Game 3 Cross State Clash: Elite Players Make Their Mark

The holiday season featured one of the most exciting girls basketball tournaments of the year, hosted at Lawrence Central on Tuesday, December 23. The event brought together elite programs from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky, including Male (KY), River Rouge (MI), Fort Wayne Snider (IN), Detroit Mumford (MI), Pike (IN), Big Walnut (OH), Bellville (MI), and Lawrence Central (IN). Every team boasted standout talent, with several players already committed to Division I programs or drawing interest from multiple D1 offers. The tournament was extremely well organized and offered fans the chance to watch high-level competition, featuring fast-paced action, intense defense, and individual skill on display.   Across the tournament, Pike (IN) continued to show why they are considered one of Indiana's deepest teams, combining talented scorers with strong defensive execution. Other standout performers included players from Fort Wayne Snider, Detroit Mumford, and Big Walnut, all of whom displayed scoring versatility, athleticism, and poise under pressure. The tournament provided a glimpse of the future stars in prep girls basketball, highlighting players who can impact games on both ends of the floor and showing the importance of teamwork and basketball IQ at a high level. With so much talent on display, fans were treated to a showcase of competitive, exciting basketball that sets the tone for the rest of the holiday season.   Pike entered the game ranked among the top five teams in Indiana, and this matchup against Big Walnut (OH)—one of the top teams in the state of Ohio—was a true test of their growth and cohesion. The game was back-and-forth early, with Pike holding a slim 19-17 lead at the end of the first quarter and trailing by just one at halftime, 34-33. One thing that stands out about Pike this season is their ability to adjust mid-game, and the second half showcased that strength. Leading by five at the end of the third quarter, Pike locked down defensively and made smart decisions offensively. Their strong fourth quarter, where they scored 18 points, sealed a 73-66 victory. With the win, Pike improved to 12-1 on the season, continuing to demonstrate why they are one of the elite programs in the state.    Every time she steps on the floor, [player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell'] continues to add new dimensions to her game, making her one of the most exciting freshmen to follow this season. Her impact goes well beyond scoring; she contributes in multiple ways, from rebounding and playmaking to defensive pressure, helping Pike control both ends of the court.   Mitchell is also an excellent communicator, constantly connecting with teammates and coaches to keep the offense flowing and maintain defensive cohesion. Coming off the bench, she led Pike in scoring with 15 points, highlighted by an electrifying buzzer-beater at the end of the first half that energized her team.   Her versatility, energy, and competitiveness make her a key contributor for Pike. As the season progresses, Mitchell's confidence and all-around skill set suggest she will continue to grow into one of the program's most dynamic and impactful players.     Sniyah Smith, Junior Guard – Smith continues to stand out in every game, proving herself as both a scoring threat and a floor leader. She ended the night with 14 points, consistently displaying her ability to shoot from all three levels with smooth mechanics—every shot she takes looks like it's going in. Beyond scoring, Smith sets the tone for her teammates with her vocal leadership and by leading through example, keeping her team engaged on both ends of the floor.   Defensively, Smith uses her quickness and anticipation to pressure ball handlers, disrupt passing lanes, and force turnovers, giving Pike extra possessions. She also excels in transition, running the floor effectively and putting herself in position to score or create opportunities for teammates. Her combination of scoring, leadership, and defensive impact makes her one of Pike's most valuable players, and she is poised to continue elevating her game and the program as she progresses through her junior season.     Detroit Mercy is set to add a dynamic talent to their program next season, and she is already proving her impact during her senior high school season. She competes at a high level against any opponent, showing poise, confidence, and versatility on both ends of the floor. Offensively, she finished the night with 14 points, including a buzzer-beater that lit up the gym, demonstrating her ability to perform in clutch moments.   Defensively, she applies consistent pressure on the ball, contests shots, and uses her athleticism to disrupt passing lanes, helping her team generate extra possessions. She also shows strong court vision, finding teammates in scoring positions and making smart decisions under pressure. Her combination of scoring, playmaking, defensive impact, and leadership makes her a player to watch and a key addition to Detroit Mercy's future success.     