10 Best: Gibson Southern vs Danville
Both teams came ready to play in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the young season. The first quarter was back and forth, neither team was able to get ahead without an answer from the other side. Gibson…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBoth teams came ready to play in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the young season. The first quarter was back and forth, neither team was able to get ahead without an answer from the other side. Gibson Southern stepped up defensively in the second quarter, they held Danville to only four points to take a 22-16 lead into halftime.
After the half, Gibson Southern started to dominate both sides of the ball and the glass. They quickly got out to a ten-point lead, using their defense to initiate their offense by forcing turnovers. Gibson Southern took a 41-26 lead into the third quarter. Danville showed some life in the fourth as they cut the Gibson Southern lead down nine, but they went cold after getting several good looks. Gibson Southern hit several shots from the outside in the final minutes to put the game away. The final score was 56-41.
MVP: Meredith Raley – 2020 – 6′ F – Gibson Southern – University Southern Indiana Commit
Raley dominated every aspect of the game. She finished the game with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Her motor was impressive and she was able to score at will on the drive. Raley was a leader on the floor and when she wasn’t on the court she was vocal on the sidelines. Her ability to contribute in so many different areas of the game sets her apart.
Best Offensive Player: Ella Collier – 2020 – 5’11 G – Danville – Marian Commit
Collier showed why she is one of the state’s top shooters and all-around scorers. She came out and put up 24 points on 11/23 shooting on one of the state’s top teams while being face guarded. Her ability to come off of a screen and get her shot off quickly was a major problem for the defense. Collier was able to score from all three levels with ease and nearly got her team back into the game in the fourth quarter.
Best Rebounder: Taylor Singer – 2022 – 6’3 C – Gibson Southern
Few players are willing to put in the kind of effort that Singer puts in on the glass. She finished the game with 15 rebounds. On the offensive end she was constantly battling inside trying to get in position to rebound and it paid off as she had several big rebounds to help ice the game.
Best Shooter: Ella Collier – 2020- 5’11 G – Gibson Southern – Marian Commit
Collier was without a doubt the best shooter on the floor. She hit a ton of mid-range jump shots off of screens and moved very well without the ball. Her basketball IQ is head and shoulders above most of her opponents and it leads to a ton of opportunities for shots.
Best Under the Radar Performance: Shay Whitten – 2020 – 5’6 G – Gibson Southern
Whitten’s second-half performance is part of what sealed the deal for Gibson Southern. She had 9 points in the third quarter and finished with 16 for the game. She was confident with the ball in her hands and played hard defensively.
Best Underclassman: Taylor Singer – 2022 – 6’3 C – Gibson Southern
Singer was an easy choice for this category. She was a force on the defensive end as she made it extremely tough for the Danville players to score inside. Few underclassmen have a motor like Singer and as she gets older her offensive game will continue to improve. She finished with 2 points and 15 rebounds.
Best Defender: Chloe Gould – 2021 – 5’7 G – Danville
Gould’s activity on the defensive end was impressive. She forced several turnovers and came up with four steals for herself. Danville as a team struggled at times defensively, but Gould never let up and kept giving her best effort. Her motor set her apart from the other players on the floor.
Best Non-Stat Sheet Standout: Katie Davis – 2020 – 5’11 F – Danville
Davis did whatever her team needed her to do. Even though it doesn’t show in the box score Davis played well on both sides of the ball. Altering shots defensively and using her size to screen and create opportunities for teammates. Every team needs a player that will do whatever is asked and Davis does it very well.
Most Efficient: Shay Whitten – 2020 – 5’6 G – Gibson Southern
Whitten went 5 of 7 from the floor and made her mark on almost every other stat category. She made it a priority to take care of the ball on offense and her movement without the ball allowed her to hit big shots down the stretch. Whitten also passed and ran the floor well in transition.
Best Coaches Decision: Gibson Southern Faceguarding Ella Collier
Danville managed to keep Collier from getting hot in the first half and it helped them cushion their first-half lead. In the second half, Collier was able to get hot and score at will. With that said the idea might have given Gibson Southern the difference they needed to give themselves an opportunity to run away with the game in the second half.