Region 6-AAAAA Tournament – #1 Riverwood 62 vs. #4 Grady 59
The excitement of the GHSA State Playoffs is picking up with region tournaments deciding the seeding of all qualifying team. That excitement was on full display at Maynard Jackson as the host site for the 6-AAAAA Tournament. The weather could…
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Continue ReadingThe excitement of the GHSA State Playoffs is picking up with region tournaments deciding the seeding of all qualifying team. That excitement was on full display at Maynard Jackson as the host site for the 6-AAAAA Tournament.
The weather could not stop me from getting to a semi-final matchup between #1 Riverwood and #4 Grady which was sure to be a game that went down to the wire. In the end, Riverwood came away with the win just escaping a buzzer-beater 3-point shot by Destiny Battle that would have sent it into overtime. The final score of 62-59 showed just how evenly matched the teams are and the competitiveness of the region. It was the third time this season that Riverwood won between the two teams all decided by four or fewer points including an overtime thriller earlier in the year.
This was the first time I have seen these two teams compete and both have prospects that are sure to play at the next level. Here are my top seven players from the game.
Olivia Smith | 5’9 | G | Riverwood | 2020
I’ll start off by saying, Sleeper Alert. Smith put on a big-time performance in this game. She seemed determined to get to the region championship coming up with shot after shot the entire game. She looked smooth and never seemed to be rattled by the pressure of Grady’s press and physical defense. She shot the ball very well knocking down five 3-point field goals and showed good ball-handling using dribble moves to get to the rim and foul line. She has an advanced offensive game when in the flow of the game. She finished with 30 points, 3 steals, and 3 rebounds. She currently has an offer from the University of Alabama – Huntsville rightfully so, but coaches still looking for players in the 2020 class should get in to see her.
Kaitlin Palaian | 5’7 | F | Grady | 2020
Palaian plays much bigger than her height implies. She is very physical and not afraid of contact in the painted area. She showed a good inside out game with the ability to shoot the mid-range jumper very well and also able to take defenders off the bounce with quick decisive decisions on whether to drive or shoot. She is also a very good rebounder due to her ability to track shots and predict where the ball will be coming off. She ended with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. She also picked up three steals in the game.
Ciara Smith | 5’11 | PG | Riverwood | 2020
Smith immediately caught my attention when watching the warmups of both teams. She has that look of a basketball player. She handles the primary ball-handling responsibility for her team. She does a good job of facilitating and distributing for her team. She has a good size but impressed me with her understanding of how to play low. She was able to take on the pressure of pesky smaller guards and still be effective. Her impact was much bigger than the box score as she finished with 5 points, 3 assists, and 12 rebounds. She is a college prospect and another sleeper in the 2020 class.
Jade Lewis | 5’10 | W | Grady | 2022
This sophomore wing has the potential to be a light out shooter as her game continues to develop. She hit clutch threes in the 4th quarter to help her team make a push for the upset. Lewis has a great shooting form with the mechanics to make you think it is going in every time she shoots it. Each time she caught the ball you could hear the several players from Riverwood yell shooter. Even still she was able to make four 3-point field goals. As she improves defensively, her length could cause problems for other perimeter players. She finished with 20 points scoring both from beyond the arc and at the rim.
Jayla Green | 5’9 | F | Riverwood | 2021
Green is about as steady as they come with what she contributes to her team. When I spoke with her Head Coach Darryl Ellis, I got the impression that she is what you would consider the glue for their team chemistry. She consistently finds herself in the right spot and rarely does she not capitalize on her opportunities. She has good touch on her mid-range jump shot and is a sure finisher at the rim. She gets to the foul line often due to her ability to grab offensive rebounds and get off the floor for a second shot attempt quickly. She is a good defender that makes it a point to be in the correct position whenever the ball moves. She finished with a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds four of which were on the offensive end.
Trinity Lewis | 5’7 | PG | Grady | 2021
The junior point guard played with great energy in this game. She is a tenacious on-ball defender that takes pride in keeping the player she is guarding against scoring. She is a good ball-handler which was shown by her ability to beat the press on her own at times. She has a nice catch and shoot mechanics beyond the arc and was able to knock down a pair of threes. Lewis as good athleticism and plays with confidence. If she develops more of an offensive game this summer, she could be a name to remember her senior season.