She Got Next: Midlands Standouts (Part 2)
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The final weekend of November throughout South Carolina included White Knoll HS getting the attention of many a fan of Palmetto State high school girls basketball. The reason was one of the state’s signature tournaments taking place. She Got Next…
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Continue ReadingThe final weekend of November throughout South Carolina included White Knoll HS getting the attention of many a fan of Palmetto State high school girls basketball. The reason was one of the state’s signature tournaments taking place.
She Got Next emanated from White Knoll HS this year as opposed to Brookland-Cayce HS. A number of teams from all areas of the state converged on the home of the 5A Timberwolves for what was two days of exciting and competitive basketball.
We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trip out to the venue. Here are a few more from the Midlands that caught our attention.
The Vikings’ rising star guard proved to be not only a tone setter on offense but on defense in her team’s contest with Marlboro County to tip-off the 2022 rendition of She Got Next. Ratchford concluded the game with a 14-point effort as 5A Spring Valley romped to a victory at White Knoll HS’s auxiliary gym. Ratchford managed to get out into the open floor and finished strong at the rim on plenty of occasions. She also had opportunities at the free throw line with the contact she absorbed. Defensively, it was as if there was more than one of her on the floor as she swarmed the Marlboro County offense with all-out hustle and deflected passes.
Offing had one can be termed as a classic not how one starts but how one finishes type of game. She had only four points at the half before eventually finding her rhythm to deliver a 12-point performance. Among her valuable hoops attributes is the ability to convert on high-percentage attempts close to the basket. In addition, Offing also is a tenacious rebounder. The ability to make shots from midrange also makes Offing a potent offensive threat and she combines the scoring skills of a big with the ball handling abilities of a one or a two. There is a reason why she was recently offered by Brevard College.
The 4A Yellowjackets may not exactly went into its contest against host school White Knoll with a home court advantage. But Collins knows how to put points on the board regardless of where she plays as she managed an 11-point effort to lead the Irmo offensive attack against the Timberwolves. Collins will try her hand at the 3-point shot and understands how to organize an offense in the halfcourt set. She is also skilled as a ball handler and brings versatility to the Yellowjackets. Collins can play a number of positions on the floor – including as a guard, as a forward or as a wing.
One can certainly count on Liebert to put plenty of points on the scoreboard whenever she is on the court. The Vikings’ veteran guard did so again as she concluded her team’s matchup with Marlboro County having scored 11 points in a one-sided victory. Liebert continued to showcase how efficient of a floor runner she is in addition to displaying how much of an on-court leader she is. Her defense will often lead to additional Spring Valley possessions and she can play the game on contact which will place her at the free throw line. Liebert can also be in position to grab plenty of rebounds.
Highlights
Johnson gives an interior edge to a 4A Redhawks team that centers much of what it does around the play of its skilled guards. She can play as either a four or a five and is a double-double threat on a consistent basis. This, of course, comes via her scoring and rebounding. Defensively, Johnson will look to clog up space in the paint and make it difficult for any would be scorer to penetrate to the rim. Her offensive rebounds can turn into two-point putbacks. Senior Night at Westwood HS is sure to fill many an onlooker with memories given the litany of 2023s going through the academic and athletic cycles with the Redhawks one more time.
When coach Megan Assey looks back at how the opening game of She Got Next unfolded, a smile will adorn her face when she thinks about the contributions that came from the Vikings bench. Crosland can get from one end of the floor to the other and can particularly put points on the board both near the basket and from midrange. Crosland stands at 5-foot-9 and primarily plays at the three. Crosland will come from seemingly out of nowhere to grab rebounds and will call for the ball when she is confident in her ability to make a play. Activity away from the ball is another one of Crosland’s strong points. She bolstered the Spring Valley attack with a 12 point effort en route to a commanding win over Marlboro County.
Highlights
To “cheese” is a slang term to smile. The play of the 5A Silver Foxes star guard has had many who back the silver and green colors a-cheesing ever since she first put on a Dutch Fork uniform. At times, it appears as if there is more than one of her on the floor with how she can turn defense into offense. Cheeseboro can deliver strong finishes at the rim and also adds a 3-point shooting dimension to the Silver Foxes’ offense. One has to game plan for her and the prolific passes she makes as well. Cheeseboro finished with 10 points in Friday night’s matchup with 1A Denmark-Olar.
An ascent for 5A White Knoll will likely come with a trio of young players making up its nucleus. Buckner is part of that nucleus. She plays primarily in the backcourt and can make plenty of plays near the basket. A good number of those plays will come on the heels of her finding lanes to get to the rim. Buckner will call for the ball when she is confident she can make a play and approaches every game with a great deal of energy and effort on both ends of the floor. Buckner’s 15 points ensured that the Timberwolves protected its home court as they began She Got Next with an emphatic win over a fellow Midlands school in 4A Irmo.