5A Playoffs: Round 1 Standouts

The 5A playoffs are off and running. The first round featured some intriguing matchups. Let’s take a look at some players that stepped up their game in the first round that led their team to victory. Meagan Gray | Point Guard | Greenwood | 2022 Every team needs someone to step up big time when it comes to tournament play. Greenwood got off to a slow start, but Meagan got the team going in the first half. The commentator talked about how Meagan shot the ball well the day before in practice and it traveled with her from Greenwood to Sheridan as she hit three shots from long distance. But it wasn’t just her shooting, it was her energy, effort, defense, and overall play that sparked her Greenwood team in the first round. Carley Sexton | Wing | Greenwood | 2024 Just like her teammate Meagan, Carley really stepped up big time for Greenwood. It’s always great to have players step up when others have an off day and Carley did just that. She brought energy, attacked off the dribble, finished at the rim, played solid defense by anticipating when playing the passing lane, handled the ball well vs pressure, and rebounded well. Anna Trusty | Guard | Greenwood | 2024 Anna had great defensive presence. She used her length to disrupt the opposing team’s offense. This led to her getting deflections and steals which gave her team fastbreak opportunities. She was good off the catch. She hit the spot-up three and was able to get to the rim. Anna also did a good job of cutting to the rim and making plays. [player_tooltip player_id="305229" first="Alexis" last="Rowe"] | Wing | Jacksonville | 2022 Despite missing a few shots she normally make, Alexis still had a huge impact on the game. She handled the ball well vs Russellville’s pressure, she attacked the rim, had quick hands on defense, and rebounded well. When she attacked the rim she would often get into the body of the defender to initiate contact to draw the foul. Da’kariya Jackson | Wing | Jacksonville | 2022 On day 1 of the first round I don’t know anyone who played better than Da’karya. She put in 31 points and they came from a variety of ways. She scored in transition, off the catch, from the three-point line, in transition, off the dribble, and from the free-throw line. Da’kariya had her fingerprints all over this game. She said in her post-game interview that she plays for her family and I bet her family couldn’t have been any more proud of her performance. [player_tooltip player_id="304700" first="Destiny" last="Thomas"] | Post | Jonesboro | 2022 Destiny just flat out dominated the first half of the game vs Sheridan. I’m talking about 20pts and 11 rebounds in the first half. Most players would be excited about having those numbers for a game and Destiny did it in a half. She just had too much size for Sheridan. Then defensively she got deflections and blocked shots. [player_tooltip player_id="304706" first="Ereauna" last="Hardaway"] | PG | Jonesboro | 2022 Ereauna does what she does and that’s run the team, control the tempo, and make plays. She does an excellent job of throwing ahead on the fastbreak to get her teammates easy shots. In the half-court, she worked the pick and roll with ease that led to easy baskets. [player_tooltip player_id="304700" first="Destiny" last="Thomas"] might have dominated the game, but it’s the point guard play of Ereauna that’s the engine of this team. Bramiyah Johnson | Wing | Jonesboro | 2023 Bramiyah had a good all-around game vs Sheridan. She did a little bit of everything. She was a threat on offense with her attacking mentality and shooting capabilities. She got to the rim and shot the ball respectfully from the three-point line. Bramiyah got out in transition and made plays also. Defensively she gave great effort whether on the ball or when in the passing lane. Allannah Orsby | Wing | Jonesboro | 2025 When you play in the 5A state tournament you have to be poised and keep a level head. This freshman did not look like a freshman on the floor. She let the game come to her and was aggressive when she had the opportunity. She was able to get out in transition and make plays for herself and finish through contact. Jonesboro will need more of her play as they advance in the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id="304722" first="Carson" last="Defries"] | Combo Guard | Paragould | 2022 Carson displayed her shifty ball-handling when she attacked off the dribble. She was able to get to the rim and finish plays herself or show off her good passing skills. There was a stretch during the third quarter when Carson was able to put her stamp on the game. She found the open shooter for a three-pointer in transition which gave her team the lead. In the next possession, she got open after her teammate got the offensive rebound and kicked out to her for