Hazelwood Central vs. Troy: Class 5 Quarterfinals Standouts
Prep Girls Hoops Missouri was in the house at Francis Howell Central for the Class 5 state quarterfinals matchup between Hazelwood Central and Troy. The overall speed and athleticism of Hazelwood Central proved to be too much on this night…
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Continue ReadingPrep Girls Hoops Missouri was in the house at Francis Howell Central for the Class 5 state quarterfinals matchup between Hazelwood Central and Troy. The overall speed and athleticism of Hazelwood Central proved to be too much on this night as the Hawks sprinted to a 79-60 victory to earn a berth in the Final Four.
Here is a look at the top standouts from the Hazelwood Central-Troy game:
Jakayla Kirk (Hazelwood Central): The 5’10” 2020 forward was a force in the paint with a team-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. She was excellent at posting up and establishing a nice base to catch the ball without much resistance. If she didn’t finish the first time, she could gobble up the offensive rebound and score on the put-back.
Sydney Dukes (Hazelwood Central): The 5’7″ 2020 guard had a stellar all-around game with 13 points, seven rebounds and a game-high 13 assists. She was constantly attacking the basket and playing with great pace and she exhibited excellent decision making throughout the game. She set up teammates with her passing while also scoring on layups and short jumpers in the lane.
Maggie Illig (Troy): The 5’6″ 2022 guard was the Trojans top player on the evening as she scored close to 20 points while also handling the ball quite a bit. She knocked down three 3-pointers while also getting to the basket and drawing fouls and making her free throws.
Nariyah Simmons (Hazelwood Central): The 5’2″ 2021 point guard displayed her speed and quickness on both ends of the floor as she scored 16 points and registered a game-high five steals. She was tremendous at coming from the weak-side and picking the pockets of opposing ball handlers and starting the transition game. She is an excellent ball handler who can knock down open perimeter shots.
Tristan Stith (Hazelwood Central): The 5’2″ 2021 guard scored a team-high 18 points and provided some excellent perimeter shooting with four 3-pointers. She did a good job of getting to the open spots and knocking down open shots in the half court and in the transition game.
J’Lessa Jordan (Hazelwood Central): The athletic 5’10” 2021 forward had 14 points, six rebounds and a couple of blocked shots. Her length and jumping ability make her a very capable defender around the basket, but she displayed some improved offensive skills in this game. She finished in the post well and she also stepped out and hit a couple of 15-foot jumpers.