MLK Classic at GRC: Game 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>I was in attendance for the 2024 MLK Jr Classic last weekend hosted by George Rogers Clark High School located in Winchester, KY. This was a 4 game event that showcased some of the states top talent. Each game was action-packed, exciting and very competitive.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong><em>Below I have listed the players who stood out to me in the first game of the day as Ashland Blazer got the win over Central 46-40.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["555976"],"_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":"Woods shined bright in this matchup and made an impact on both ends of the floor. She was at her best when she attacked the basket where she either scored with a tough finish at the rim or got sent to the free throw line. Woods did a good job moving without the ball and made timely backdoor cuts that led to open layups. She also came up with a ton of steals on defense and dove on the floor for  loose balls without hesitation. She was awarded Player of the Game for her stellar play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2dad9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["231465"],"_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":"The Cederville commit did not disappoint in this game. She set the tone early knocking down 2 triples in the first quarter and never looked back after that. Sellars also distributed the ball well and made good passes that put her teammates in position to score. Seeing her play for the first time this season it was obvious too me that she could step on a college court right now and make an impact.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2db61"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467609"],"_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":"Gulley looked like she is starting to find her footing. She rose to the occasion on defense, applying tight ball pressure on the perimeter and held her own in the interior guarding a much bigger player. Gulley also rebounded the ball well and did a excellent job getting out in transition for layups the other way.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2dbc8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["398020"],"_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":"Jones was just too much to handle down low. She knew her strength and athleticism could not be matched and she took full advantage of the fact. Jones pulled down a ton of offensive rebounds that led to a put back bucket through contact or a trip to the line where she made a living all game long. Jones finished the game with 21 points, 15 rebounds and went 7/10 from the free throw line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2dc2f"} /--> <!-- 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":"Diamond Roach","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_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":"Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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":"Do not let her size fool you because Diamond Roach plays way bigger than she actually is. Roach was terrific in transition, I like the way she pushed the pace and kept her head up looking for teammates running the floor. She also used her speed and ball handling ability to brake the press on her own. Roach came alive in the second half and became way more aggressive on offense and started attacking the basket for points at the rim. Roach scored 5 points in the game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2dcfe"} /--> <!-- 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":"Nylaia Carter","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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":"Carter played with a lot of poise and control throughout the entire game and never let the defense speed her up. She can handle the ball very well, I watched her dribble out of several traps as Ashland pressed for most of the game. Carter showed off her range in the third quarter making a much needed 3-pointer, she followed that up with a strong u0022And 1u0022 layup in the fourth quarter that gave Central some momentum but just wasn't enough for her team to get the u0022Wu0022. Carter finished with 9 points and 3 rebounds.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a9aada2ddbb"} /-->