Lady Vikings Showcase: Top Five Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being a high school student is strenuous enough. Being a student-athlete is an even more arduous balance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One advantage of the week of Thanksgiving is it gives many a student-athlete – particularly a basketball player – an opportunity to give the books a break and focus entirely on ball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the litany of showcases and tournaments taking place the week of Thanksgiving is the Lady Vikings Showcase hosted by 5A Division 1 Spartanburg. In addition to the host Vikings, Blacksburg, Nation Ford, Clinton, Catawba Ridge, Union County and High Point Academy participated in this year's event.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up to the Vikings home court for Tuesday's slate of games. Here is our top five performers from the day's play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318786"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1446121,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69268bf4f0355"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bridges and her 5A Division 1 Spartanburg assembling faced a tough test in its bid to finish its showcase undefeated. The Wildcats of 2A Blacksburg battled the Vikings to the wire but 19 points from Bridges ensured Spartanburg would begin the season 3-0. She had 14 of her 19 in the first half of play. Bridges also tallied 16 points, hauled in eight rebounds and dished out four assists in an earlier victory over 5A Division 2 Catawba Ridge. If Bridges finds a lane to the rim, the result will likely be her attacking, finishing strong at the rim and possibly drawing contact to get to the free throw line. As a junior, Bridges has gained plenty of experience in how to respond through adversity such as what Spartanburg experienced against Blacksburg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318982"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1446155,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69268bf4f03b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Time was of the Essence for 2A Blacksburg in a thrilling matchup against homestanding 5A Division 1 Spartanburg. Rodgers and her Wildcats may have come up a bit short but the 18 points the star Blacksburg freshman placed on the scoreboard kept her team in position to spoil Spartanburg's party. Rodgers overcame some early struggles to make clutch baskets for her team in the second quarter. She made plenty of tough shots – a testament to how skilled she already is and the attention she draws from defenses. Rodgers primarily plays point and is a ferocious rim attacker but can also give a team productive minutes at the two. Blacksburg, during its time in Spartanburg, also earned a win over Union County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["935769"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1446206,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69268bf4f0412"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Falcons of 5A Division 2 Nation Ford had a rough go of things in Spartanburg with defeats to 4A Fountain Inn and 2A Clinton. Morrow, in the contest with the Red Devils, had a performance that will get Nation Ford in the win column more often than not, leading her team with 13 points. Morrow is one of several team captains for the Falcons and leads by example with her play. Along with her ability to place points on the board from all three levels, Morrow does not shy away from contact as it can place her at the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["848229"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1446235,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69268bf4f045e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Patterson, at first, encountered struggles in 2A Clinton's matchup with 5A Division 2 Nation Ford. When she began draining 3-pointers in the third quarter at her typical consistent rate, the Red Devils began to put plenty of distance between themselves on the Falcons. Patterson also plays softball in addition to her basketball achievements and is beginning her third season at the varsity level given she first played as a seventh grader. While thriving from behind the arc, Patterson has the ability to attack the basket and can help her team even when she does not have the ball in her hands – such as with the screens she will set. Patterson also scored 17 in a win over 2A High Point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1248520"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1446249,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69268bf4f04a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Representing one of the premier 4A teams in the state in Fountain Inn, Brown's Fury had a great week at Spartanburg with victories over 3A Union County, 4A Catawba Ridge and 5A Division 2 Nation Ford. The win over the Yellow Jackets was what concluded the week for Fountain Inn and Brown finished with 16 points in the 55-34 victory over Union County. Out of the 16 she scored, 11 occurred in the first half and eight occurred in the second quarter. Brown blends together talent, versatility and a veteran presence. She also mostly steered clear of the referee's whistle in that matchup with Union County as she was only called for two personal fouls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->