Standouts: Holland Hall vs. Rejoice Christian
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Rejoice Christian seemed to come out a little flat compared to their play in the Oologah Tournament a few days back. Holland Hall – on the other hand – was hitting on all cylinders. The Dutch walked away 65-26 winners…
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Continue ReadingRejoice Christian seemed to come out a little flat compared to their play in the Oologah Tournament a few days back. Holland Hall – on the other hand – was hitting on all cylinders. The Dutch walked away 65-26 winners behind the scoring of three outstanding players who showed up big on Tuesday night.
Top Standout
Kalayia Johnson Kalayia Johnson 5'9" | PG Holland Hall | 2023 State OK | 5-10 G/F | Holland Hall | 2023 | @KalayiaJohnson
I had seen Johnson play before, but not like this. Our No.27-ranked player in the class of 2023 has improved drastically since the last time I got a chance to see her play. She has great size and has learned to use it very well. She gets really good position rebounding. She finishes very well inside and shows great touch around the rim. She showed outstanding vision inside – perhaps owing to her ability to play guard – and passed out of the inevitable double team with ease for several assists. Johnson finished tied for the game high with 14.
Other Standouts
Ava Greer Ava Greer 5'10" | SG Holland Hall | 2022 State OK | 5-10 SG | Holland Hall | 2022 | @Ava_Greer_
Greer is the second head on the three-headed monster that the Dutch throw at opponents. She opened her scoring account with a three pointer from almost four feet behind the arc. The Holland Hall offense runs like a well oiled machine with Greer running circles around her defender. She has great hands when it comes to receiving the pass and getting in position to shoot. She has tremendous handles and can glide to the hoop around almost any defender. She closed out her 14 point night with her second three-pointer to tie Johnson for the lead.
Elise Hill Elise Hill 5'7" | CG Holland Hall | 2023 State OK | 5-6 PG | Holland Hall | 2023 | @EliseHill2023
Any of these three Holland Hall stars could have been the “top standout.” Despite finishing one point behind the total of the other two, Hill showed an incredibly well-rounded game with scoring being just a part of it. She shows outstanding court vision and makes pinpoint passes all over the floor. She is incredibly smart and came up with a LOT of steals by playing the passing lane or simply timing her jump just right to block the inbound pass from her opponent. Toward the end of the game with her team safely ahead, she went to the bench. There she coached her teammates on the floor with a clearly expert knowledge of her team’s offense. Hill definitely looks to be on the path to Division-I basketball should she retain the skills she already has and add – even slightly – to her very good all-around game.
Tara Shaw | 5-11 C | Rejoice Christian | 2021
Shaw is not only tall, but big. She is strong and very tough. She has absurd handles for a big. She is a senior who is clearly still learning some things, but the improvement I’ve seen in her from last season to this season is immense. She moves very well for her size and is getting better position on rebounds these days. She has nice touch around the basket and a very smooth shot for a big. She is a very good communicator, calling out screens and outright demanding the ball when she notices her defender is mismatched. Shaw has a place in D-III or JuCo while she continues to learn. Now, time to make it happen coaches!
Sarah England | 5-8 F | Rejoice Christian | 2022 | @sarah_england32
Every team has that one player who doesn’t necessarily standout during warm-ups or even as the game begins. Then – as the game wears on – you begin to notice that this player is an integral part of every play and is more important to her team than you first thought. England is that player. She sets screens, keeps her spacing, runs plays precisely, handles well, defends inside and outside. She does it all – quietly. She isn’t the most athletic player in the gym, but she most likely has the most heart and hustle. In the previous game I saw England in, she did a great job of getting to the rim and drawing contact. This evening, her role was different. She has a beautiful jump shot that she used to score two three-pointers to go along with the tremendous defense she played, often matching up with the other team’s biggest player. Keep an eye on Sarah England, she is going to be a “glue girl” that you’re going to want on your team.