basketball IQ, brings positive energy to her team, and can score anywhere on the floor. Every time the point guard got an outlet pass she was down the floor in a flash and really put pressure on Monticello to defend in transition. She'll also launch the ball up court Caitlin Clark style — if you're sprinting the floor, she wants to get you the ball. Armentrout is also confident shooting off the dribble and did so with a big transition three in the second half.     Kobi Leitz lives in transition and will make you pay the second you turn your head — if you're guarding her, get your track shoes ready! She's an active, physical defender who hunts steals, forces turnovers, and then sprints the floor for scoring opportunities in the open court. She also displayed her speed on a back cut through contact and a stop and pop turnaround midrange off the dribble. I think an underrated component of Lietz' game is how well she spreads the floor for her team — because of the consistent pressure she puts on defenses in transition, she creates scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.     As I have highlighted in previous pieces you don't have to score to affect the game, and [player_tooltip player_id='1143216' first='Laeni' last='Hinkle'] was an excellent example of that last night. Coming off the bench for the Spartans, Hinkle came in and immediately changed the tempo. Her high-pressure, close range defense affected Monticello's flow and led to multiple forced turnovers every time she checked in. A highlight for Hinkle featured a steal at the top of the press, where she made the extra pass for an open teammate in transition. She also displayed physicality while defending the post — Hinkle tipped the entry pass and forced an out-of-bounds turnover while guarding a much bigger player. Hinkle should be really proud of her grit and the impact she had on the game.

I had a lot of fun watching the Solon Spartans host the Monticello Pathers last night. Both teams played an uptempo style and turned up the heat defensively — it made for an exciting, fast-paced matchup.