It’s time to step up: Dynamic duos on the rise #2

Over the next week we will examine a few potentially dynamic duos that will need to step and lead their team in the upcoming year. This could be due to graduation, transfer or other circumstances that put a pair of players in a situation where they really need to have a good year to push their team/program to a higher level. Our next duo we will be looking at comes from the Civic Memorial program that Jonathon Denney has built in a year in and year out contender. <strong>Anna Hall </strong>and <strong>Kourtland Tyus </strong>are two year returning starters as Juniors this year. The Lady Eagles lost over 30 points per game when their class of 2018, led by Kaylee Eaton and Alaira Tyus, graduated. Hall is the leading scorer returning at 10.6 per game. Anna is a 5'11 forward that is extremely strong in the post. She can establish deep post position and is a 53% field goal shooter so she is very likely to finish if you let her get the ball in the paint. She is expanding her game to be able to hit the outside shot more consistently which bodes well for her and the team. The Lady Eagles will most likely run small at times with Anna as the 5 but with the emergence of other inside players she may be the 4 at times too. Anna got to the free throw line 120 times last year and she will look to continue that trend next year. She was able to hit 63% of those free throws last year and I am sure both Anna and Coach Denney would like to see that over 70% this year. Kourtland is a 5'6 point guard that has been the primary ball handler for the program since she stepped on campus her freshman year. She has averaged over 4 assists per game both years while setting up last years seniors plus all time leading scorer Allie Troeckler her freshman season. For Tyus to take the next step in her career and continue the Lady Eagles on the path to a state tourney run she will have to score a little more. She averaged 7.6 points per game last year while shooting 34 % from behind the 3 point line and 47% from the free throw line. She is more than capable of improving both numbers and scoring in double figures if she does improve them. Kourtland excels in the run and jump defensive system that Coach Denney has used over the years and produced almost 3 steals per game which leads to easy points. Both girls will not only need to step up their play but will need to take over the leadership role. The rotation will mostly consist of underclassmen which makes these two juniors the new experienced leaders of the program. I am confident based on their attitudes and dedication to the game that they can take the next step. Both girls were active with the St Louis Eagles 16u team this summer in addition to the always strong June schedule that Coach Denney has in store for his team. It is not very often that an article is written about incoming freshman needing to step up, let alone two. As the 2018-19 season approaches for Coach Lee Green and his Alton Marquette team it is obvious that he will need to rely on two 2022 players to help his team maintain the momentum built over the last two seasons. <strong>Adrenna Snipes </strong>and <strong>Abby Williams </strong>will most likely be the most consistent scoring options  for the Explorers. Snipes is a 5'7 point guard and is one of the most gifted point guards in the area. She is fast, as shown by her middle school track career, and can handle the ball very well. Because of that she is very hard to keep out of the lane. She can hit the outside shot but not yet with the consistency she will need as opposing teams try to keep her from penetrating. She is an exceptional passer that is more than willing to watch her teammates do the scoring if teams collapse on her. She is a difference maker for Coach Green and should step into the starting point guard spot from day 1. She played her select ball with the Crossover team and with that team she also has shown that she can defend and really pressure the ball full court. Abby is a very versatile 5'9 wing player that was also a part of the Crossover select team. Abby is very tough defensively and has a knack for getting offensive boards. She is an experienced player that sees and understands the game. She can be effective as a screener or the ball handler in a pick and roll offensive. She sees the floor well and will deliver good passes and also finds open space to receive a pass. She can finish near the basket and is good with both hands. Like many incoming freshman she will need to work on her form and her outside shot to develop her game to the next level. If she maintains her aggressive style she will be a big part of the potential success of the team. Both girls as incoming freshman will have to find their comfort zone playing with the returning players but with the loss of 4 starters and those girls being the 4 leading scorers, Coach Green will have to rely on the players that can replace those points and I believe Adrenna and Abby will be a big part of that. &nbsp;