Raining 3s at the Hemlock Holiday Classic

Hemlock hosted their annual Holiday Classic on Tuesday, and I couldn't wait to drive up for the games. It was my first trip to Hemlock, and I was very impressed. Their concession food was delicious and the best value I've seen all season. Printed roster brochures were available upon entry, and I loved the classic arena rock during games. Bay City John Glenn defeated Lansing Catholic 46-35 in the opening game, while Freeland won 57-43 in the second matchup to give Hemlock their first loss of the year. There were notable performances in both games, and these girls stood out during the second matchup.    Jozelynn turned in a performance at the Hemlock Holiday Classic that nobody will forget. Jozelynn ended the first quarter with a Steph Curry-distance moonshot that got me on my feet. She consistently drained three-pointers from the volleyball line all game. Jozelynn created space and fired threes with deadly accuracy off the dribble. She only needed a foot. Jozelynn handled the ball confidently as the primary point guard, demonstrated excellent vision, and fired passes in transition to open teammates. She delivered a bounce pass through a small window to break the press and used a low double-crossover dribble to drive by for a layup. Jozelynn converted free throws, penetrated the defense with her dribble, and was disruptive on the defensive end. Jozelynn ended the game with 40 points (8 3PT), nine rebounds, and two assists. She picked the perfect day to set a new career mark, and I'm happy I was there to see it.     Victoria is one of the best unsigned senior guards available and she proved it at the Hemlock Holiday Classic. Victoria penetrated off the dribble and delivered pinpoint one-handed skip passes effectively with her right and left. She's a true competitor and stepped up to hit four big three-pointers for the Huskies. Victoria drove hard to the basket, used a swift spin move, and converted the tough layup through contact. She finished the three point play at the line and converted another difficult layup through contact on a determined drive. Victoria batted down passes, ripped the ball away, buried contested jumpers, and knocked down free throws. She gave Hemlock 23 points and four steals.     Lia is a high-motor prospect who adds an important rebounding and defensive presence to the Hemlock lineup. She worked hard to gain the advantage inside and grabbed six rebounds for the Huskies against Freeland. Lia has outside range and drives hard to the basket.     McKenna made a huge difference for Freeland at the Hemlock Holiday on the defensive end. She used her long arms and quick feet to cause deflections and errant passes in the top of the zone, resulting in turnovers. McKenna finished around the basket off two feet with both hands and dished out an assist in transition. She chipped in four points and five steals for the Falcons in the win.     Sage is a tall, physical, and skilled forward from Hemlock. She released the ball at it's highest point and knocked down free throws. Sage caught a pass with soft hands in the high post, used a reverse pivot, and buried the jumper. She swiped the ball away and dropped in a mid-range floater with touch. Sage snagged a pass, used a power dribble, and scored in traffic off two feet. She has good passing instincts and plays beyond her years. Sage made a great first impression at the Hemlock Holiday Classic and will be a very impactful player for years to come in the Huskies program.     Katie has a very productive career ahead of her at Freeland, and she gave the team a spark with her perimeter shooting at the Hemlock Holiday Classic. Katie handles the ball well with both hands, sees the floor, and stays active on the defensive end. She swished two threes with a rhythmic release and scored eight for the Falcons. Katie's length and skill make her a freshman with a lot of upside in the program.

Hemlock hosted their annual Holiday Classic on Tuesday, and I couldn't wait to drive up for the games. It was my first trip to Hemlock, and I was very impressed. Their concession food was delicious and the best value I've seen all season. Printed roster brochures were available upon entry, and I loved the classic arena rock during games. Bay City John Glenn defeated Lansing Catholic 46-35 in the opening game, while Freeland won 57-43 in the second matchup to give Hemlock their first loss of the year. There were notable performances in both games, and these girls stood out during the second matchup.