EOT Ultimate Challenge: Day 1 Standout Guards
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There was an impressive amount of guard play on tap for day 1 at the EOT Ultimate Challenge. Many of these players showed their skill in controlling the pace and flow of the game on offense, while speeding up opposing…
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Continue ReadingThere was an impressive amount of guard play on tap for day 1 at the EOT Ultimate Challenge. Many of these players showed their skill in controlling the pace and flow of the game on offense, while speeding up opposing guards on the other end. Some were outstanding in their role while others found ways to sprinkle their skills all over the game. Here are the top guards from day one.
Bella Hasan Bella Hasan 5'5" | PG Kamiak | 2024 State WA (2024) | 5’5 | PG | Kamiak | FOH
This quick point guard was a sparkplug for her squad even as they took a tough loss against Sagebrush last night. She was weaving in and out of the defense, splitting double teams and avoiding pressure with ease. Her dribbling ability really shined against consistent pressure from Sagebrush, she keeps the ball low and her quickness was unmatched. Hasan is just as active on the defensive end too; quick hands and a relentless attitude allowed her to force turnovers and harass ballhandlers into mistakes. She’s an exciting player to watch and was truly a standout last night.
Gia Powell (2024) | 5’8 | PG | Meadowdale | Team Stuck
Powell kind of came on slowly in their game against Cal Sparks but once she got going she began to tear it up. It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing she did well. She shot it from three, was shifty going to the bucket, sank her free throws, played good defense – simply put, this girl is a baller and her IQ/feel for the game was evident yesterday. She’s got that aggressive, “go,” mindset but is calculated in her attack. Powell was the gamechanger for me on day one.
Lainee Houillon Lainee Houillon 5'7" | PG Sumner | 2024 State WA (2024) | 5’6 | PG | Sumner | Team Stuck
Houillon was playing sticky defense yesterday afternoon, helping her team to a blowout victory. She did her job, stopping the ball, slowing down the opposing attack, and using those quick feet of hers to shut down driving lanes. She showed some scoring prowess too, waxing a three right in the defenses face, and mixing in some jumpers off the dribble as well.
Aniya Hooker Aniya Hooker 5'9" | CG Lynnwood | 2024 State WA (2024) | 5’8 | PG | Lynwood | Team Stuck
Hooker provided an underrated asset to Team Stuck yesterday, taking care of the ball and being a steady presence bringing it up. She handled pressure, cool and calmy, changing pace and direction well in small spaces to get defenders to back off. She was one of the strongest ball-handlers I watched and really opens up space and frees up more time in the offense by being that strong on-ball presence.
Chloe Downing (2024) | 5’11 | SG | Marysville-Getchell | Cascade Xpress
The first thing I noticed with Downing was her length as a shooter. She brings great height to the guard spot and is able to see the rim well over defenders, knocking down shots from far out. That length proved to be an asset on the defensive end as well, with Downing closing down passing lanes at the top of their zone. She adds a unique set of size and skills to her squad and can be a big momentum swinger when she’s going good.
Kimarah Crockett (2023) | 5’6 | SG | Renton | Cascade Xpress
From the moment Crockett entered the game she brought energy and effort. Her quickness was on another level compared to the rest of the players on the floor and that, combined with an unrelenting motor, led to her scooping up what seemed like every loose ball in her vicinity. She’s a pretty good passer too and added an extra element to their attack, using her speed to drive to the hoop while keeping her dribble alive long enough to find the right pass.