Shining Bright at More Than A Highlight

The 2nd annual MTAH Showcase kicked off this morning at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The day saw teams from Connecticut, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and New Jersey do battle with college coaches and various media in attendance. Yours truly was in the building representing Prep Girls Hoops, notepad in hand and head on a swivel! The following players from the Garden State left a lasting impression the way they brought their A game:    Qui-Mia posted a season-high 25 points in a big win over Paterson Eastside. She plays so much bigger than her size, pulling down rebounds and impacting the game in ways that don't appear on the stat sheet; deflections. Her points came from multiple levels, including hard-nosed takes to the rim and three deep daggers from distance. She also remained committed on defense, racking up 5 steals to help Thrive pull away in a close second half.     Addy continues to be GSB's Swiss Army knife with her versatile skillset and ability to score the ball inside and out. She took it to a very talented Dexter squad out of Massachusetts, tallying 16 points in the 80-57 win. She read the defense well and countered anything they threw her way. When the double came, she did a great job kicking out. When the smallest of gaps opened up in the lane, she attacked and made it count. And when the lane was clogged, she pulled the trigger from 3. She played with so much patience, never allowing the defense to take her out of her zone.     Madison was fully locked in against St. Frances (MD) and showed everyone in attendance exactly why she's one of the most elite guards in the state regardless of Class. She was consistent from start to finish, but really upped the ante when SF intensified the pressure in the second half. Madison was never fazed, scoring the ball efficiently at all three levels and dishing out dimes at a high clip. She finished with a game-high 25 points and 7 assists.     Lissy came off the bench and provided the Lady Lancers with a spark in the 1st quarter. She recognized the defense closing in on her and made something shake; scoring and passing. She drained a corner 3 in the 1st quarter & in the second half, she showed confidence pulling up from 15-feet. Whether she made or missed shots, she was smart in her shot selection and made the most of every minute played.     Going up against national juggernaut LuHi (NY) didn't seem to faze Nila. She imposed her will and stayed true to her game, racking up 18 points in the process. She was effective both inside and out, muscling her way around the rim and commanding the paint, but also stepping out and knocking down two triples. Her 3-point shooting is an area Nila has greatly improved in, now able to consistently knock them down, expanding her arsenal and making her a legitimate threat from just about anywhere.     Jayah showed up and showed out, rising to the occasion against LuHi (NY), a team well-known for having opponents in disarray, She, however, would not be denied! No matter the defensive scheme LuHi threw at her, Jayah found ways to contribute to the scoring column. She drained the long ball and stepped into a few mid-range J's, showing belief in her ability to produce against one of the best teams in the country. Her efforts on defense should also be noted, helping IC spark a surge in the second half before eventually falling 60-42.     SJV wouldn't win a lot of the games they've won this season without Charlotte and today was another example of just that. She put up a career-high 14 points (including a career-high three 3's) and was clutch helping the Lady Lancers pull away from St. Frances (MD) when they started to surge in the second half. Absolutely fearless basketball on display this afternoon!

The 2nd annual MTAH Showcase kicked off this morning at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The day saw teams from Connecticut, Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and New Jersey do battle with college coaches and various media in attendance. Yours truly was in the building representing Prep Girls Hoops, notepad in hand and head on a swivel! The following players from the Garden State left a lasting impression the way they brought their A game: