Five Takeaways: No. 2 Kell vs. No. 10 Carrollton
A perfect season was on the line Friday night as No. 2 Kell (23-0, 14-0) put their 22-game winning streak on the line against a surging No. 10 Carrollton (14-9, 10-4) who had won seven-straight heading into the Region 7-AAAAA…
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Continue ReadingA perfect season was on the line Friday night as No. 2 Kell (23-0, 14-0) put their 22-game winning streak on the line against a surging No. 10 Carrollton (14-9, 10-4) who had won seven-straight heading into the Region 7-AAAAA battle. In what turned out to be the best girls game of the year that I’ve seen to date, the two teams played tug-of-war with the lead with Kell getting the last pull as Amaya Moss made two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to lift the Lady Longhorns to an emotional 54-52 win. Here are five major takeaways from the big game.
Fast and Furious
Both teams mixed up defenses throughout but mainly settled in on pressing one another. Kell used more of a 2-2-1 form while Carrollton had a 1-2-2 shape. Airballs were flying to start the game as both rosters were too amped up. Turnovers flew as well, as the pressure was effective for both teams. Carrollton led 23-21 at the half after a De’Mauri Flournoy three before the buzzer and the Trojans nursed a 41-38 lead into the fourth quarter. The largest lead of the game belonged to Carrollton at 33-26 at the 5:13 mark of the third quarter but freshman Crystal Henderson caught fire from deep, draining three long balls in the period to get the Longhorns back in it. Carrollton’s pressure up front once Kell crossed half court caused major issues as both teams fought fire with fire with their on-ball defense. It’s easy to see why Kell and Carrollton have romped the competition as of late. Teams without multiple strong ball handlers with composure can be easily rattled by the pace of play.
Crystal Henderson defends De’Mauri FlournoyDe’Mauri Flournoy vs. Crystal Henderson
Two of Class 5A’s best guards went toe-to-toe. De’Mauri Flournoy, a 5-foot-7 junior with a handful of High Major offers carried Carrollton while 5-foot-6 freshman Crystal Henderson came up big for the Longhorns in the second half. Henderson had just four points at halftime, but erupted in the second half to finish with 20 points, 1 rebound, 6 assist and 1 steal. She drilled three of her five three-pointers in the third quarter when Carrollton was starting to gain separation. Once Henderson saw her first three-pointer go down, her confidence and her accuracy grew. Anytime she had an inch of space she made Carrollton pay. When the Trojans ran her off the three-point line, she got into the heart of the defense and dropped off dimes to her posts. Henderson will be one of Georgia’s best guards as she continues to get stronger and add the ability to finish in traffic to her game. Flournoy did exactly that – finish in a crowd with consistency. Flournoy got into the paint and hung in the air to avoid shot blockers every time she attacked the rim. In what looked like difficult off-balance shots, Flournoy calmly located the rim and hit floater after floater to finish with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block. Flournoy knocked down three three-pointers on the night to keep the defense on their toes. Flournoy crashed the glass hard and did everything for her Trojans. She handled the ball against Kell’s press and defended well with aggressive hands.
Youth is Served
Amaya MossTalented underclassmen were sprinkled all over the floor on both rosters. Aside from star Crystal Henderson, Kell saw major contributions from their young front court. 5-foot-11 sophomore Amaya Moss did damage in the fourth quarter scoring eight of her 14 points in the frame including the two cold-blooded free throws with 2.7 seconds left to win it. She double-doubled with 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block. Moss was a nuisance on the glass and converted at the rim. She even showed a mid-range jumper. 5-foot-9 freshman Jada Green contributed 7 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Carrollton saw 5-foot-10 freshman Kanija Daniel make an impact in the third quarter with 10 of her 16 points. She added 6 rebounded and 2 blocks as an agile combo-forward with good length and hands. Quick 5-foot-5 freshman Eghosa Obasuyi had a quiet game with 2 points and 2 assists but her speed with the ball and ability to get into the lane will only improve over time.
The Missing Piece
Only two seniors graduate from this year’s Carrollton group, but it’s scary to imagine just how good this team could be if 5-foot-5 sophomore Kehinde Obasuyi didn’t tear her ACL in their preseason scrimmage. Obasuyi might end up being Carrollton’s best offensive player when healthy. She was absolutely electric at the CTC Showcase Series as a lightning quick lefty with scoring and playmaking abilities. Couple her with Flournoy and younger sister Eghosa and Carrollton has the best backcourt in Class 5A with their mixture of speed, ballhandling, playmaking and shooting. If you thought Carrollton vs. Kell was must-see tv this year, just wait till next season when Carrollton is at full strength. You will not want to miss it.
Will youth hurt Kell’s chances at a state title run?
Nope. I don’t think so. Especially seeing how they have handled a veteran Region 7-AAAAA loaded with experienced teams. Carrollton’s pressure turned over the Longhorns at times but it wasn’t an egregious amount that Kell didn’t get right back with their own defense. Henderson’s three-point range and playmaking needs to be accounted for at all times. Senior guard Kya Williams had a quiet game offensively but she’s athletic and active on both ends of the court. While Kell doesn’t have elite size inside, the length and athleticism of Amaya Moss, Jamiah Gregory and Jada Green is enough to give most teams problems. If Kell wins the region title, they will avoid No. 1 Buford until the state championship.