Future Prospects: Blair and Omaha Concordia
After years of being close but not being able to get over the hump, the Blair Bears girls basketball team has turned the corner this season. An early season victory over traditional power Norris has given the Bears the necessary…
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Continue ReadingAfter years of being close but not being able to get over the hump, the Blair Bears girls basketball team has turned the corner this season. An early season victory over traditional power Norris has given the Bears the necessary confidence to get out to a 10-3 start this season before heading into the always difficult Eastern Midlands Conference tournament next week. The Bears got out to a quick 12-0 lead over Omaha Concordia, but the Mustangs played much better the rest of the half until the last minute, where the Bears hit a couple of late 3’s to go up 17 at half time. The second half was more of the same, with Blair pulling away to win 64-45. Both teams have alot of nice players to look at, both for the present and the future.
Sophia Grantham (5’5″ Guard, Senior, Blair): Grantham is a four year starter who is enjoying the spoils of staying with things through the tough times with the Bears. An athletic point guard who pushes the ball on every possession, she hunts contact getting into the lane and loves to get to the free throw line. Grantham passes the ball well and can shoot the 3, but would rather get into the lane and make something happen. Grantham is a competitor, and sometimes she allows her emotions to get the best of her, so as the games become more important down the stretch, she will have to show the leadership necessary to guide her teammates to their goals.
Mya Larson (5’3″ Guard, Sophomore, Blair): Larson is a transfer from Fremont who just became Varsity-eligible a couple of weeks ago, and she has provided a huge boost for the Bears. A very confident player who has a very good feel for the game, she is a great shooter who can shoot it off the bounce or off the catch and shoot. She is not tall and her shot starts low, so she can be crowded on the shot to prevent the catch and shoot. As she develops her game, she will probably have to take over alot of the point guard duties after Grantham graduates.
Ella Ross (5’8″ Guard, Sophomore, Blair): Ross is a nice, complimentary player to the offensive aggressiveness of Grantham and Larson. A physically strong player, she is listed as a guard but will guard post players. She is not an explosive athlete, but she has a nose for the ball and can hit shots if defenses give too much attention to Larson and Grantham. She’s got a great nose for the ball and finds loose balls and gaps to attack.
Ella Hess (5’8″ Guard, Sophomore, Omaha Concordia): Hess is a nice shooter who is also willing to attack the basket and draw some contact, but she is much more comfortable on the perimeter. She needs to get stronger in her upper body, but she is also coming off a knee injury and she is going to gain some explosiveness back when she fully recovers. She does a nice job of reading defenses and moving without the ball. As she recovers, she has a chance to develop into a nice player.
Ella Buroker (5’8″ Guard, Junior, Omaha Concordia): Buroker is a solid athlete who is another catch and shoot player. She plays more physical than what she presents, and, like Hess, moves well without the ball. Like Hess, she needs to get stronger in her upperbody, as the Mustangs lack alot of heigth, so their wing players have to step into a situation that they are not naturally geared for.
Effie Golliday (5’6″ Guard, Freshman, Omaha Concordia): Golliday came off the bench and performed immediately for the Mustangs, nailing a 17′ jumper on her first touch of the game. A physical player who can finish with strength with both hands, she finishes well around the rim and has a very good upside. She just needs to get reps and play more, as she has alot of physical gifts. At one point, Golliday ran the point for the first team with four other starters and did a really nice job of getting multiple lane touches and setting up her teammates well.