Prospect Report: Weeping Water and Omaha Brownell-Talbot
I have been pretty bullish on the Weeping Water Indians all season, but last night was the first time that I had a chance to see them play live. They did not disappoing, garnering a 56-47 victory against a frisky…
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Continue ReadingI have been pretty bullish on the Weeping Water Indians all season, but last night was the first time that I had a chance to see them play live. They did not disappoing, garnering a 56-47 victory against a frisky Omaha Brownell-Talbot squad, who also showed some of the promise that they had coming into this season after winning 18 games last season. The Raiders jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead, but there was no panic in the Indians, lead by Nebraska-Omaha commit Grace Cave and outstanding two-guard Peyton Barrett. By the end of the quarter, Weeping Water tied it up at 13 and continued to pull away as the game moved forward. Although most of the talent on the floor are upperclassmen, there was plenty to like from both teams.
Grace Cave (5’7″ Guard, Junior, Weeping Water): Cave has a great skill set all around the floor, and her all around game can be summarized in one word; “smooth”. Offensively, she is one of the best passers in the state, seeing openings that most players would not see. She is strong, and can snap off a 40-50 foot pass up the floor mid-dribble. She has a picture perfect jump shot and can pull up off the bounce from all three levels. She has great length and quick hands on defense, but early foul trouble did not allow her to be as aggressive as she probably could or should have been. The Mavericks have got a commitment from a terrific local player.
Peyton Barrett (5’6″ Guard, Senior, Weeping Water): Barrett is a great running partner with Cave, and her skill set compliments her backcourt mate well. She has a really nice feel for the game and moves well without the ball. She is strong, and when she cuts, she finishes well around the rim. Her shooting form is very good, but I caught her watching the ball instead of the rim a couple of times, which is a habit that needs to be broken to help her with her consistency as a shooter. I would also like to see her attack the rim more off the bounce and get to the free throw line, where she has a great stroke. Barrett would be a very nice addition to a smaller school late in the recruiting process.
Cecan Porter (5’7″ Guard, Senior, Brownell-Talbot): This was the nicest surprise of the night. Porter plays the point for the Raiders, and she is a good athlete who is a capable ball handler who pushes the ball at every opportunity. She is physically strong and can absorb contact in the lane well and finish. She looked very comfortable from the free throw line, but I did not see her shoot the ball from the perimeter, so I cannot comment on that aspect of her game. Like Barrett, she would be a very nice addition to a smaller school in the spring recruiting period.
Josie Petrulis (5’8″ Guard, Junior, Brownell-Talbot): Brownell-Talbot’s leading scorer, along with Thaden, Petrulis is a strong guard who can beat players off the bounce with her strength or look to take them down to the block and post them up, which she did on numerous occasions in this game. She can also step out and shoot the 3, but she is most comfortable around the rim, where she can finish with either hand. A skilled player, Petrulis must work on her explosiveness and her conditioning to take her game, and the Raiders, to the next level.
Grace Thaden (5’11” Post, Senior, Brownell-Talbot): Thaden is an aggressive player who also got into a little bit of foul trouble, which limited her minutes a little bit. She stepped out and hit a three early, and she hit the boards hard all night. She is not afraid of contact, and is a good athlete who can go off the bounce a little bit, especially going to her right. If in the right system, she could develop into a good role player at the next level at a smaller school.