Production and Physicality - Forwards Deliver at Invitational

The Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational put the spotlight on forwards and they rose to the occasion in every way- controlled space, absorbed contact, rebounded, played physical in the paint. rebounded, protected the rim, and created second chance scoring opportunities. In this article article we look at some of these power players who brought the physicality and delivered production.    [player_tooltip player_id='476477' first='Libby' last='Abdur-Rahim'] played versatility, polish and balance. She finished through contact, knocked down perimeter shots, and showed a nice touch in the midrange. Her ability to stretch the floor while still holding her ground in physical matchups in the paint gave her team a lot of flexibility on offense - mainly allowing those creative cards and guards to go to work. Libby is smooth, reliable forward who understands spacing, timing, and shot selection. She was one of the top performers in the game I observed.     [player_tooltip player_id='515094' first='Dylande' last='Innocent'] competed fearlessly against some of the top talent in the country and held her own. bigger and taller opponents. She played with strength and edge, banging with other power forwards and centers while holding her ground. Her toughness and willingness to challenge size made her a reliable interior contributor throughout the game. A college coach commented on how relentless the power forward is. Innocent impacts the game in a lot of ways and sometimes her competitive edge alone inspires her team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223182' first='Saleigh' last='Simpson'] impressed with her craft and feel around the basket. She scored efficiently inside, made herself available in key moments, and delivered timely interior passes. Her energy, physicality, athleticism, and her ability to read the floor and play through contact made her a steady presence on the floor. Simpson is a forward who contributes to winning through composure, smart decisions, effort and her production on the floor.     [player_tooltip player_id='972357' first='Jayla' last='Griffin']'s athleticism changed the energy of the game. She protected the rim, altered shots around the rim. Defensively, Griffin is at her best when defending in transition and taking shots out of the air against anyone who challenges the rim. Griffin impacts the game from the perimeter and on the inside. On offense, she takes it to the rim when on the perimeter, and when playing in the post she has the ability to elevate and score over power forwards and centers.       [player_tooltip player_id='1091383' first='Seanna' last='Crooks'] showcased her versatile power forward skill set. Her ability to rebound and push the ball coast to coast immediately pressured defenses. She handled the ball confidently, made smart passes on the move, and showed awareness from the free-throw line area to keep possessions alive. Her willingness to score inside forced defensive attention and opened space for shooters. Crooks is an excellent passer and has some of the best talent around her. In addition to the production, Crooks brought the power and a competitive edge and wasn't afraid to mix it up with opposing power forwards.     [player_tooltip player_id='893760' first='Lily' last='Ajok-Deng'] established early in the post with her length, energy, and physicality. She was active on the offensive glass, ran the floor well, and consistently made her presence felt in the middle, especially on the defensive end. On one possession her drop-step and finish through contact stood out. Defensively, she made it clear that she was in the paint. Deng was active, reliable, and physical. Her play reflected her readiness for the next level at Florida A&M.     [player_tooltip player_id='515102' first='Madilyn' last='Ray'] is finding her groove in the paint on the defensive end after missing last season. She effortlessly blocked shots in the paint and grabbed rebounds on both ends of the floor. The senior forward is sacrificing her natural position for the sake of the team , playing on the perimeter and handling the ball in press break. Ray showed the flashes of old at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. In a one possession game, she has the ability to control the paint. In the game I observed, the winning shot came from the perimeter- no where close to the middle of the paint. Ray affects the opposition's attack because of her defense in the paint.                      <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ul>

The Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational put the spotlight on forwards and they rose to the occasion in every way- controlled space, absorbed contact, rebounded, played physical in the paint. rebounded, protected the rim, and created second chance scoring opportunities. In this article article we look at some of these power players who brought the physicality and delivered production.