The Rural Semifinals: Prospects Who Brought the Winning Effort

The Rural Class semifinals weren't just about points on the scoreboard. They revealed skill, athleticism, determination, and tons of effort. On a stage where everything was amped up, on a new floor, new sight lines, new depths of field, a college floor, and championship pressure, the majority of prospects didn't have their most efficient offensive night. There were tons of shots that rimmed out and even a few air balls. In some instances it appeared that timing was off and as a result - so was execution. But, one thing that did not take a back seat was the effort. Players were all over the floor diving for loose balls and risking injury to make a play for their teams. The timing may have been off, but their efforts met the moment. In this article, we continue recognizing prospects who left an impression on the big stage - the regional semifinals.    [player_tooltip player_id='1764364' first='Janiyah' last='Span'] was everywhere. She was tough on the glass, active on defense, and versatile on the court. Span showed the ability to score from the perimeter with a long range three pointer. She's athletic, rebounds outside her area, and competes possession after possession. The block shot and physical interior presence stood out. Span brings toughness that doesn't always show in the stat sheet — but it changes games and inspires her teammates. One stat that really stood out was Span's 9 boards (six were offensive rebounds). Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Span's performance was her age. Last season she was in middle school and year later she is playing on a college campus in the State tournament and dominating the boards.       [player_tooltip player_id='656075' first='Ashlyn' last='Young'] didn't have her normal statistical performances, but her impact was felt during key moments of the game. The moment she stepped on the floor, the energy shifted and responsibility came into focus. What stands out immediately is her athleticism, speed, and confidence she plays with. Young attacked coast-to-coast with flair, finishing a few times through traffic and provided glimpses of why she came into the game as one of the top players in the rural division. Young's ability to push tempo and apply rim pressure immediately changed the pace of the game.   She ran the floor well and when she wasn't getting to the rim to score, she was dishing the “rock” to her teammates for scoring opportunities.     [player_tooltip player_id='1782668' first='Kierce' last='Solomon'] stood out in the transition game on both ends of the court. She ran down passes to score and chased down opponents to stop scores. The Sophomore guard had some impressive stats: 6 of 6 from the freethrow line, 10 points, 9 rebounds from the guard position, and 5 steals. Solomon's quickness and ability to perform in clutch moments were impressive. She handled the ball well against insane pressure and shifted momentum throughout the contest.     [player_tooltip player_id='221613' first='Alyssa' last='Hallman'] didn't shoot a 100 percent in the semifinals, but she did play her game and compete. The senior guard scored 12 points, grabbed 6 rebounds against much taller opponents. Shooters shoot and Hallman let it fly. It's that mentality that got her team to the State finals in the first place. She shot the three, pulled up on baseline midrange shots, and played with energy from beginning to end.     [player_tooltip player_id='1136121' first='Charlee' last='Matos'] received a pass in rhythm and knocked down a deep three. Moments later, she stepped into the passing lane for a steal and went coast-to-coast for the finish. The freshman guard followed it up with a polished baseline stop-and-pop, showcasing her midrange touch for two. She was smooth with the baseline rips to the midrange and really showed a maturity to her game well beyond her freshman years. Matos and company found themselves back in the final four and the freshman guard will get three more cracks at the championship in future seasons. Her skill set was impressive and her effort was even greater.     [player_tooltip player_id='1782734' first='Taylor' last='Thomas'] gave everything she had in the semifinals and the freshman guard came within a hairline of leading her team to a berth in the championship game. Thomas is the type of player that the score sheet does no justice. Thomas brought physicality and had multiple deflections, tips, jump balls, pressure on the ball that led to an errant pass, etc. These things aren't on the stat sheet but would stand out on film. The freshman Thomas was clearly one of the most physical players on the floor and she brought energy and smoke that helped her team erase a 17 point fourth quarter deficit and take the lead with 2 minutes to play. The freshman was impactful and left her imprint on this game. She will be back and with another year under her belt, she has the potential to be a defensive star.

The Rural Class semifinals weren't just about points on the scoreboard. They revealed skill, athleticism, determination, and tons of effort. On a stage where everything was amped up, on a new floor, new sight lines, new depths of field, a college floor, and championship pressure, the majority of prospects didn't have their most efficient offensive night. There were tons of shots that rimmed out and even a few air balls. In some instances it appeared that timing was off and as a result - so was execution. But, one thing that did not take a back seat was the effort. Players were all over the floor diving for loose balls and risking injury to make a play for their teams. The timing may have been off, but their efforts met the moment. In this article, we continue recognizing prospects who left an impression on the big stage - the regional semifinals.