The Western Branch Lady Bruins MLK Showcase First Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Branch High School hosted its annual Lady Bruins MLK Showcase this Saturday, and “showcase” was exactly what it was.</strong> Some of the top prospects in the 757 showed up and showed out in a full day of high-level girls' high school basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three games were on the docket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The showcase opened with an uptempo matchup as the <strong>Deep Creek Hornets outpaced the Glen Allen Jaguars</strong>, setting the tone early with fantastic guard and wing play on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crowd had very little time to recover before being treated to a shootout in game two, where the <strong>Manchester Lancers (Midlothian, VA)</strong> edged the <strong>Kellam Knights (Virginia Beach)</strong> in an overtime thriller that had energy from tip to final horn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The host team, <strong>Western Branch (Chesapeake, VA),</strong> closed the night in dominant fashion, controlling the tempo and imposing its will in a convincing win over <strong>Woodbridge</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a great night of women's basketball came to a close, <strong>these six performances spearheaded their teams and earned the honor of being named to my MLK Showcase First Team.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443367"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259b86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With a 39-point, 8-assist, and 5-steal performance in the losing effort against Woodbridge. The left-handed Spain showed why she is a coveted guard in the class of 2027. Leading the charge after falling behind 15 after the first quarter. Mia accounted for 39 of her team's 62 total points. With the shooting ability to stretch the defense, Spain's game opens up the Kellam Offense to weaponize her next-level court vision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1057080"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1667601,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259bf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown is the #1-ranked player in the Class of 2029. She continued to show the upside to her game tonight. Not one to shy away from contact on the drive, Brown scored a game high 23 from various places on the court, including 3-point range, and on the post. Brown plays beyond her years with the maturity and poise as she leads her team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["523972"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1667613,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259c5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6'0" Junior ran the offense with precision. Long enough to defend the post against much bigger players. A tough rebounder, Herbert uses positioning, technique, and athleticism to collect rebounds. A consistent double-double threat. Herbert is capable of playing and guarding positions 1-5. Herbert runs the floor like a guard but has the size and length to play and be effective in the post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1667625,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='443620' first='Madison' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Manchester","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259d04"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6'1" Smith is a smooth slasher with the ability to finish with both hands around the basket. Smith scored 21 points and brought down 9 rebounds in Manchester's OT victory vs. Kellam. Cool under pressure. Smith scored late to put the game into overtime, and then iced the game with crucial free throws. Soft hands around the basket, combined with the length and athleticism to get to the basket. Smith is long and skilled enough to guard 3-5, while being athletic enough to lead the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1201494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259d62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tough on both ends of the court. Warden provides the leadership and maturity needed as the captain of a team that starts 4 underclassmen. Warden possesses a quick release and decent three-point range. A strong on-ball defender. Warden's relentless ball pressure was impressive in her ability to force steals or pressuring the ball handler into a bad pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1667627,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Makayla Lewis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Glen Allen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696d359259dac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lewis, A 6'0" sophomore, displayed court vision, ballhandling and passing ability. A traditional back-to-the-basket post player. Lewis disrupts defensively around the basket by blocking and redirecting shots. Adept at cleaning up misses on both offense and defense. Lewis is a difference maker around the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->