Who will star in the 3A Championship?

Both the McGehee Lady Owls and the Manila Lady Lions are in the championship after impressive regular season runs. Though most people might have thought the title would be played by other opponents, I believe fans will be in for a treat in Hot Springs.    [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'] has been one of the most consistent players in the 3A classification for a long time now, and now she has a chance to show just how much of a star she can be for her squad.   Goodson is great with the ball in her hands, especially in the open court. She can dribble straight through defenses without a problem. Honestly, if you are trapped in a corn maze with someone, it should be Goodson, because she is going to be able to get you out.   Because of that great handle, Goodson can have a large impact in several ways offensively. She scores the ball well, particularly in the lane and around the basket. Her quick first step allows her to get to the basket, but with that quickness, she can easily step back and launch an outside shot.   [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'] will be headed to Conway to play for Hendrix College after this game. But before that, she will be looking to take care of business.     [player_tooltip player_id='1093314' first='Lucy' last='Farmer'] has had what I consider a breakout season for the Lady Lions. Her offensive talent has been enough to take Manila far, but will it be enough to win them a title?   One of Farmer's most notable games from this past season was against Melbourne, where she put up 42 points, which actually helped Manila clinch the #3 seed in the 3A tournament. She had another great performance in the postseason against Rivercrest, scoring 37 points in a big semi-final win.   Farmer can score from just about anywhere. She is too dangerous to be left open from three and mid-range, but don't let her get into the lane, as she finds ways to create offense. With as much attention as she receives on the offensive end, Farmer has learned how to be more of a playmaker, which will be vital in the championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093314' first='Lucy' last='Farmer'] may have already surpassed 1,500 points in her career, but she is still underrated. With that being said, she will open some eyes in this big-time matchup.     There are a lot of players on this team who serve as offensive catalysts at times, but Madysen Deeds deserves a big shoutout for the work she does on both sides of the ball.   Deeds is a solid post presence for Manila. She cleans up on the glass, as every miss is liable to become an offensive rebound for the senior. She finishes well in the paint and embraces contact.   On the other end, she is just as good a rebounder. She establishes her will on the defensive end, making it difficult for opposing bigs to back her down in the post, despite her 5'8" frame. She also provides athleticism and constant energy on that end.   Madysen Deeds could be a game-changer for Manila, and I would think Central Baptist College thinks the same way, considering they have already given her an offer to play at the next level.     McGehee's star is coming off a fantastic season, and Manila is truly going to have their cut out for them just trying to contain her.   Green has an excellent offensive game where she can do a lot of everything. Scoring-wise, she will walk a defender down, raise up from beyond the arc, and drain a back-breaking triple. Green is exceptional when working around screeners, and these are "pick your poison" scenarios for the defense each time.   If a defender goes under the screen, then that's silly because Green won't hesitate to shoot a three and drain it. If they go over, she can fly past the help big and score inside or pull up for a runner. If her defender is trailing late and the help is sagging off, protecting the basket, Green can hit a mid-range shot or zip a pass over to an open teammate.   There is only one really good answer for how to slow down [player_tooltip player_id='1198791' first='Makaelah' last='Green'], and that is to get the ball out of her hands. Even still, she has proven to be a great shooter off the catch as well.     Throughout the season, [player_tooltip player_id='1198788' first='Jaliyah' last='Boyd'] has been looking better and better. Based on her recent play, there is no way she stays at #152 in the 2027 class.   Boyd had a truly dominant performance against Bismarck recently, logging 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 stocks. She did a lot of great work in the paint that game. She could not be kept off the boards on both ends, keeping possessions alive on one side, and ending the possession for the opposition on the other.   Though she is a great post player, her 14-point, 7-rebound outing against DeWitt in February proved that she has plenty of perimeter skills. Boyd hit 2 threes in that contest off the catch, adding to her value as a stretch-5, which really helps space out the court for McGehee's strong offensive playmakers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198788' first='Jaliyah' last='Boyd'] versus Deeds will be a great matchup in this game, and I can't wait to see it.     Defense still wins championships. If that mantra is still true for this game, I would think it is because of [player_tooltip player_id='1198795' first='Stephanie' last='Ollison']'s play for McGehee.   Ollsion has had numerous strong performances for the Lady Owls, especially on defense. Back in early January against a solid DeWitt squad, Ollison put up 7 points, 7 boards, and 2 stocks. She had a similar stat line against Central High School out of Helena-West Helena, logging 7 points and 4 steals.   The junior's defense is often too much for the opposition to handle. McGehee is going to trap ball-handlers whenever they get the opportunity, and Ollison is often part of those traps along the wings. If she gets her hands on the ball, she will certainly rip it away and trigger a fastbreak, which is where a lot of McGehee's points come from.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198795' first='Stephanie' last='Ollison'] could be the x-factor for McGehee thanks to her tremendous defensive ability. We shall see just how much of a factor she will play later on Friday.

Both the McGehee Lady Owls and the Manila Lady Lions are in the championship after impressive regular season runs. Though most people might have thought the title would be played by other opponents, I believe fans will be in for a treat in Hot Springs.