Mid-South MS Basketball Showcase Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Coach Harris hosted the Mid-South Middle School Basketball Showcase at Immaculate Conception. I stopped by to catch the 2 early girls games between Kate Bond/Bellevue and Colonial/Maxine Smith.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Kate Bond</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936640"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad01a89a23c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>Kate Bond was forced to play 4 vs 5 in the first half due to not having enough players. That left Richard with a lot of responsibility as the primary ball handler. She was harrassed and it was frustrating for her. However, it didn't stop her from aggressively getting to the basket. She got to the basket, she got shots off and she got to the freethrow line. The start of second half she had 2 teammates show up and you could see her confident grow. She got the first steal of the second half. As the game went on, she emerged as a scorer for her team. She got shots at the basket from attacking and rebounding. She also showed her 3 point shooting range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936643"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad01a89a2429"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>A week prior, I was able to see what she brings to her school team at the Super Champs Play Day. She is one of the primary offensive contributors for her team. She plays off the ball and sometimes initiates the offense. She attacks to get to the basket and to dish to teammates. She also has 3 point shooting range. She was one of the late players to the Showcase game. Her presence in the second half really showed what she brings to her team. Even while being face guarded the entire half, didn't stop her from making an impact. Defensively she is the glove. Her on ball defense affects players. She gets steals and converts them to points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bellevue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1899941"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad01a89a2481"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>I immediately remembered Harmoni from the Lausanne Fall league. It was good to see her with her school team. She is a vocal leader for them. She made her presence felt with a defensive deflection, followed by a couple of steals. She is very unselfish and makes extra passes to teammates. First half she played off the ball. Then in the second half she transitioned to the primary ball handler. Offensively, she shot the pull up jumper and from 3 range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colonial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936646"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad01a89a24cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>I noticed LaBryanna's  growth during the Lausanne Spring League. I saw a few of Colonial games last season and she was extremely quiet on the floor. Now, she is a vocal leader directing her teammates and even showing a little emotion and passion. She has added a transition 3 to her game. LaBryanna is very, very quick to the basket and gets to the free throw line from her attacks. She is a small guard. However, she has deceptive athleticism, vertical and anticipation to get steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maxine Smith</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936653"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad01a89a251a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><br>I was introduced to Skylar a couple of weeks ago in the MBL All Star Game. During this Showcase, I was very impressed with her composure on the block while being triple teamed. She was literally surrounded with defenders and she did not panic. She showed the quickness and length to closeout at the 3 point line and block the shot. I also watched her impressively run from one paint to the opposite paint to contest a wide open layup, when the ball was stolen from her team near the mid-court. . </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->