Jeffers is a force in the post, able to score nearly any shot she wants and consistently control the paint. She plays with confidence, discipline, and aggression on both ends of the floor, making her a reliable presence for Pike. In this game, she finished with 12 points and drew multiple trips to the free-throw line, showcasing her ability to get to the basket and capitalize on opportunities.   Her scoring ability is matched by her rebounding prowess, as she uses strength, positioning, and timing to secure boards on both ends. Every time Jeffers steps on the floor, she impacts the game through scoring, rebounding, and physicality, making her a cornerstone of Pike's success and a player to watch throughout the season.     Warren is one of the most enjoyable players to watch this season, running the point for one of the top teams in Indiana. Handling the responsibilities of a point guard is never easy, but leading a high-caliber Pike roster adds pressure—and Warren is thriving. She plays with confidence in herself and her teammates, orchestrating the offense, putting others in the right positions, and setting the tone as a floor leader.   Warren is also a scoring threat, taking what the defense gives her and stepping up in key moments. Against Big Walnut, she knocked down a clutch three from the corner in a tight stretch, showing her ability to make big plays when it matters most. Her combination of leadership, court vision, and scoring ability makes her the engine behind Pike's success. While it's unclear if she plans to play at the next level, any program would benefit greatly from her skills and competitive mindset.    Big Walnut (OH) is one of the top programs in the state, and this matchup against Pike was a true test for both teams. The game was back-and-forth early, with Big Walnut holding a lead at halftime before trailing by ten in the fourth quarter. Despite the deficit, they showed resilience and fought to close the gap to just five points late in the game. Big Walnut was led by Ryleigh Thrapp, who scored 24 points, Sydney Mobley, who posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Remy Largent, who added 14 points. Their balanced scoring, competitive effort, and ability to battle in a tight game demonstrated why Big Walnut is considered one of Ohio's elite teams.    This was my second time watching Thrapp play, the first being during AAU season, and she has made noticeable strides since then. Regarded as one of the top shooters in the country, Thrapp already holds over 15 Division I offers, including programs such as Florida, Dayton, Butler, and Ball State. She consistently gets to her spots offensively, displaying confidence and precision in her shot selection.   Thrapp excels from beyond the arc, stretching defenses and creating scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. In this game, she finished with 14 points, showcasing her ability to score in rhythm alongside other talented players on Big Walnut's roster. Her combination of shooting skill, basketball IQ, and experience makes her one of the most impactful juniors in the country and a player to watch at the next level.     Watching Thrapp for the first time, it was clear why she is considered one of the top shooters in the country. She can score at all three levels—attacking the rim, knocking down mid-range jumpers, and stretching the floor from beyond the arc—making her extremely difficult to guard, even against a strong Pike defense.   Thrapp competes with intensity on both ends of the floor, showing defensive effort and a willingness to engage in every play. She finished the night with a game-high 25 points, leading Big Walnut and keeping them competitive throughout the matchup. Her combination of scoring versatility, high-level competitiveness, and two-way impact makes her a player to watch closely as she continues to develop and draws interest from Division I programs nationwide.     Watching Mobley play with her high school team was a standout experience. She came ready to compete, finishing the night with a double-double: 16 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley consistently demonstrated why she is regarded as one of the best players in her class.   Offensively, she showed versatility by attacking the rim, scoring over defenders, and knocking down shots from mid-range. Despite facing a solid matchup against Pike's size, Mobley was able to get to her spots and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. On the boards, she controlled both ends of the floor, displaying strength, timing, and anticipation. Mobley's combination of skill, athleticism, and leadership makes her a dominant force and a key reason Big Walnut remained competitive in this game.

The holiday season featured one of the most exciting girls basketball tournaments of the year, hosted at Lawrence Central on Tuesday, December 23. The event brought together elite programs from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky, including Male (KY), River Rouge (MI), Fort Wayne Snider (IN), Detroit Mumford (MI), Pike (IN), Big Walnut (OH), Bellville (MI), and Lawrence Central (IN). Every team boasted standout talent, with several players already committed to Division I programs or drawing interest from multiple D1 offers. The tournament was extremely well organized and offered fans the chance to watch high-level competition, featuring fast-paced action, intense defense, and individual skill on display.