GBCA Girls Live Intriguing Duos, Pt 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So many good teams were present for the GBCA Girls event at LakePoint, I found myself intrigued by the duos who were making waves while I was there Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's Part 2 of 2 looking at the twosomes who could be tough this coming winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>NORTH OCONEE - [player_tooltip player_id='476483' first='Laura' last='Frances Willis'] (2026) / [player_tooltip player_id='1226737' first='Leah' last='Pollack'] (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pollack looks the part of the heir apparent for Willis, who was one of the best players I saw at last year's live event and came into this June looking bigger, stronger and faster. Such a scoring threat is Willis, well-schooled and diverse in her attack, brimming with confidence but never in a hurry. She can pump in he 3's, but love her willingness to exploit the mid-range. Pollack is 5-foot-10 and has a full-court scoring package that is just being untapped as her sophomore year gets set to dawn, her length and strides make her tough on the drive, and her shooting range is a weapon which will undoubtedly take some pressure off of Willis. This team has plenty back to make another run in 4A, surely hungry after 28 wins and a tight 1-point loss to Maynard Jackson in the semifinals this past March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CREEKVIEW - [player_tooltip player_id='974867' first='Brenley' last='Matthews'] (2028) / [player_tooltip player_id='1255545' first='Preslie' last='Watson'] (2029)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deep and plentiful are the options for this iteration of the Lady Grizz, so well-coached by Erick Herrick and full of travel team talent who've logged plenty of court time. A pair of youngsters caught my eye, Matthews as an interior threat, and Watson the savvy up-and-coming point guard. Matthews is one of several inside players for Creekview - she defends with physicality and smarts and scores efficiently around the basket. Watson looks like a potential star in the making, even in another deep backcourt of options over in Canton, she looks the part as just a rising freshman of someone who can control the action and really create for herself and others. The Grizz said goodbye to a few key pieces after 23 wins last season, but the youth movement looks strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MILTON - [player_tooltip player_id='727051' first='Caroline' last='Young'] (2026) / [player_tooltip player_id='1055848' first='Tamia' last='Tomlinson'] (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is Young's team for sure, as the 6-foot senior is vocal and enthusiastic in her obvious leadership role. She has really developed under Coach Julian Barfield, as good a defensive tactician as there is in the girls' game, but he knows a little offense for sure too. Young has benefited from that tutelage, a deep shooting threat with plenty of "go" to put it on the floor as well. She's tough and determined. They'll look to some new faces on this coming '25-26 Eagles squad, one who jumps out within minutes is Tomlinson, as good a pure athlete as I saw all day. Fluid and explosive when she turns on the gas, she has a vertical that shocks you when she flies up to the cup, and a gear that when she's engaged and in the flow of the offense is downright unstoppable. Ratchet up the engagement and lock in the intensity more consistently, and her recruitment can take off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->