State Tournament: Case Makers in 4A-7A

There were many outstanding prospects in the 4A - 7A State Tournament, and when you have 16 teams (over 150 players), there are going to be a lot of prospects who standout. These players were consistent playmakers who stood out on the scoreboard, on defense, by shooting the ball, or being a playmaker on the court. In this article, we continue to recognize more prospects who made huge impacts during the State tournament.    [player_tooltip player_id='430279' first='Jamison' last='Cardwell'] was a beast in the semifinals and finals and was at her best down the stretch. Cardwell can “make the case.” She was impressive with her three point shooting, her court vision, and unselfish play. In the finals down the stretch, she continued to connect on the outside jumper and keep her team within striking distance. The clutch guard finished with the 18 points and she was a primary reason for the nail biting finish.     [player_tooltip player_id='972357' first='Jayla' last='Griffin'] stood out on so many levels during the semifinals and finals. Griffin is another selfless player who cares about winning and not personal stats. In the State tournament when driving the lane, Griffin was looking to kick the pass out to her shooters or dump it down to her power forward with the advantage on the inside. When the game was on the lines, Griffin was on the receiving end and was clutch with the conversion. Defensively, she held it down in the middle and also on the perimeter. The versatility and athleticism stands out and usually it looks different in comparison to everyone else on the court. She skies for rebounds and elevates quite well when blocking shots. (The cover shot above hilights Griffin's ability to elevate). Griffin did the little things and can “make the case” for her performance in the State Championship tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='400785' first='Audrey' last='Beyer'] connected on 15 of 15 free-throws. That alone is a case making feat. Beyer is one of the top Juniors in the State and her stock may have increased with her performance. The matchup against [player_tooltip player_id='972357' first='Jayla' last='Griffin'] was worth the price of admission. Beyer shot the three well, and got to the rim. As alluded to earlier, she got to the line so much, she was able to claim the homestead exemption on her taxes. The Junior put her team on her back and scored, defended, and hit the boards. Her performance makes the case.     [player_tooltip player_id='214183' first='Taniyah' last='Davis'] was brilliant in the semifinals and really shot the ball well and scored well. As a result she was a big part of the opponent's game plan in the Finals. She was guarded by a McDonald's All American and by one of the top athletes and players in the 2027 class. Davis showed a lot of poise and ability in the 2 games in Lakeland. She didn't score 20 against Palm Bay, but she was competitive against [player_tooltip player_id='346835' first='Jaida' last='Civil'] and company and took a lead into the 4th quarter with a 2nd straight State Championship on the line. Davis averaged double digits in the State tournament. She makes players around her better and draws the tough assignments. Her dishes inside, her ability to move and advance the ball, her ball handling in the press break, and her ball IQ make her a top prospect in any tournament. Davis can “make the case.”     Dekara Merthie was impressive during the semifinals and basically duplicated what she has done all season. She can score from anywhere on the floor, and has a nice touch from the three point area, especially off of the catch. Merthie has the athleticism and the ability to get to the rim and create off the dribble. She is super aggressive on the offensive end, and knows how to draw the foul and get to the line. The talented guard is also a lock down on the ball defender and rebounds well from the guard position.     [player_tooltip player_id='243908' first='Ciara' last='Hayes'] was incredible in the Semifinals. Her excellent three point shooting was rivaled only by her excellent midrange game. Hayes is “stone cold assassin” on the floor. She was so locked in that her teammates had to make her smile when she came off the court. She can handle the rock and also dish to her teammates, but make no doubt about it- Hayes is an aggressive scorer and looks to put the ball in the rim. Hayes can make the case.     [player_tooltip player_id='514550' first='Kendall' last='Perry'] was very good in the Final 4 in Lakeland, especially in the Semifinal. She showed an ability to score at all three levels and still handle all of the ball handling duties and be a playmaker. Perry has beefed up some and played with a lot more physicality. She threw her body around and wasn't backing down from anyone. Perry rebounds well from the guard position and pulled down 9 in the semifinals. The talented guard does a little of everything on the floor and her versatility makes the case.     [player_tooltip player_id='515288' first='Dezuray' last='McGill'] was the best scoring “ big”I saw in Lakeland. McGill had to work for her points in the Finals against Palm Bay. That McGill- Collins matchup made the popcorn taste better and the soft drink had a little more fizz to it. McGill connected on several midrange shots and a few highly contested turn around jumpers. She also rebounded well and was a force on the defensive end as well. McGill came to play and can definitely “make the case.”