M-Town Showdown: Top 6 Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamboree season is transitioning to tournament and invitational season across the Palmetto State – and one of those early invitationals of the 2024-25 season took place at a former 3A school that became a 2A starting this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manning HS was one of two hosts of the M-Town Showdown that took place from Nov. 22-23. The other site that was utilized was Manning Junior HS. A grand total of 12 teams took part – Palmetto, St. James, Westwood, Loris, Carolina Forest, West Florence, Socastee, Beaufort, Marion and Sumter along with host Manning and Ben Lippen from the SCISA ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The event had a litany of noteworthy performances, but these six stuck out to us here at Prep Girls Hoops.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["992816"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067133,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c1ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It takes a lot for any coach to trust an eighth grader with a starting role. Former Hartsville and current Manning coach Justin Johnson did that with Conyers and she displayed exactly why her coach trusted her with that starting role. Conyers plays more of the traditional five position and used every single bit of her 5-foot-11 stature to her benefit in a close contest with 3A Palmetto. Conyers concluded her Friday with 15 points. One of those baskets Conyers connected on was the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter which sealed the win for the Monarchs on its home court. She may be a youngster but she plays with the poise of a veteran. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["281053"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067135,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c25c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Palmetto's resident senior wing was a huge reason why the 3A Mustangs were never out of Friday evening's matchup with the homestanding Monarchs. While the Mustangs were on the receiving end of a 40-38 decision, Ellison did everything she could as she tallied 17 of her team's 38 points. Unfortunately for her team, she fouled out of the matchup late in the fourth quarter. Ellison understands the art of scoring from virtually anywhere on the floor. As effective as she is with that part of her game, she will also put her teammates in position to make plays. Ellison may have the build of a frontcourt player but combines that with the ball handling capabilities of a one or a two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["552624"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067137,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c2c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Both Moody and her team received plenty of recognition from the South Carolina Basketball Coaches' Association (SCBCA) prior to the start of the season. Moody was one of two Lions to receive 3A Top 5 Senior honors and Loris was top-10 ranked in its preseason coaches' poll. If one game were a season, Moody and her Lions proved those preseason rankings correct. The Lions' adversaries from 5A Westwood had no answers for Moody on Friday evening as she tallied 21 points to lead all scorers in a 60-53 victory for Loris. Among the many strong points to her game are court vision, attacking the rim, drawing contact to get to the free throw line and collecting steals on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["407242"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067145,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c311"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Britt shined bright on Friday night for Westwood. Her 5A Redhawks may have been on the bad end of a 60-53 decision to 3A Loris, but Britt put forth a stellar effort as she led her team with 18 points. She particularly came up big when big time players do – in the second half of contests. Eleven of the 18 points Britt scored occurred in the second half. Britt stands at 5-foot-9 and showcases her versatility by playing a variety of positions. When she is in a lineup as either a three or a four, that combined with her height advantage will put her in position to corral rebounds and come out on the victorious end of many battles on the boards. Britt's freshman season at Westwood (when it was a 4A school) saw her average 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Her first contest of the 2024-25 season was a strong indication that she is poised for even bigger things as a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569794"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067151,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c35f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The star junior for the Swamp Foxes maintains a very full athletic plate. When basketball is not the main sport on her brains, she competes in volleyball as well as softball. Marion is a regional rival of host Manning, so getting a win at the home of the Monarchs had to feel additionally sweet. The Swamp Foxes have Williams in large part for the victory her team notched against defending 5A champion Sumter. She scored 21 points – including the go-ahead contested layup with one second remaining on the clock where Williams also drew contact to go to the free throw line. Williams has played at the varsity since the 2021-22 season when she was an eighth grader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["553681"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1067153,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674191ac8c3ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the next several years, Ross will be the focal point of all things 5A Sumter. The final contest of Friday's play at Manning HS would see Ross' Gamecocks match up against the Swamp Foxes of 2A Marion. Ross concluded the game with 18 points even though Sumter was on the receiving end of a 50-49 decision. Out of those 18 points, 11 of them were scored in the second half. One of the highlights of the day occurred late in the fourth quarter. With Sumter trailing 48-47, Ross converted on a two-point putback close to the rim which appeared to put the Gamecocks up for good at the time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->