5 Takeaways: DeSoto vs Plano East
I was treated to an excellent matchup between the DeSoto Eagles and Plano East Panthers Tuesday night. DeSoto was recently ranked the No. 1 team in the nation by USA Today, and everything I saw from them in this contest…
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Continue ReadingI was treated to an excellent matchup between the DeSoto Eagles and Plano East Panthers Tuesday night. DeSoto was recently ranked the No. 1 team in the nation by USA Today, and everything I saw from them in this contest certainly backs that up. That said, the Panthers were very much in this game for the first two and a half quarters, but they were simply overmatched, and the Eagles began to pull away in the third quarter. DeSoto remains undefeated on the year after a 66-37 road victory over Plano East.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Both teams had a poor shooting night
DeSoto and Plano East really struggled from behind the arc in this game. That can be attributed to a number of factors, including both teams’ stellar perimeter defense. This is the first time I have seen either school play this year, so it’s only fair to say that this was likely just an off night for them. DeSoto’s Ash’a Thompson and Jamia Harris got a few triples to fall in the second half, but that was about it. The Eagles ended up with way more points in transition, and that ultimately ended up being the difference.
Desoto is absolutely loaded with talent
There is a reason they are now the No. 1 ranked team in the entire country. They have nine players who are ranked in one of our four sets of Prep Girls Hoops Texas rankings, including seven from the class of 2022 (Harris, Tionna Herron, Amina Muhammad, Ayanna Thompson, Michayla Gatewood, Sa’Myah Smith, and Jiya Perry). They are extremely versatile and utilize a deep rotation. It almost seems unfair that they have this much talent on their roster. The most impressive thing about this group is that I could not identify the alpha of their team. They are all unselfish and contribute in a number of ways. The Eagle’s only have two seniors on their varsity roster, which means they are going to be an elite team for years to come.
Sa’Myah Smith is a beast in the paint
Like I said, it’s tough to figure out which individual on DeSoto is their best overall player. However, if I had to pick an MVP of Tuesday’s game, it would have to be Sa’Myah Smith. The No. 9 ranked player in our 2022 rankings is the best rebounder I’ve seen this year. The way she high-points and attacks the ball when she goes up for a board reminds me of a wide receiver going up to catch a fade route on the goal line. She also has a soft touch in the post and a variety of moves in her offensive arsenal. Additionally, she had few big-time blocks in this matchup. Smith is already a force at this level and will only get better as her game progresses.
Freshman Taylor Haggan is phenomenal
Plano East had a rough night in the second half, but Haggan really stood out despite the loss. She excels at crashing the offensive glass and finding opportunities for second chance buckets. She does a lot of damage on the block and can even stretch out to the elbow and hit a jumper. The freshman power forward is also a tremendous interior passer. She is going to be a problem for opponents over the course of the next four years.
DeSoto had an advantage in size and athleticism
The Eagles combination of size, speed, and skill is going to be too much for most teams to handle, as was the case Tuesday night. Plano East did not have the personnel to pull off the upset. They have a trio of 6-foot-four-inch post players in Smith, Muhammad, and Herron, so they always have a fresh big on the court to clean up the glass. Furthermore, their guards and wings all have either great size or eye-catching speed. This makes them virtually impossible to match up with.