East Wilkes defeated Parkland 53-39 Wednesday in the championship of the Mary Garber Holiday Tip-Off Classic at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem. The Cardinals controlled most of the games and despite a Mustangs comeback in the second half, East Wilkes proved to be too much. Prep Girls Hoops NC takes a look at some of the standouts from this high level matchup.
<strong>Kierstin Johnson (East Wilkes 2024 forward)</strong>
East Wilkes sophomore forward Kierstin Johnson is an extremely skilled post player and made a major impact on her team winning the title. From passing out of the post to finishing inside with an array of moves, Johnson made her presence felt from the opening tip off. She also rebounds and protects the rim for a Cardinals team that will make a lot of noise this season.
<strong>Briley Church (East Wilkes 2023 guard)</strong>
Junior guard Briley Church set the tone as the Cardinals floor general throughout this matchup rarely turning the ball over and making the right reads. She defends and rebounds well for her size and made a number of key plays in the final minutes to preserve the win. Expect her to be a big part of this East Wilkes team as the season progresses.
<strong>Justace Williams (Parkland 2024 guard)</strong>
Despite a tough loss, Parkland got a great showing from two terrific sophomore guards that play with a lot of energy. The first is Justace Williams who is averaging near triple double numbers to start her second year. Williams leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals while being a very efficient ball handler and defender. She's the engine that makes the Mustangs go and she played very well throughout this tournament.
<strong>Amera Alexander (Parkland 2024 guard)</strong>
The Mustangs other sophomore guard is Amera Alexander who loves to push the tempo and get out in transition. She had a run of scoring several buckets and making plays for her teammates to help Parkland take the lead in the second half. Alexander played well over this three-game stretch making an impact in both of their wins in the first two rounds of action. With her and Williams along with a strong roster, this Parkland team will make a lot of noise this year.
