The IH’s Blacktop Scrimmage 2

<span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The IH’s Blacktop Scrimmage 2</strong></span> It seems like rain, heat or snow wont stop the balls from bouncing as the IH hosted his second Blacktop Scrimmage in the last 30 days.  The first had players braving 95 degree temperatures, this one had players working in torrential downpours.  You have to admire the dedication of players looking to get better in such extreme conditions in this day and age, especially division one level players.  Also, how about Prep Girls Hoops on site witht the live stream?  Here are the standouts that attended. <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Alana Tate - 5’7" - Urbana - 2023</span></strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-195643" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Alana-Tate-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /> &nbsp; Alana was one of the top freshmen in the region this season earning all league freshmen honors.  Being one of the youngest on the court she was very mature for her age and showed strength driving against bigger and older players.  She had to do some down low work in high school on an undersized team, which gave her some experience and toughness.  She has a nice shot and some tricky handles, particularly her in and out move that through every defender off balance.  Alana is on track to be one of the regions top upperclassmen when her time comes. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137219" first="Isabella" last="Tanedo"] - 5’4" - St. John’s College - 2022</strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-195635" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/DSC_0370-1-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Speed, was the thing that popped out immediately watching Isabella.  She has great range and shoots the ball effortlessly from deep.  Her deep ball threat made it easy for her to blow past defenders in either direction as they had to respect her shot.  She is a good defender able to get under and harass ballhandlers making them uncomfortable.  The wet pavement was an advantage for her as she seemed like the only one that had good grip on the blacktop. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="132271" first="Daria" last="Douglas"] - 6’3" - Putman Science Academy - 2021</strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-195640" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Daria-Douglas-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Her size was a huge advantage on the two on two scrimmages as she was able to impose her will in the paint.  Her perimeter work was on par with every guard on the court.  She shot the ball well finished on her drives.  Defensively she was frustrating to others as she constently blocked shot after shot even when players got a step on her. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Nia Ford - 6’1" - Frederick Douglass - 2021</strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-195641" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Nia-Ford-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Nia was on cruise control but was the most polished player on the court.  She showed a nice consistent shot even as the rain and winds increased.  She drove and finished well with some tough angles.  She maintains great position on defense playing with discipline.  In the paint she has a nice turnaround jumper with a soft touch. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137216" first="Mia" last="Smith"] - 6’0" - Clarksburg - 2022</strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-195638" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Mia-Smith-scaled-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Mia was an interesting player.  She made contested shots repeatedly and had a knack for getting off her shot from difficult angles after it appeared that she had been stopped.  Mia has good length and can alternate from the perimeter to the post and back to the perimeter in a single possession.  She was the most impressive in the one on one scrimmages as she always got a good look at the rim.