S.T.R.O.N.G. Showcase Day 1 Game 4: Mills vs Principia (MO)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a successful, yet emotional 2024/25 season, Mills is looking to have another great year, utilizing their quick guards on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Principia also has quick, hard-nosed guards, and they were looking to make a statement in their trip to the Natural State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Recap</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was close through one quarter of play, but Principia was on top early, and they improved their play in the second quarter, pushing their lead to 36-18 heading into the half. Principia uses size and quickness to their advantage, and it also seemed like every one of their players came in and was red-hot from three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mills struggled breaking Principia's aggressive press. If they managed to get across half court, they were not finding any way into the paint, and struggled to hold on to the basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eventually, Principia broke away with a huge lead in the third quarter, and they went up 62-27. They would hold on to that lead and come away with the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Principia Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["791650"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6932570fdb26c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='791650' first='Dasia' last='Scott'] certainly looked like the #2 player in Missouri in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott scored the first bucket of the game and scored almost every other look she got. She finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. She had great size for her position, and she moves everyone out of the way. However, her comfort with the ball in her hands along the perimeter is impressive for her position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott hits mid-range and 3-point shots with efficiency. She can hit these shots on the move, off the catch, and even off the bounce. There are not many other players who can play out of position as well as she can, but she was a matchup nightmare for Mills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='791650' first='Dasia' last='Scott'] has a bright future ahead of her, and I know Mills and every other school in Arkansas is hoping they don't have to see her again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["897772"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6932570fdb2e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='897772' first='Loganne' last='Love'] was a huge offensive catalyst in the second half as her shot-making from beyond the arc was infuriating for the opposition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Love put up 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block in the victory. She was nailing catch-and-shoot threes like it was nothing, and as soon as she saw the ball go through the net, she was ready to play lockdown defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='897772' first='Loganne' last='Love'] was a headache for Mills on both ends, and I imagine plenty of teams in Missouri think the same way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["999534"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6932570fdb337"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Love, [player_tooltip player_id='999534' first='Nadia' last='Bateman'] was knocking down her perimeter looks, but she was even better on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore finished with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. She was a critical part of Principia's devastating press, and she was forcing the majority of the turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bateman is not just getting steals or deflections, she is forcing the opposing ball-handlers to make poor choices or to become overwhelmed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='999534' first='Nadia' last='Bateman'] looks to be one of the most underrated guards in Missouri right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayme Brown</strong>- Brown provided a bit of an offensive spark off the bench for Principia (not like they needed more of a spark, though). She put up 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Mills Lady Comet Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1060832"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-6932570fdb389"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mills struggled offensively. They could not hang on to the ball or hit their shots, but [player_tooltip player_id='1060832' first='Kirsten' last='Johnson'] was one of the few Lady Comets finding some success throughout the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson finished with 9 points and 1 block. She was very confident shooting from mid-range and from three. Johnson has a smooth and flexible jumpshot, allowing her to shoot over defenders with ease. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only was Johnson hitting shots from the outside, she was finding creases in the defense to score on the interior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060832' first='Kirsten' last='Johnson'] was being pressured all game long, but she still found ways to succeed against a phenomenal defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eerial Williams</strong>- Williams did a nice job finding ways to contribute against a strong opponent. She had an all-around solid performance, posting 4 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Williams was clearly crashing the glass and working her tail off on the defensive end. Though shots weren't falling, she found other ways to contribute, which will certainly get her playing time this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jeneva-gregory/">[player_tooltip player_id='876289' first='Jeneva' last='Gregory']</a></strong>- Mills' point guard had some solid flashes throughout the game, despite the hounding guards she had to go up against. Gregory finished with 5 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists. Whenever Gregory broke through the press, she had plenty of options; she could go score in the paint (which she did), or she could hit an open teammate (she did that, too). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaliyah Sanders</strong>- I thought Sanders should have gotten more opportunities to shoot the ball. She had a tough matchup with those Principia guards, but Sanders looked like she was ready to have a big game offensively, it just never occurred. However, she still logged 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal. I am thinking Sanders will have plenty more opportunities to score and to fill the stat sheet again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->