Future Prospects-Millard North and Omaha Burke
We’re spending the day at the Omaha Metro Conference taking in the girls quarterfinals and taking a look at some of the future players in Omaha Metro area. The second game of the day featured the 4th seeded and defending…
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Continue ReadingWe’re spending the day at the Omaha Metro Conference taking in the girls quarterfinals and taking a look at some of the future players in Omaha Metro area. The second game of the day featured the 4th seeded and defending state champion Millard North squad taking on the 5th seeded Bulldogs of Omaha Burke. Millard North was in control of most of the game, but the Bulldogs pulled within six midway through the 4th quarter before the Mustangs closed the game on an 8-0 run, giving the Mustangs a 64-50 victory.
Ella Danley (5’9″ Senior, Millard North): Danley is one of the headiest players in the state. Uncommitted midway through her senior year, if schools are looking for a terrific individual and team defender who knows how to win, Danley is that player. Already drawing double digits in charges this season, Danley was hampered by a bit of foul trouble in this game, but she is a nice shooter who needs to work on creating her own shot. However, her intangibles are off the charts and she is the type of winner that every program needs to have in it.
Kaylee Kessler (6’0″ Junior, Millard North): Kessler, the hero of Millard North’s triple overtime victory in last year’s state semi-final victory, is an improved post player. Strong and with a good knack of finding post position, she has a nice touch and has expanded her scoring range this year. She needs to work on her footwork and attacking quicker, but she has another year of growth and has a chance to be a very nice post player.
Lexi Finkenbiner (5’9″ Freshman, Millard North): Finkenbiner is a long, athletic freshman who has a really nice feel for the game. She doesn’t try to force anything and understands her role within Millard North’s senior dominated squad, but she has a smooth jumpshot and is a very nice passer; Coach Diehl has her take the ball out on all out of bounds plays, indicating his trust in her decision making and passing ability. Finkenbiner figures to really grow as she takes over next season for the strong senior class for the Mustangs.
Aanaya Harris (6’0″ Junior, Omaha Burke): Holding multiple Division I offers as a junior, Harris is a talented offensive player who can take smaller players inside and take bigger players outside and attack them off the bounce. She draws contact well (she shot 10+ free throws in this contest) and she finishes very well, especially going to her right. She is also a capable shooter, but you can tell that she feels more comfortable going to the rim and attacking the paint.
However, there are some things that she needs to work on before jumping to the intensity of next level. Harris needs to work on her attention to detail on defense, including her defensive intensity and urgency; she coasts too much on defense. She also needs to play with more confidence; most nights, she is going to be the most physically gifted player on the floor, but she needs to have more of a “next play” urgency after a mistake and look to be more aggressive at both ends and to use her physical gifts to their maximum. You can see all the potential in the world in her, she just needs to unlock it on a consistent basis.
Hailey Ingram (5’6″ Junior, Omaha Burke): Ingram is a very solid point guard who is the co-leading scorer of the Bulldogs, along with Harris, averaging around 15 a night. She has a really nice looking jump shot with range of 3+ feet behind the line, and she has very quick release, the quickest release I have seen this season. She is also a very good passer who does a good job of seeing the floor and setting up her teammate. Ingram is a really nice compliment to Harris’ inside driving game and these two are really tough to guard in pick and roll, two-man game situations.