the open three that she swished. Then she came right back the next possession and found Keimauri Brown running the floor for the easy lay-up. Keimauri Brown | Post/Forward | Paragould | 2023 Keimauri is an athlete that rebounded the ball well, rolled hard off the pick and roll, and just brought energy and effort that was unmatched. Keimauri showed she had good hands by catching passes on the move and in traffic which lead to an easy bucket with her soft touch. The physical play didn’t slow her down as she was able to still score the ball. If she continues to bring this type of energy and effort on both ends of the floor Paragould could be a team that continues to make a run. Janiya Tucker | PG | West Memphis | 2023 Janiya just totally controls the game and tempo for her West Memphis team. She’s a one-player break as she streaks down the floor looking to make a play for herself or her teammates. She keeps the switch to attack mode and when in the half-court she showed she can stop and pop the mid-range jumper. Janiya also caused havoc with her defensive presence. Keeping constant pressure on the ball and playing the passing lane. Tyra Taylor | Post | West Memphis | 2025 Tyra just completely dominated the paint on both ends of the floor in the first half. [player_tooltip player_id="306130" first="Clemisha" last="Prackett"] was slowed down due to foul trouble and Tyra stepped up big time. She was aggressive on the boards, especially on the offensive end. She scored bucket after bucket in the paint and had a defensive presence that kept El Dorado limited to one shot on offense as she got several defensive rebounds. Ashley Hopper | Post | LR Christian | 2022 Ashley really came out to start the game by making her presence felt. She was effective out of the high post by putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. She exhibited good footwork on her finishes, scored from the low block, controlled the paint with her defense and rebounding. Her physical play and energy was a boost to LR Christian in the first quarter. It set a tone for the rest of the game. [player_tooltip player_id="305924" first="Ashton" last="Elley"] | Wing | LR Christian | 2022 Ashton came out the gate on fire. She hit 4 threes in the first half to pace her for a total of 29 pts for the game. But she did more than make the catch and shoot three-pointers. She got her teammates involved with the extra attention she drew from the defense. She attacked the basket on the bounce, made some free throws, and had a presence on defense. When Ashton is playing like this it makes LR Christian a very tough team to beat. Mia Smith | PG | LR Christian | 2023 This pg had a great game for LR Christian. Mia scored 12 of her 16 pts from the free-throw line, but it was her command of her team and control of the game that was really impressive. Mia came off the bench and provided an instant spark for her team. If you want to know how to run a team, then is would be a great example of how to do just that. She kept the pressure on the opposing team’s point guard, pushed the ball in transition, attacked off the bounce, and got players involved. This is the type of point guard play LR Christian will continue to need to advance to the state title game. Sidni Middleton | PG | Vilonia | 2025 If you've read through this list you will see there are several point guards that help lead their team to a victory in the first round to the state playoffs. Sidni is a freshman and the question for her was how would she handle the big stage. I'll say she handled it well. She did not perform like a freshman. Her 17 first-half points came in a variety of ways. She connected on catch and shoot three-pointers, she used her dribble to attack the defense and finish at the rim (even through contact), she made the mid-range jumper and her free throws. Madeleine Tipton | Wing | Vilonia | 2022 Madeleine does a little bit of everything for her team. She can run the point, play the wing, work out of the high post, and she can even post up on the low block. During the game vs Benton Madeleine showed a solid all-around game on the offensive end. She scored off of cuts, attacked off the dribble, and made the catch and shoot three. Her all-around game will continue to be needed as Vilonia tries to continue to advance in the state tournament. Kiera Neal | Forward | Marion | 2023 Too much size, length, and athleticism for Lakeside. Kiera just pretty much had her way. She ran the floor well, finished in transition at the basket vs contact or for the pull-up jumper. She can also push it herself after grabbing the defensive rebound and start the break. She made good passes from the perimeter and was an on-target passer off the bounce. She also played with her back to the basket and controlled the paint on defense with her ability to block shots.