Run 4 Roses: Local standouts from Day 3
In this article:
Bracket play produced a number of dramatic moments after the previous two-day blitz arrived at Friday. With trophies on the line, several local players upped their games in an effort to help bring championship gold home: Sydney Baird Sydney Baird…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBracket play produced a number of dramatic moments after the previous two-day blitz arrived at Friday. With trophies on the line, several local players upped their games in an effort to help bring championship gold home:
Sydney Baird Sydney Baird 5'7" | CG Webster County | 2023 State WV , 2023 Ohio Valley Dragons Black, Sr., GC, 5-7 – As inconceivable as it may seem after Baird left May scorching hot, the Dragons’ combo guard raised the temperature on the court once again. She came out hotter than ever.. Tipping the thermometer at Run 4 the Roses were several things, but her clutch gene really shined brightly. Blindingly so really. Looking directly at her wouldn’t have been advisable. Each and every time her team needed points and leadership, she responded in kind – almost like she was used to this kind of role. Highlighting this was her clutch shot that won the Dragons the silver championship. With her team down by two in the closing minutes of the game, Baird found her way to the line and calmly sank two free throws. Then, with her team trailing by two points again with 9.9 seconds left on the clock, she went into hero mode. She drove the length of the court with help from a Kadie Colebank Kadie Colebank 6'1" | PF Tucker County | 2023 State WV screen, she pulled up, and with a defender in her face put up a teardrop that kissed nothing but net. Talk about a great way to kick off July. Hopefully, she left Louisville with a handful of offers, it wouldn’t be wise missing out on Baird.
Faith Pickens Faith Pickens 6'2" | C Williamstown | 2025 State WV , 2024 Thunder 740 24/25, So., C, 6-2 – Pickens puts considerable time into improving her performance on the court. She’s always looking for new moves and strategies, and how to best implement them into her game.
The results of that work sure showed themselves this week, especially on Friday.
She came out hungry and never let up on either side of the court. She showed off a cache of solid post moves and moved her feet well on the defensive end. Her ability on help defense made it much harder on her opponents in the post. Where she’s really improved her game is when matching up with someone her own size on defense. She’s not backing down, instead sizing up her opponent and figuring out the best method of attack. If there’s one thing I would like to see more from her, it is this: Be more aggressive when you want the ball, put your hand up and call for it. Then make your move and don’t be afraid to be a little mean about it, within reason, of course.
Avery Lilly Avery Lilly 5'7" | SG Summers County | 2025 State WV , 2025 Ohio Valley Dragons White, SG, So., 5-7 – Mama, there goes Avery Lilly Avery Lilly 5'7" | SG Summers County | 2025 State WV , again. Following a brief June break, she’s causing trouble on the basketball court. When she’s freed to do her thing, she excels. When she’s up against a bigger opponent, it doesn’t matter. On Friday, she was especially effective. Lilly combined a slasher’s mentality with a long-range shooting game and came up with some interesting results. On one hand, her aggressive nature unsettled her opponents and put them on their heels. On another hand, she forced their defensive hand with her range. She showed improvement all over the basketball court.
Ava Edwards Ava Edwards 5'7" | SG Nitro | 2025 State WV , 2025 Ohio Valley Dragons Red, PG, So., 5-6 – So, Ava Edwards Ava Edwards 5'7" | SG Nitro | 2025 State WV is an offensive attacker, now. Apparently so, or at least she was on Friday. While battling for a championship, Edwards showed a different side of her game. The aggressive side. Early and often. Against an East Tennessee Thunder group, she made life hard for them. She attacked and attacked and attacked again. The barrage came from everywhere. Three’s in the first, drives down the lane in the second, and a little bit of everything else after halftime. Oh, and she still found time to play the PG position. All in all, it couldn’t have come at a better moment. With coaches looking on, she put herself out there and should end up reaping the rewards.
Sophi Aldridge Sophi Aldridge 5'5" | CG Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV , 2024 Ohio Valley Dragons Black, CG, Jr., 5-7 – Aldridge knows how to shoot the outside shot. However, that’s not all she can do. Take away the 3 and watch as she becomes a slasher with high energy and acrobatic shots. She spins, keeps control of her body and finishes at the rim more times than not. Shots can be off the glass, teardrops, contested, finished from the left, it doesn’t matter … she makes them all. That energy then carries over to her defense where she’s always in passing lanes and looking to cause trouble.