5 Stars: St. Ignatius vs Providence

Jacob Wohlwend

February 5, 2019 @ 11:00 AM

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Mother McAuley Invite, a four-team showcase consisting of Providence Catholic, St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, the host team. Each game had several stand-out players, and I am going to award Five Stars to my top five players from each of the games. Here are my Five Stars from Providence Catholic vs. St. Ignatius:   1 Star: Nicolette McDonald. The St. Ignatius Senior Forward was dominant down in the post and nearly unstoppable when she received the entry pass. McDonald used her strength to get open on the block and good footwork to get to the rim. She finished with 13 points.   2 Stars: Lauren Knight. The 5’8’’ Sophomore Guard from Providence showcased abilities to score at every level and possesses a smooth jump shot. Knight ran the floor well in transition and was able to calmly bring up the ball against the St. Ignatius Full Court Press.   3 Stars: Lauren McDonald. Also a 5’8’’ Sophomore Guard, McDonald shows off something new every time I see her play. I already knew she could score inside and knock down shots from deep, but her defense is what stood out this time around. Lauren was constantly causing havoc in the Ignatius Press and came away with several steals which led to easy points for the Wolfpack. She finished with 12 points.   4 Stars: Ryann Ogarek. This was my first time watching Providence play this season, and I could immediately tell that Ogarek was a dynamic player. The 5’9’’ Senior is a pure scorer and always seems to be around the ball. She knocked down mid-range jumpers and used her shiftiness to get open layups in the lane. Ogarek finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds.   5 Stars: Molly Gannon. The 5’6’’ Senior Point Guard continues to be one of the most fun players to watch on a consistent basis. Gannon’s ball-handling ability and deep-range force opposing defenders to always be on high notice. What makes her even more impactful is her active hands on defense and willingness to push the ball in transition. Gannon led all scorers with 15 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.