Gateway and First Coast Standouts

Several players across the First Coast delivered standout performances last week. From elite shooting to floor leadership and shot creation, these players separated themselves with their performance, influence and how they impacted the game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1261851' first='Shea' last='Donovan'] has impressed all season with how she has effectively run the team, especially for a freshman. An explosive point guard, she can consistently get downhill, put pressure on the defense, and create advantages off the dribble. Her ability to get into the teeth of the defense forces help, opens up quality looks for her teammates, and results in a high assist rate (6.5 assists per game). Having two of the best shooters in the state on the floor helps, and Donovan does a good job of finding them. Defensively, Donovan was solid on the ball last week, applying pressure and staying engaged. The Freshman guard is a composed young floor general who has a high level of trust from both her coaches and teammates.     [player_tooltip player_id='400811' first='Elle' last='Deegan'] really impressed with her shooting ability and overall offensive feel. She has one of the smoothest, quickest releases in the area — a very fluid, confident stroke that looks pure the moment it leaves her hand. Beyond the mechanics, Deegan shows strong offensive IQ. She moves the ball well, understands spacing, and consistently finds gaps in the defense to get herself into clean shooting spots. Her ability to set her feet, and shoot in rhythm makes her a highly efficient three-point shooter and a constant perimeter threat. Deegan is also capable of getting to the rim with good ball-handling skills.     [player_tooltip player_id='515064' first='Kathleen' last='Crawley'] has been one of the premier shooters on the First Coast and is firmly in the conversation as one of the best three-point shooters in the city. She's extremely accurate and efficient from deep, consistently hovering above the 40% mark. Give her space, and she will make defenses pay. What separates Crowley from being just a shooter is her ability to score inside as well. Using her size effectively, she can finish in the paint when defenders overplay the perimeter. She is an efficient multi-level scoring threat who averages over 17 points per game.     [player_tooltip player_id='933334' first='Shelby' last='Gaines'] is one of the top scorers in the city of Jacksonville and is making a case as a top-tier offensive scorer in the state. Gaines definitely is a multi-level scorer who puts constant pressure on defenses with her ability to create shots off the bounce. Her handles are good, and she excels with her change of pace and direction, keeping defenders off balance. Gaines understands angles extremely well and consistently gets to her spots. While she doesn't rely heavily on the three-point shot, she can knock it down when needed. Where she's most dangerous is in the midrange, where her pull-up game is elite and difficult to guard. Gaines is presently averaging over 24 points per game, and the impressive part of her game is that she lets the game come to her and doesn't chase points.     [player_tooltip player_id='221598' first='Trinity' last='Berry'] continues to establish herself as one of the top catch-and-shoot three-point specialists around. Her seven three-pointers in the Gateway tournament semifinals were special. Give her space, and she will get her shot off, and when she has time and rhythm, she's among the most efficient shooters from deep. Berry has a strong understanding of offensive spacing. Her shooting ability results in double teams and face guards. To counter, Berry has shown an ability to score in transition and get to the line. She is one of the top offensive players on the First Coast.     [player_tooltip player_id='727590' first='Araniya' last='Riggins'] was impressive at the Gateway Finals, delivering one of the strongest guard performances of the night. Riggins showcased confident ball-handling and shooting range, connecting on a three from the top of the key with clean form and soft touch. She played with confidence and had a flair for the dramatic, excelling in clutch moments of the game. Her play of the game came in transition — pushing the fast break, using a hesitation without picking up her dribble, attacking the middle of the paint, going back to the left-hand dribble, and finishing with a smooth left-handed layup that nearly brought the crowd down. Beyond the highlights, Riggins controlled the pace and tempo and operated as a true floor general all game before fouling out. She would have been a strong MVP candidate if not for a standout performance by her teammate.     [player_tooltip player_id='1151318' first='Madison' last='Holmes-Price'] (cover photo) is quietly one of the biggest kept secrets on the First Coast, and her stock is clearly rising. In the Gatewyn Finals, she showed the ability to create her own shot, handle the ball with confidence, and attack the rim decisively. When given the opportunities, she went coast-to-coast and scored before the defense could recover — something she executed several times. Holmes-Price used speed with a strong midrange game and very good footwork. Her head fake into the up-and-under step-through was her go-to move. A highly skilled offensive player, Holmes-Price was the Player of the Game and is a shoe- in for All Gateway Honors.     Malachi Merritt stood out for her defensive impact and physicality. She consistently tied up offensive players, played with strength, and made multiple plays in transition. Her lateral quickness was especially impressive, allowing her to cut off driving angles and prevent guards from getting to the rim before the defense could recover. Merritt applied constant pressure on the ball, jumped passing lanes, and did a strong job closing out and contesting shooters. She was an unsung hero whose presence was noticeable throughout the game. Her performance was a reminder that you don't have to lead the game in scoring to be impactful — effort, defense, and intensity can completely change the tone of a game, and that's what Merrit accomplished in the Gateway Finals.

Several players across the First Coast delivered standout performances last week. From elite shooting to floor leadership and shot creation, these players separated themselves with their performance, influence and how they impacted the game.