Trusting Your Grind: What Did We Learn From The Nations #1 Team?

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #000080;font-size: 14pt"><strong>Title IX Holiday Classic: What Did We Learn From The Nations #1 Team?</strong></span></span> &nbsp; The Title IX Holiday Classic hosted 75 teams on from the United States and Canada looking to make names for themselves and impress the college coaches in attendance.  The Pat Sumitt Bracket had eight teams with the goal in mind of defeating the nations number one team Bishop McNamara. &nbsp; The first game they face Frederick High School and their high scoring phenom <strong>Makayla Daniels</strong> (University of Arkansas signee), defeating them 69-43.  Daniels held her own scoring 23 points in the game and she had some help from sophomore <strong>Rose Brubaker</strong> who scored 7 points all in the second half, however, it wasn't nearly enough as the Mustangs led wire to wire while resting their starters for much of the second half. &nbsp; Game two was expecting to be more interesting as they faced a perennial national powerhouse in Neuman Goretti.  McNamara, however, made quick work of the Saints, leading by as much as thirty points in the game.  <strong>Aliyah Mathru</strong>, <strong>Jakia Brown-Turner</strong> and <strong>Madison Scott</strong> combined for 55 points in a little over three quarters as the Mustangs won again by the score of 74-52. &nbsp; If the Mustangs were to lose game three, the championship game, would be when it would happen as they faced Roland Park Country Day School.  The Reds defeated national top 25 National Christian Academy and looked like they were on a mission playing behind their star junior <strong>Mir McLean</strong>.  McLean scored 16 points and senor <strong>Janiah Henson</strong> added 14 points but, it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the Mustangs who won the Pat Sumitt Championship Bracket Game 64-53. &nbsp; In the end no team was able to stay inside double digits of the Prince George's County juggernaut. <span style="color: #800000;text-decoration: underline"><strong>This is what we learned about Bishop McNamara.</strong></span> &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_22316" align="alignleft" width="120"] Madison Scott[/caption] <em><strong>Madison Scott</strong> is a professional.</em>  Yes, she is a junior but at this stage her skill and athleticism is so advanced, it is inevitable that she will make a living playing this sport.  Speaking with a couple of college coaches they agreed that their are WNBA teams that would pick her up now.  Her ability to quickly transition the break after the rebound is a problem for any team they will face and she has a barrage of elite level moves in her arsenal. &nbsp; &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_22317" align="alignleft" width="128"] Aliyah Matharu[/caption] &nbsp; <em><strong>Aliyah Matharu</strong> is super fast.</em>  Aliyah quietly fills up the stat sheet and you don't really realize that she has dropped 20 plus points until you look at the stat sheet.  The reason being is that she is so much of a blur attacking the basket that if you look away for a split second you will miss it.  As defenses make the mistake of backing up trying to contain they just open her up for the open three pointer which is almost automatic. &nbsp; &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_22318" align="alignleft" width="131"] Jakia Brown-Turner[/caption] <em>There isn't an answer for <strong>Jakia Brown-Turner</strong>.</em>  Jakia won the MVP award after the championship game scoring a game high 19 points.  The lefty has a full arsenal of moves to get her to the basket and has the height to finish in the post against other teams bigs.  She has an advantage anywhere on the floor as she is too fast for post players and too big for perimeter players.  She shoots the three well making her drive off the pump fake deadly.  She draws a lot of contact and makes her free throws at a high percentage. &nbsp; &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_22314" align="alignright" width="111"] Liatu King[/caption] <em><strong>Liatu King</strong> needs to be watched closely.</em>  Liatu scored 14 points in the championship game and was consistent throughout the entire tournament.  She builds her rebounding numbers by outjumping most players and anticipating where the ball will go.  She has a very soft touch in the mid range area and is a great defender.  She is one of the regions top players and with so much talent and attention being focused on other players she is dominating quietly. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_22315" align="alignleft" width="150"] Yonta Vaughn[/caption] M<em>cNamara has one of the best shooting teams around</em>.  This team has a lot of weapons and pretty much everyone is capable of scoring.  The Mustangs gave a peak of some of their best kept secrets in game one against Frederick as senior <strong>Christina McPhail</strong> and freshman <strong>Yonta Vaughn</strong> both hit two deep threes effortlessly.  Both players are amongst the top three point shooters in the area and can hit the shots at a very high rate.  Coach Frank Oliver has a couple of high profile games coming up in January.  With the luxury of unleashing multiple scoring options no team can truly prepare for everything that may come at them.