Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16: Standouts (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Photo By: Cam Grace Anderson </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>The Mingua Beef Jerky Girls' Sweet 16 tournament returned to the historic Rupp Arena last week at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY. This is the "Greatest Show in Hoops" the place where stars are born, memories are made and lives are changed. Witnessing players rise to the occasion when it mattered the most whether it was a last second shot, pivotal rebound or clutch free throw was an experience like no other.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"justify","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-justify has-medium-font-size"><em>Listed below are my top performers from this event.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["369667"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640fd3d13b4ed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The McCraken County Lady Mustangs made it all the way to championship game where loss to Sacred Heart 53-68. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='369667' first='Claire' last='Johnson'] made a difference for her team in many ways she is a tremendous ball handler that like to push the pace on the fast break. She's also a knock-down shooter from three. Her defense impressed me as well she plays stifling on-ball defense allowing her to pick pockets getting steals that led to a transition bucket more times than not. She had two really good games in the tournament one came in the first round against Bethlehem Johnson had 23 points 4 assist, 4 steals. The second game was in the final four against Henderson County she went off for a team-high 25 points along with 5 rebounds, 2 assist, and 4 steals and her play earned her a spot on the All-Tournament. (Photo Above)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1003755' first='Shalyn' last='Sprinkles'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Henderson County ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Lady Gym Rats ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6410f927885bd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Shayln Sprinkles may be the smallest player on the court but she plays way bigger than she is. She played with a fearless approach and brought a level of energy to the floor that really rubbed off on her teammates. Sprinkles started off the Sweet 16 with a clutch performance in a double overtime thriller against Simon Kenton where she knocked down a big time three pointer to send the game into the first overtime. She then made four late free throws to seal the win for Henderson County 56-54 finishing the game with 11 points. Sprinkles followed up that game with a masterful elite 8 performance. She scored 21 points while once again taking advantage of her free throw opportunities going 10/12 propelling her team past Mercy 63-59 to advance the final four. She made the All-Tournament team as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254279"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64117762dd3a8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">When [player_tooltip player_id='254279' first='Leah' last='Macy'] stepped on the floor at Rupp Arena it felt like all eyes were on her and if you was attendance you were in for a treat. Macy dominated in the first round matchup with Cooper she scored 37 points and snatched 21 rebounds carrying Mercy into the next round. She did most of the same the next game putting up another monster thirty point double with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Mercy ended up losing in a close one to Henderson County 59-63. Macy was a lock for the All-Tournament team with those performances. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284106"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64117762dd3f7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='284106' first='Jarie' last='Thomas'] capped off her high school career with some memorable performances at the Sweet 16. She is a forward with good height and length that can score from the low block as well as stretch the floor with her three point shot. Thomas started the tournament strong putting up a double-double 19 points and 10 rebounds in the overtime victory against Simon Kenton. She then had 17 points and 7 rebounds in the final four loss to McCracken County Thomas was selected All-Tournament team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245899"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64117762dd43d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The sharpshooting junior [player_tooltip player_id='245899' first='Reagan' last='Bender'] was a key piece Sacred Heart's success at the Sweet 16. She put on a clutch three point shooting display knocking down big time shots when the Valkyries needed them the most. I was in attendance for the final four game against GRC Bender started the game I bit slow. But in the second half she came alive scoring 21 points including back to back three's in the fourth quarter that were absolute daggers. Bender carried that momentum to the championship game where she dropped 19 points to ensure Sacred Heart's quest to a 3-peat was complete. Bender made the All-Tournament team while adding a third state championship to her resume. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->