Sandy’s Spiel NWGA Invitational Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Year 2 of the Sandy's Spiel Northwest Georgia Invitational will be held at Darlington School this Saturday in Rome. The schedule consists of three girls games and three boys games, tipping off at 10:00 AM with the final game starting at 5:30 PM. The girls portion of the event features three Top 10 showdowns including some of the best programs in the state.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1455314,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","className":"is-style-default"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/NWGA-Invitational-2025-26-3.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1455314" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>11:30 | 3A No. 8 Heritage-Catoosa vs. 5A No. 5 Creekview</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a huge double overtime win over Murray County last week, Heritage-Catoosa will look to keep momentum against a red-hot Creekview team. Heritage has battled adversity, losing top scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='855041' first='Camdyn' last='Carter'] to an ACL tear before the season but veterans like [player_tooltip player_id='855040' first='Tori' last='Epps'] and Bailee Hollis have stepped up. Epps was all over the floor in the Generals' win over Murray County, taking key charges and converting crucial And-1s. NAIA and D-III programs are showing interest. [player_tooltip player_id='1258834' first='Ema' last='Tanner'] is one of the best glue guys in the state, elite at finding open spaces in the defense for dump-off buckets. The emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='1105842' first='Paisley' last='Collins'] is critical to the Generals' success. An undersized unit, Collins is a legit post presence with clean footwork and a double-double motor. She will battle inside against Creekview's [player_tooltip player_id='974867' first='Brenley' last='Matthews'], a sophomore who has asserted herself in Year 2. Her versatility as an inside-out presence helps create mismatches. In a matchup featuring plenty of dual-sport athletes who star in softball, the repeat titlists of Creekview have toughness from [player_tooltip player_id='1241642' first='Finley' last='Howard'] and Lili Beal while the three-peat state champs on the Diamond of Heritage are littered up and down the roster. Both coaches have daughters in the backcourt, with Kennedy Elkins for the Generals and [player_tooltip player_id='964202' first='Kylee' last='Herrick'] for Creekview, a burgeoning sophomore who does a little bit of everything with deft athleticism. The X-Factor and separator for the Grizzlies this year has been [player_tooltip player_id='476495' first='Kailyn' last='Hamby'], a shifty playmaker and elite shooter who is averaging over 20 points per game while making her case as one of the state's best point guards. She dropped 27 points against both North Oconee and North Forsyth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1:00 | 4A No. 6 Dalton vs. 2A No. 2 Murray County</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of intrigue on and off the court as Coach Hannah Harris leads Dalton against Murray County. The 2008 graduate of Dalton is the former head coach of Murray County and will coach against her former employer for the first time since taking over her alma mater for the 2020-21 season. Great guard play will be on display with [player_tooltip player_id='821681' first='Aubriyana' last='Camp'] powering the Catamounts. The D-I prospect already has two points-steals double-doubles coming against Paulding County and Wheeler. [player_tooltip player_id='885271' first='Wisdom' last='Kent'] is a key wing that can stretch the floor and bang in the paint when needed. [player_tooltip player_id='1241612' first='Georgia' last='Sanders'] and Dana Gravitt are important juniors while sophomore Emery Silvers has shown a lot of upside with her aggressive play. Murray County has All-State performers in sisters [player_tooltip player_id='926798' first='Blaklee' last='Ledford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='476481' first='Callan' last='Ledford']. NAIA, D-III and D-II programs have been in contact with Callan, a tough-nosed workhorse that rebounds extremely well for her size. Blaklee is often the straw that stirs the drink, a quick energetic point guard who thrives as a playmaker. The return of 2023-24 Freshman of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='866355' first='Miley' last='McClure'] is a huge boon to the toughness of the interior. [player_tooltip player_id='1258313' first='Hadley' last='Dotson'] and Aspen Powers are important perimeter players that help lengthen the Indians' scoring threats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2:30 | Private No. 9 Christian Heritage vs. 1A D-I No. 7 Heard County</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect Heard County to come out attacking, a young team now full of sophomores and juniors after winning 25 games last season. The Braves like to press all game long, wilting teams with their speed. [player_tooltip player_id='1161947' first='Azhia' last='Kendall'] is an All-State level performer entering her sophomore season. Emma Lawson set a school-record last season with eight made threes in a game. TT Lewis and Emma Beers are All-Region performers. Majesty Ware is another dynamic athlete that can help wreck games defensively. Christian Heritage is also a young team with a core nucleus anchored by 5-foot-10 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1182100' first='Carly' last='Bramlett'], a sneaky impressive combo-forward who has climbed up recruiting boards heading into her final season, nabbing offers from Houghton and LaGrange. [player_tooltip player_id='1095921' first='Annaka' last='Hembree'] is Coach Josh Hembree's daughter. She is the engine, recording over 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals per game as a freshman last year. Brinley O'Ferrall supplies help on the wing while [player_tooltip player_id='1215383' first='[player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Olivia' last='']' last='Perry'] is a high-upside post with pick-and-pop potential. She could be an X-Factor if she can establish her presence in the paint against a smaller Heard County team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->