Central Cali’s D2 Playoffs: Centennial v. Tehachapi Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bakersfield, CA - This past Saturday, February 14th, I attended the opening round of the girls Division 2 Central Section playoffs, in a match-up between #2 Centennial Golden Hawks and #15 Tehachapi Warriors. Both teams had a relatively sluggish start, but it was the 3 threes from the Lady Hawks that helped give it the 15 to 7 lead going into the second quarter. The Lady Hawks would get more contributions in the second period led by Kai Shaw's 5 points, while the Warriors' only scoring contribution was from standout senior [player_tooltip player_id='957880' first='Koree' last='Rodden'], who would finish with a double-double. Kai Shaw would really heat up in the 3rd quarter, after he cousin Keke Shaw took a nasty fall into the scorers table and was sidelined for the rest of the quarter. Rodden also took a bad fall in the 3rd period that sidelined her for the rest of the period, but both returned in the fourth period. Despite Rodden's impressive stat-line, the Lady Hawks chipped in 4 threes in the 4th quarter to get the win, 58 to 41, and advance to the quarterfinals against the talented Sierra Pacific Lady Bears. In this article I look at 8 players that had standout showings. I discuss how they played in the game and their relevant statistics, which are my own personal statistics, as well as a brief summary of their skill sets. The players are not listed in ranked order, but in alphabetical order. We begin with a look at Kenadee Gary. <strong>Centennial Golden Hawks 58 Tehachapi Warriors 41</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kenadee Gray","_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":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tehachapi Warriors ","_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-6993664335e7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gary displayed quality lead guard skills in the second half of the Warriors opening round game of the Girls D2 Section playoffs against Centennial of Bakersfield, as she would score 5 points connecting one a three pointer, to go along with 3 steals to show tough on-ball defense on opposing perimeter players. The junior guard displayed solid handles, used the crossover to get by her defender and into the paint, and showed good off ball movement to get open for looks beyond the arc off the catch. Gary will be a key returning piece for the Lady Warriors next season, who will be graduating its top player [player_tooltip player_id='957880' first='Koree' last='Rodden']. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ishani Reyes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial Golden Hawks (Bakersfield)","_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-6993664335f37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reyes has been one of the key floor spacers for the Lady G-Hawks in the two games I have seen Centennial in person. Reyes connected on a pair of threes in the first half to help her team build a double-digit lead it would not surrender the remainder of the game. Reyes has solid handles, keeps the ball moving with quick passes, and looks to get to her shot spots with fluid off ball movement, and accuracy on the 3-ball off the catch. Reyes has active hands and good footwork to deflect passes or help on doubles to turn defense to offense. Confident shooter with range on the 3-ball. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Olivia Roed","_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":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tehachapi Warriors","_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-6993664335fc7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Roed was active on the glass in the loss to Centennial of Bakersfield this past Saturday to open up the Central Section girls basketball playoffs, as she would account for 7 rebounds for the Lady Warriors. Roed also scored 4 points for Tehachapi, which struggled to get scoring out of anyone without the last name Rodden. Roed crashes the boards, gets her team second chance scoring opportunities, and has good touch on shots around the basket. Another player that will need to step up in the scoring column next year and possibly some easy points off put-backs. </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":1754161,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='957880' first='Koree' last='Rodden']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tehachapi Warriors","_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-6993664336054"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rodden has been one of the top players in her class in the Central Section since her freshman season, and she left it all on the court in what would end up being her final official high school game of her impressive career, falling to the Lady Hawks in the opening round of the D2 Section playoffs. Rodden accounted for 9 of her team's 12 first half points and was doing all she could to keep her team close. Rodden took a hard fall in the 3rd quarter, landing on her elbow and it didn't look like she would return. But Rodden, one of the toughest lady hoopers I have seen the past few seasons, seemed destined to not let that be the end of her high school career and returned to the court to start the final period. Rodden would add 8 more points for a team-high 17 points, along with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks to showcase her all-around versatility on both ends of the court and a skill set that will take her to the next level of play. Rodden has solid handles, uses the crossover, spin-move, and