SGG Elite League Eye Catchers

On my second visit to the SGG Elite Fall League, I saw growth in a couple of middle school players and caught one of the best match-up games of the Fall League season.      Shianne caught my attention at her middle school last season. The guard plays like a football safety defender on the floor. Even in this league game, she displayed her vision and anticipation skills from the weak side of the floor. During her middle school games, she scored off her defensive abilities. Today, she showed growth in her offensive skills by taking 3 point attempts, attacking the basket, and getting to the line.       Favour stands over 6 feet with a strong frame. Last Fall League season, I remember the post working on the off court with a coach on how to score at the basket. At that time, she looked very, very young in the game and didn't get many touches while playing. Now a year later, she is an option for her team. She got a lot of touches on the block with her back to the basket and shot attempts. Defensively, she's creating problems in the paint with her height and length. She even closed out on the perimeter.        I first saw Dakota during a Spring League game. The point guard was primarily displaying her 3 point shooting. Tonight, she played in a very balanced why. What really stood out was her ability to find teammates. She hits her teammates early and give them opportunities to score before the defense contests. If her teammates would have converted on the shots, she would have had a lot of assists. She balanced that out with her own shot attempts. Making a 3 at the top of the key and a transition 3. She is also very agile and can maneuver through tight traffic to get to the basket.       The first time I came out to the SGG league game, Hawkins attacking ability is what stood out. She is a lefty and loves to attack left. Tonight, I saw when the guard attacks, she creates contact and takes contact to score. Defensively, when possession changes, she immediately goes into defensive mode. She doesn't run back on defensive she is observant and get steals in the middle of the court.       Carter is a long scoring guard/forward. She started the game with an attack to the basket. She scored by posting on the block. She scored off a pull up in the short corner area. She also gets rebounds and can lead the transition.      I got to chat a little with Marlee before the games tipped off. The combo guard mentioned being a little bit tired. I couldn't tell she was tired during her game. She took several shots including threes and they didn't convert. Although she didn't make the shots, she kept playing and doing the intangibles. Going after rebounds. Containing on defense. Diving on the floor and competing for possession of the ball. She didn't make any shots early in the game. Then at the end of the game, she made some and they were BIG SHOTS. She drained a 3 and came back with another bucket as her team was making a comeback from behind.       This young lady can play some defense and I think the combo guard enjoys playing defense. She has a knack for being low, focusing on the ball, using her quick hands and using her quick feet. During this game, she played off the ball and showed more of her offensive skills. She got several 3 point shot attempts from the corner. She knocked down a 3 from the top of the key. She used a head fake to attack and a pull up shot.

On my second visit to the SGG Elite Fall League, I saw growth in a couple of middle school players and caught one of the best match-up games of the Fall League season.