Standout Guard-Play in the Clay County Cup

In this article, we look at some of the the top guard performances in the Clay County Cup tournament. We didn't get a chance to see all of the guard performances, but did see some. In this article, we hilight the guards we saw play and perform well.    [player_tooltip player_id='514544' first='Narissa' last='Blocton'] had a successful performance in the Championship game , but she had to work for every single point. Blocton ended up with 19 points (8 points coming from the free-throw line). She connected on a three, got to the rim a few times for the layup, and hit the short midrange shot. Blocton scored a few baskets in transition after applying on-ball pressure. She does a great job of capitalizing on steals and scoring buckets. The Junior guard has a diverse skillset, and her ability to dominate on both sides of the court sets her apart.     [player_tooltip player_id='514545' first='Mariah' last='Young'] played lockdown defense in the finals of the Clay County Cup. Young was matched up against one of the top guards in the 2026 class and went toe to toe with her throughout the game. Young prevented drives to the basket and created havoc throughout the game. In transition, Young was able to knock down some crucial layups and also get the ball to some of her young guards. Down the stretch, Young was a key contributor, knocking down two 4th quarter threes. The Junior guard was a standout in several games throughout the tournament. Young showcased her well-rounded abilities and leadership and was a standout in the process.         [player_tooltip player_id='811539' first='Jordan' last='Knight'] was really active against Orange Park and made plays on both ends of the court. Her relentless pursuit of the rim put a lot of pressure on the opponent and she got to the line throughout the game (5 for 5). Defensively, Knight registered 2 steals and pulled down 7 rebounds from the guard position. Knight finished the game with 13 points as well. Knight was a standout as a Freshman and she was back in that form at the Clay County Cup tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='933334' first='Shelby' last='Gaines'] is one of the top two-way players in North Florida and definitely that showed itself in the Clay County Cup. Gaines's ability to lock down ball handlers was on display and so was her ability to rip the handler or intercept the ball in the passing lanes. Gaines showcased a well-rounded offensive game: the jumper, the sweet midrange shot, the hesitation move, and the drive to the rim. Gaines showcased an effective hesitation move and drive to the basket.  Another strong aspect of Gaines's game is her ability to rebound from the guard position. For the season she is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game.     [player_tooltip player_id='655704' first='Victoria' last='Noble'] played well in the tournament and averaged close to 12 points over the three-game stretch. Noble knocked down 9 threes over that period. For the season, Noble has 38 threes. Noble continues to show that she is one of the top three-point shooters in Clay County. She definitely shot it well in the Clay County Cup. In addition to being the teams three point option, Noble is also the leader and does a good job of communicating and leading on the floor.     [player_tooltip player_id='914241' first='Makiya' last='Trusel'] went three for six from the three point line and finished with 23 points in one of her games in the Clay County cup. She's always shown the ability to score the ball and can do so from multiple areas on the court. Trusel gives great effort on the court- on offense and defense. The Senior guard also grabbed 7 rebounds from the guard position. Trusel is a player who impacts the game in multiple ways. Throughout the season the versatile guard has led the team in assists. Recently, the team's highest scorer went down with an injury and since then Trusel has picked up the scoring void and averaged 20 points in her last three games. Over the summer, we coined Trusel as the biggest surprise at the PGH Expo. No more catching anyone off guard. Trusel is a baller who rises to the occasion.       [player_tooltip player_id='897274' first='Bryonna' last='Grimes'] shot the ball well over a three game stretch, including games in the Clay County Cup, She knocked down 8 threes in 3 games (5 in one game). In the Clay County Cup tournament, Grimes scored 15, grabbed 4 rebounds, and racked up the steals with 5 in the game. Grimes can impact the game in multiple ways and has shown that she is a selfless player who does what it takes to win. Her bread and butter is her shooting. Shooting 40 threes and connecting at a 45 efficiency rate tells the story and paints the picture.

In this article, we look at some of the the top guard performances in the Clay County Cup tournament. We didn't get a chance to see all of the guard performances, but did see some. In this article, we hilight the guards we saw play and perform well.