hesitation moves to get space from her defender, is accurate with the mid-range jumper off the dribble, and has the touch and crafty moves to score around height in the paint, as well as score through contact when attacking down the lane, earning trips to the free throw line frequently,. Rodden has good court vision, makes quality decisions with the ball in her hands, finds the open teammates off the drive and kick pass, along with the strength and precision to find players on the cross-court pass when the defense over commits on close-outs. Rodden is active on the glass, gets put-back opportunities, and looks to push the ball off the defensive boards to get out in transition. Impressive double-double and overall display of why she is a player that will play at the next level. </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":1754169,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Laker Shaw","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial Golden Hawks (Bakersfield)","_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-69936643360e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Laker is a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc and a tough on-ball perimeter defense that makes life hectic for opposing ball-handlers. Laker displayed her all-around ability to impact the game of basketball with a great stat-line of 9 points, connecting on 3 threes, to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists, as the senior guard is looking to have a deep run and a shot at a Section title in two weeks. Laker connected on a pair of threes in the fourth quarter at a time when the Warriors were looking to make a late push, but Shaw's threes pretty much sealed the deal on the win. Laker is a great on-ball defender, with good lateral foot-speed, active hands and good instincts to deflect passes, poke the ball out, and get the ball out in transition, is a good positional rebounder, and sees the court well to make good reads off the skip pass or drive and kick pass. Laker will be relied upon to shoot the 3-ball well in the Lady Hawks' next game against the talented Sierra Pacific in the D2 Section quarterfinals. </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":1754174,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kai Shaw","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial Golden Hawks (Bakersfield)","_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-699366433616b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kai makes several plays each time I watch her play live that display four-year potential as a prospect and this game was no different, as she would end up with 8 steals, showing great timing on when to jump passing lanes, active hands and instincts to poke the ball out in the right direction to get into transition play, and the footwork to stay in front of her opponents, getting in their dribbling space and forcing turnovers, which lead to easy points in the open court. Kai was scoreless in the opening quarter, but after a 5 point second quarter, she took over the third quarter with an 11 point outburst to give her team a 21 point lead going into the final frame, 46-25. Kai would lead all scorers with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists to go with her 8 steals and one block, showcasing her overall impact on both ends of the court. Kai has dynamic handles, keeps the ball on a string to survey the defense, uses the crossover, between-cross, hesitation, and toss-cross to split her defender or get her opponent off balance, is deadly with the mid-range jumper with accuracy on the 3-ball off the dribble, and is a crafty scorer around the basket with touch on the floater. Kai moves well off the ball, gets to her shot spots, and is effective with the jumper off the catch, showing her ability to impact the scoreboard on and off the basketball. Shaw will be relied upon to keep up her scoring as the Lady Hawks take on a talented and under-seeded Sierra Pacific in the quarterfinals of the D2 Section playoffs this coming Wednesday. </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":1754177,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keke Shaw","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial Golden Hawks (Bakersfield)","_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-69936643361f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keke had a great start to the game against the Lady Warriors in Centennial's first round win in the D2 Section playoffs, as she would score 10 of her 14 points in the first half and had critical buckets early to give the Lady Hawks a lead before the other Shaw girls and their teammates got going in the second quarter. Keke displayed her ability to crash the boards, score on put-backs, and limit opponents to single shot possessions, grabbing 9 rebounds in the win over Tehachapi, one rebound short of a double-double. Keke has the skill to go along with the physicality to play various styles on the court, making her a tough assignment on defense, with the handles and moves to create off the perimeter, good off-ball movement to get open, especially cutting off the ball and diving to the basket, with good hands and touch on shots around the basket. Keke has the strength to absorb and score through contact, is effective with the 3-ball to open up the court, and makes good passes to open teammates off the drive and kick pass, as well as up the court off the defensive rebound. Keke has been the x-factor in the last two games I have watched the Lady Hawks and will be called upon to have a big game against Sierra Pacific on Wednesday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->