Visitation Tournament Semifinals Observations

Prep Girls Hoops Missouri was in the house for the semifinals of the Visitation Christmas Tournament. The top four seeds all advanced to the Final Four.   It was No. 1 Incarnate Word vs No. 4 Cardinal Ritter followed by No. 2 Principia vs No. 3 Belleville East.   Here are some observations from Saturday night's semifinal games.   IWA TOPPLES CARDINAL RITTER   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_8320.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1578996" /></figure>   The Red Knights moved into Sunday night's championship game with a comfortable 72-49 victory over Cardinal Ritter. IWA controlled the game from the tip-off, but the Lions were able to stay in contact through different parts of the game with its own competitive mini-runs. The difference in the game was Incarnate Word's size inside and its defensive pressure that caused Ritter's very talented players into many uncomfortable shots.   The Players:   IWA:   Nevaeh Lucious: The 6'4 2026 Missouri State recruit led all scorers with 17 points. Her size in the paint was too much as she scored and rebounded the ball very effectively. She kept the ball high on the catch or rebound and scored with a nice touch. She also had some impressive rim runs for buckets.   [player_tooltip player_id='1039493' first='Bridget' last='Fitzgerald']: The 6'2" 2028 forward scored 13 points and had a big impact at both ends of the court. She handles the ball well to play the guard position. She was scoring on off ball cuts within the offense and she knocked down a 3-pointer. She also turned the corner and hit a floater in the lane. Her height and length on defense is a big problem for opposing teams. She had a least three blocks when smaller players tried to drive and shoot over over off the dribble.   [player_tooltip player_id='302756' first='Peyton' last='Olufson']: The 5'8" 2026 Saint Louis U. recruit scored 12 points. Her floor game was excellent as she can handle and pass the ball within the offense. She attacks well off the dribble with her strength and she makes the right play. In the second half, she knocked down a pair of 3-pointers which dulled any hopes of a Ritter comeback.   [player_tooltip player_id='351778' first='Savannah' last='Stricker']: The 5'10" 2026 Lindenwood recruit scored 10 points on the evening. She scored six of those points in the first quarter as the Red Knights got off to a fast start. She had a nice straight line drive for a bucket. As always, her floor game was very good as she rebounded, passed and handled the ball. She finds open teammates with quick passes that are on target.   [player_tooltip player_id='1039489' first='Maddie' last='Perry']: The 2028 guard scored nine points and provided instant offense off the bench. She is a bucket who breathes and smells offense when she hits the floor, but she does it in the framework of IWA' offense. She hit a Corner 3-pointer off dribble penetration and followed up with a smooth cross-over and blow by for a layup. Her moves are smooth and she it not sped up.   Cardinal Ritter   [player_tooltip player_id='1039457' first='Trinity' last='Jackson']: The 2028 scoring point guard led the Lions with 13 points. At times, she was able to shake loose from defenders to create shots on the perimeter. When she got a clean look from 3-point range off the catch, it was a bucket.   McKenzie McMann: The 5'10" 2026 forward scored nine points and led the Lions in rebounding. She did an excellent job inside in battling IWA's tall and talented front line. She used her physical strength and her quickness around the basket to work inside. She is quick off the floor and her effort was relentless.   [player_tooltip player_id='493372' first='Alanah' last='Howard']: The 2026 point guard finished with nine points and played a solid floor game. She really did a good job of touching the paint with her dribble penetration. She was able to create opportunities for her teammates with her driving and dishing. She was also drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line.     ******   PRINCIPIA HOLDS OFF BELLEVILLE EAST   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_8353.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1578999" /></figure>   Principia defeated Belleville East 74-64 in a very entertaining semifinal game, which features several talented young players on both teams. The game also featured a brilliant individual dual between 6'2" 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='791650' first='Dasia' last='Scott'] of Principia and 5'8" 2028 Hailey Gray of Belleville East. Both were magnificent as they put on a show for those fans who were on hand for the final game of a long day at Viz.   The Players:   Principia   [player_tooltip player_id='791650' first='Dasia' last='Scott']: The 6'2" 2027 forward scored a game-high 40 points as she was dominant from start to finish. She established herself early with 15 points in the first quarter. She was scoring on quick moves in the paint with a nice touch. She also took it to the perimeter as she made four 3-pointers in the game. She was handling the ball and dropping dimes when she saw a double-team. Outside of the great [player_tooltip player_id='317337' first='Addison' last='Bjorn'] of Park Hill South, who has been putting up some tremendous numbers, there isn't anybody else in the state who has been playing better that Scott at this part of the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='897772' first='Loganne' last='Love']: The 5'5" 2028 point guard scored 16 points and also played an excellent floor game. She handled pressured well and hit some big shots during the game, none bigger than a half-court shot at the end of the third quarter that gave the Panthers a 10-point lead and stopped a surging Belleville East rally in its tracks. She knocked down three 3-pointers on the night. She was very confident and very sure of herself as she handled pressure defense all night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1279115' first='Aniyah' last='Poniewaz']: The 5'3" 2029 guard scored eight points with all of them coming from the free throw line. She hit six of them in the closing minutes of the game to keep the surging Lancers at bay. She was handling the ball with toughness and attacking the basket. Despite being the smallest player on the court, she is physically strong and very fearless.     Belleville East   Hailey Gray: The 5'8" 2028 scored put on a tremendous offensive show as she scored a team-high 28 points. Her shot making off the dribble was off the charts. She was getting into the mid-range area and elevating to make jumpers. She was also creating separation off the dribble to drain 3-pointers. She was also slicing into the lane to get buckets and draw fouls. She is definitely one of the top young guards in the state of Illinois. Very entertaining to watch.   Ramiyah Young: The 2028 guard finished the night with 14 points while showing impressive athleticism and a nice offensive game. She was very good in iso situations as she was able to get to her spots and jump over defenders to hit mid-range jumpers. She also got into the lane and scored on an impressive finger roll.   Denaya Bartelheim: The 5'10 2028 forward scored nine points while also displaying some prime athleticism. She had one play where she let the offensive player commit to jumping and taking a shot. In a quick instant she was up in the air swatting the shot out of bounds. She was also rebounding and running the court.

Prep Girls Hoops Missouri was in the house for the semifinals of the Visitation Christmas Tournament. The top four seeds all advanced to the Final Four.