MillTown Varsity Classic: Frontcourt Forces
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Early season tournaments. Holiday plans. Upcoming exams. It is a busy time to be a high school basketball player and that schedule, of course, includes plenty of time to ball out. Catawba Ridge HS hosted the girls portion of the…
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Continue ReadingEarly season tournaments. Holiday plans. Upcoming exams. It is a busy time to be a high school basketball player and that schedule, of course, includes plenty of time to ball out.
Catawba Ridge HS hosted the girls portion of the MillTown Varsity Classic. Boys games were also held at nearby Fort Mill HS. The home of the 4A Copperheads is one of the newer schools in South Carolina but it has already become a household name in terms of girls basketball.
Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up to the home of the Copperheads for Monday night’s games. Here is a look at a few forwards and bigs who had the hot hand during a chilly night in the Palmetto State.
At times, there are players who have games where opposing teams simply have no answer for. Alexander was that on Monday evening for the Volunteers. It appeared as if whenever she had the ball in the low post, it was almost a guaranteed two points. In addition, she defied conventional wisdom by displaying her accuracy from the line on the heels of getting fouled. Alexander also helped her team with her rebounding efforts and proved to be as much a defensive anchor as she was on the offensive end of the floor. She finished Monday’s matchup with 30 points in a 70-62 win.
Asbelle was one of the more important players last season for the Volunteers’ run to the 2A state championship game. She is poised to be part of the nucleus of Andrew Jackson girls basketball in the coming season. Asbelle is a gifted ball handler and her speed enables her to get from one end of the floor to the other with the ball in her hand. Even when Asbelle does not have the ball in her hand, she does the little things (hustle) to ensure her team is in position to win. Rebounding and passing are two other strengths she possesses. She finished with 25 points in her team’s matchup with 5A Nation Ford.
The Chiefs can have its sophomore class, in large part, to thank for the win the team earned over Charlotte-based Olympic HS to start to the MillTown tournament. Vereen was part of the Chiefs’ starting five and led North Myrtle Beach’s efforts in the frontcourt with 14 points. She provides a paint presence and can haul in clutch rebounds – including off of unsuccessful free throws. Vereen is listed as a three, but has plenty of occasions where she also proves valuable playing as if she were a four or even a five. Free throw shooting is another element to her game she puts plenty of emphasis on.
Wilmore also managed a double-digit scoring effort in the Falcons’ contest with 2A Andrew Jackson as she aided the team’s cause with 11 points – seven of which occurred in the second half of play. Wilmore displayed her ability to steal the ball and create additional Volunteers possessions and managed to dribble the ball in traffic. She was also willing to play the game on contact and take her chances at the free throw line. As she can help her team’s scoring efforts, Wilmore is also an unselfish player who will find an open teammate while also finding opportunities to finish at the cup as well.
Ella Marker
Ella Marker
Marker scored the first points of the matchup for the Yellow Jackets and the team did not look back as it cruised to a victory over 2A Strom Thurmond. At a stature of 6-foot-1, she gives a noteworthy dimension of height to the team – particularly in terms of what she does near the rim. She can establish herself early and often and is also a consistent threat to steal the ball. As someone who can successfully operate as either a four or a five, she hauls in her fair share of rebounds and will win plenty of battles on the boards.
Diggs came up big in what was an anything-but-easy contest against host school 4A Catawba Ridge. Her speed and ball handling are two attributes to her game that will keep plenty of defenses on their heels. Diggs will have plenty of occasions where she will be in iso sets to organize her team’s halfcourt offense. She brings plenty of defensive energy and can put points on the board from virtually anywhere on the floor – including from midrange or from 3-point range. Versatility is another key to her game as she can play minutes either as a guard or as a forward. Diggs finished her evening with six points for the Rams.
The Copperheads have two players on their current roster that are just a shade under six feet. One of those happens to be Davis. She gets plenty of deserved credit for being versatile as she can give her team productive minutes either in the backcourt as a guard or in the frontcourt as a forward. She draws contact on plenty of occasions and that can give her opportunities at the free throw line in addition to coming through for her team as a rebounder. Davis concluded her evening having scored five points as Catawba Ridge earned a commanding victory over Chesterfield.