2A Regional Championship Standouts
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The Regional Championships were held last weekend with the final 4 of each level 1A-4A competing for a chance to play in the state championship game on Saturday. For 2A, the Western Regional saw a great matchup between Salisbury and…
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Continue ReadingThe Regional Championships were held last weekend with the final 4 of each level 1A-4A competing for a chance to play in the state championship game on Saturday. For 2A, the Western Regional saw a great matchup between Salisbury and East Burke. The Salisbury Hornets were able to be victors returning to the state championship again this season. In the Eastern Regional, Seaforth Hawks came out on top against North Pitt.
Let’s start with the standouts from the West.
Braelyn Stilwell got the scoring started creating space for herself and knocking down a long midrange jumper. She was constantly moving even when she didn’t have the ball finding ways to split her defenders and make some plays on the offensive side of the ball. She jumped in front of passes grabbing the steal and taking it all the way to the other end battling contact for some points. She did a nice job attacking the defense drawing her opponents towards her in order to make the dish to her open teammates.
Highlights
Aubree Grigg was effective inside using her strength to move with the ball turning to face the basket and score. She seals off her defenders making the entry pass easier for her teammates. She was getting inside for rebounds on both ends of the court making her opponents pay for leaving her free to get the offensive board. She even blocked shots in the paint. She had a nice spin move on offense that she used to get to the hoop.
Kara Brinkley Kara Brinkley 5'11" | SG East Burke | 2026 State NC
Kara Brinkley Kara Brinkley 5'11" | SG East Burke | 2026 State NC
Kara Brinkley Kara Brinkley 5’11” | SG East Burke | 2026 State NC showed off her handles attacking the basket and putting up some floaters in the paint. She moved well without the ball finding the open space to put up her shot. She ran the floor well being ready for the pass on a fast break, and she didn’t back down from contact doing whatever it took to score some points. She followed shots grabbing rebounds on both ends as well.
Icesis Nwafor showed off her range shooting the ball. She was a nuisance on defense getting her hands on the ball knocking it away from her opponents. She had some nice fakes on her drives getting away from her defender to score some points. She ran the floor well being ready for the pass in transition to score. She showed off her range shooting the ball, too.
Kyla Bryant continued to show off her handles using crossovers to get some space from her defender. She pushed the ball up the court using her speed, and she had some old fashioned three point plays through contact. She found her open teammates cutting up the court on fast breaks, and she was always ready for the outlet pass to push the tempo. She even slid in the paint battling some post players stripping the ball away from them.
Makayla Noble used her height to get inside, and she can take it all the way herself or dish it to her teammate on the block. She can knock down her shot from deep, too. She has a quick close out especially around the perimeter being able to block shots from her opponents.
Now, let’s see who was performing well in the East.
Gabby White was instrumental in the victory for the Hawks using her ball moves to attack the basket weaving in and out of her opponents along the way. She used her speed to push the ball up the court. She even got inside to grab defensive rebounds and push them right up the court going the other direction. She was doing it all for her team grabbing rebounds, scoring the ball, and making some nice dishes to her teammates.
Hannah Ajayi Hannah Ajayi 5'8" | CG Seaforth | 2024 NC
Hannah Ajayi Hannah Ajayi 5'8" | CG Seaforth | 2024 NC
Hannah Ajayi Hannah Ajayi 5’8″ | CG Seaforth | 2024 NC was getting inside to grab offensive rebounds and reset the play for her team. She also scored off these putting the ball back up through the hoop. She did a nice job penetrating the paint to find her open teammate flashing to the block. She found the openings in the paint being ready to show off her jumper. She knocked down her shot from deep, too, on multiple occasions. On fast breaks, she found the open lane making herself available for the pass and some points.
Katherine Leonard Katherine Leonard 5'11" | CG Seaforth | 2026 NC
Katherine Leonard Katherine Leonard 5'11" | CG Seaforth | 2026 NC
Katherine Leonard Katherine Leonard 5’11” | CG Seaforth | 2026 NC had some nice takes to the hoop rolling the ball off her fingertips finishing at the rim. She used her length on defense to block shots and prevent passes from getting inside. Her box out was effective even getting an over the back call to gain the possession for her team. She had some nice change of direction moves to lose her defender as she attacked the basket.
Zamareya Jones showed a lot of hustle in the game getting back on defense blocking shots on fast breaks. She has some nice ball fakes to create some space getting open for her shot. Her shot from deep was on point as usual. She used her length to deflect passes all around the perimeter, and these steals would turn into fast breaks for her. She sees the floor so well knowing how to make the perfect dish to her teammates or find the opening to pull up for her shot.