Holiday Hoops: Freshmen Finding Flow

This is the time of year every coach hopes to have built and a rotation for region play and the post season. These freshmen are not only in the rotation for their respective teams, but are now being counted on to contribute positive minutes to their team. All did just in tournaments and showcases around northeast Georgia.    Saige has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, especially for a freshman, as the starting point guard on a nationally ranked team. Walker flourished in that role as the conductor of an orchestra full of future division one players. Walker has excellent quickness and elite ball handling to go along with good vision. Walker did a good job using angles on post entry passes. Saige scored from behind the three point line and getting in the paint with dribble penetration.     Elle had an impact on the game on both ends and had some good stretches of play for Hebron. Johnson rebounded the ball well and her presence was a deterrent to Murray County players around the rim. On offense, Johnson made a a quick, instinctive high-low pass from the elbow to the block against the zone defense that resulted in an easy layup for Hebron. Johnson runs the floor well for her size and should be a key contributor off the bench in the second half of the season.     Dodd was a player I had not seen before, but figured out who she was quick. She knocked down an early jumper from the free throw line and then followed that up with an offensive rebound and put back attempt where she was fouled. Dodd looked very comfortable pushing the ball in transition and leading the break finding an open teammate for lay up. Dodd did a good job using her length on defense at the top of Murray County's zone and coming down from the wing and getting a steal from a post player on one play. Dodd played very hard and was not afraid of contact or to get on the floor for loose balls.     Johnson stood out as an on ball defender for Murray County. She did a lot of dirty work for the Lady Indians diving on the floor for loose balls and battling inside for rebounds against players that were six inches taller than her, still managing to grab a few rebounds. Johnson was confident on the ball on offense and moved well without it. She also made an excellent pass to a cutting teammate for a layup.     Sturghill made an impact rebounding the ball as soon as she checked into the game. She was not a stationary rebounder, but pursued missed shots with a lot of effort and getting to balls out of her area. One on play she snatched the rebound on defense and flew by everyone on the court with the ball for an uncontested layup. Sturghill got downhill on offense on a couple of plays and looked good driving to the basket in the half court as well. On defense she did a good job walling up around the basket and also created multiple steals.

This is the time of year every coach hopes to have built and a rotation for region play and the post season. These freshmen are not only in the rotation for their respective teams, but are now being counted on to contribute positive minutes to their team. All did just in tournaments and showcases around northeast Georgia.