Tuesday Night CIF-SJS Play-In Game Difference Makers

I was excited Tuesday (2.17) to have a free evening to catch some play-in games up north in CIFSJS region and see who earns the right to try and upset the #1 seed. I was luckily able to catch two super close games! First a great D4 matchup been Natomas and Venture Academy that went down to the wire and was decided by a steal and breakaway layup by Natomas's Ana Elkins. Secondly a great back and forth D2 matchup between Lodi and Merced that could have gone either way, but Merced's active defense caused two key late game turnovers to help them survive and advance at home. Check out six players below that stood out as difference makers while I was watching!    Ana is an extremely athletic guard that makes her presence known all over the floor. I had her at 6 deflections, 3 steals and 2 blocks when I stopped counting early in the 3rd. Lighting quick, especially in transition, attacks the rim aggressively off one or two feet + a solid floater. Faced double teams + face guarding the second half, and still found ways to impact the game with her rebounding and defensive presence. With under a minute left in the game, Ana forced a steal and went 94 feet for the lay to secure the lead and eventually the game.     Zariyah jumped off the page Tuesday night heavily in part to her shooting and motor on defense. I was impressed by her movement without the ball, and shot preparation. She is always ready to let it fly and by my count had 3 3's in the first half alone! Relentless motor + active hands on defense.     Kelyiana serves as the prominent ball-handler for Venture and did a great job escaping pressure + looking to attack and create for herself and others. Displayed a very productive quick crossover to avoid pressure and get up the floor. Confident, knockdown shooter with a very quick release off a kick or skip out. Hard worker on defense, keeps the ball in front and has a knack for deflections /poke outs.     Averie is a super long and athletic W/F combo that causes havoc all over the defensive end with her physicality and active hands. Tuesday night she showed the ability to apply pressure on the perimeter + top of the press and the ability to rotate and protect the rim with her size. Gets downhill efficiently going right + does a great job following her own shot for putbacks/fouls. I was most impressed with her high hands, ball location and balance as a cutter and roller to the basketball.     Samantha is clearly the floor general + true PG for Merced. Very discipline guard that utilizes ball/pump fakes + her size to create space and lanes to drive or stop and take short pull up. Very confident shooter from 3, will shoot on any kick out without high hands. Showed the confidence to take and hit contested 3's and contested layups.     Emiko is a class of 2028 guard I expect to see in rankings in the future. Super crafty lefty guard, with a nice handle + high basketball IQ. Active hands on defense, very efficient in transition. Explosive first step, no fear attacking the basket + a developing floater. She is a willing shooter with great form mechanically, the sky is the limit for her development moving forward!!!

I was excited Tuesday (2.17) to have a free evening to catch some play-in games up north in CIFSJS region and see who earns the right to try and upset the #1 seed. I was luckily able to catch two super close games! First a great D4 matchup been Natomas and Venture Academy that went down to the wire and was decided by a steal and breakaway layup by Natomas's Ana Elkins. Secondly a great back and forth D2 matchup between Lodi and Merced that could have gone either way, but Merced's active defense caused two key late game turnovers to help them survive and advance at home. Check out six players below that stood out as difference makers while I was watching!