Game of the Night: BV Northwest vs SM South

As we took time today to remember the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., most schools and some businesses were closed. However, it created the perfect opportunity to catch some great basketball action across the country — and even right here in Kansas.   Tonight, two teams squared off in a non-conference matchup. Blue Valley Northwest, a member of the EKL Conference, entered the game with a 4–6 record on the season, taking on Shawnee Mission South of the Sunflower League, who came in red-hot at 10–1.   In a hard fought battle where there were multiple lead changes throughout the 4th South was able to pull it out at the end 51 -48 victory.   Now lets take a look at some of tonight's key performers.    Becker was pivotal tonight against the constant pressure from South. She consistently slowed the game down, using her height and vision to see over the defense and create easy scoring opportunities for her teammates.   She also showcased her ball-handling ability, often serving as a one-woman press break, confidently finishing on her own with an array of moves in the paint. Becker displayed her shooting range as well, knocking down a deep buzzer-beater to end the first quarter.   Inside, she earned quality touches and capitalized with strong finishes. Working from the mid-post, she showed a soft touch and excellent footwork, using shot fakes and up-and-under moves to consistently create advantages.     Rylie was everywhere on the defensive end tonight, consistently disrupting passing lanes and recording numerous deflections that led to turnovers for her team. Her activity and anticipation set the tone defensively.   Edwards also showcased her offensive versatility, attacking the basket and finishing effectively from either direction. She had several strong takes, maneuvering around defenders for tough finishes, and demonstrated her ability to take advantage of smaller defenders by posting up and scoring inside.     Eils displayed poise and toughness tonight, making the most of her opportunities in transition and finishing strong when chances presented themselves. She made decisive reads against the pressure, helping her team stay aggressive offensively. Eils also showed confidence putting the ball on the floor and finishing plays at the rim.     Potts did a little bit of everything tonight. She was outstanding on the glass, securing rebounds on both the offensive and defensive ends for her team. She also showed her unselfishness and playmaking ability, consistently finding teammates in scoring positions.   When opportunities arose, Potts attacked the basket and finished strong. Defensively, she was relentless, applying constant pressure on the ball throughout the night and setting the tone with her effort.     Laila was effective all night, impacting the game both inside and out. She showed her ability to finish around the basket through contact and knock down shots from beyond the arc.   She ran the floor well, creating easy scoring opportunities by getting ahead of the defense in transition. Late in the game, Laila came up with timely buckets to help her team regain the lead and ultimately seal the win.     Kirkwood put her strong driving ability on full display this evening, using her strength and craftiness to get around defenders and finish through traffic. She attacked gaps confidently and consistently put pressure on the defense.   On the defensive end, she was equally impactful, playing aggressively by flying into traps and hustling to loose balls, creating extra possessions with her effort.     It didn't take Riley long to get going tonight, as her first two shot attempts were makes from downtown. She helped control the pace of the game and was effective attacking off the bounce, creating open looks for both herself and her teammates.   Riley also showed grit and toughness on the defensive end, consistently competing and holding her ground.     Carter was an instant spark off the bench for South, bringing a different level of energy and intensity as soon as she entered the game. Her activity led to multiple turnovers, which she and her teammates converted into scoring opportunities.   Offensively, Carter did an excellent job of getting paint touches and making the right reads to find open shooters. Defensively, she was a nightmare for the opposition, consistently getting her hands on the ball and forcing turnovers in crucial moments.

As we took time today to remember the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., most schools and some businesses were closed. However, it created the perfect opportunity to catch some great basketball action across the country — and even right here in Kansas.