With 2 Sessions down and 2 more to go, I think that the word is now out about how great Winter Series has been so far this year, even though a few good teams that are usually there have been missing so far this year like NJ Rise, Team Thrill, Lady Huskies, Queen City, WPA Bruins, and the NJ Sparks. The 3rd Session will be very important, that will give every team that has participated in the event a quick summary of how good there team will be heading into the spring and summer. Speaking of summer, we all were waiting for things to heat up. Especially in the 8th grade division, Lady YKS came out on top beating Team Takeover (45) - (37). Late in the 1st quarter YKS went on a 12- 2 run and Takeover couldn't make up enough ground to catch up. The closes they got was within 6, and Micah Ojo led the way for YKS. Micah has shown why she deserves some talk about mentioning her name in the 2027 class. Her around the perimeter play is excellent, and now she has add a 10 to 12 foot shot to her game. The Spain sisters have grown a few inches, helping them to see over much larger defenders. I still can't tell them apart, although both of them have been consistent scoring when they need to and not turning the ball over in big games. Some suggest that YKS path to the Chip wasn't as hard as Takeovers. But by the end of the afternoon YKS was hoisting the session 2 A - D Championship over there head.
In the E - H 8th grade Championship Lady Choz pulled out a nail-biter (44) - (43) against a tough K - Low Elite. The game was close thru out the 1st and 2nd half, but it came down to a late foul by K - Low. Zoe Wassserlauf passing skills were on displayed in this game, she threaded the needle a few times setting up teammate Anastasia Bonfante who kept knocking down 3 balls continuously as the game went on. K - Low kept it close with lefty Lilly Brown who was playing like a man on a mission. HBA Spartans knock off CPE in the Pool I Chip (35) - (31). Spartans avenged it's only lost which was to CPE, that lost was from Saturday when CPE beat HBA (30) - (24). There were three 8th grade Division Championships this Series session 2 because of the amount of teams.
Southern Starz GA won another 7th grade Division Championship, making them undefeated at 9-0 thus far combined with the first session. They have been anchor by Loriel Murray who has been a double-double monster in every single game. Murray interior work has been exceptional in both Winter Series session. Her lateral movement and good food work allows her to get back on defense if there is a blown play. We sure would've like to seen the Starz match up against West Coast Elite who also had a bunch of talent on their roster. But due to scheduling issue, West Coast Elite had to forfeit the Championship game in which declared Starz the winners. In the other 7th grade bracket Champions E - G Team PA beat D -Town Dogs (55) - (52). Kayanah Taylor is still playing at a high level right now. Finishing around the basket seems to be her forte now. Impress me a few times putting the ball on the floor and going coast to coast. Taylor is still growing, but will have to add a little more to her game like a mid-range shot. D -Town Dogs had a few players that should make someone watchlist.
The Future 6th grade team might have been one of those teams that I definitely think could've challenged a 7th grade team for a Championship for sure. Unfortunately we didn't get to see what we all thought was going to be a good one against West Coast Elite. Like the rest of the program, they to had to catch a flight back to the west coast. But speaking for myself I got to watch The Future in they are a complete team if you ask me. They ran there stuff if it was inside or outside they got the job done. I only seen one of there games in that wasn't even close at all. Ella Duvall was one of the many bright spots for this young Future team along with Journey Washington, Kinsley Scaringe, and Harper Scaringo. For the other 6th grade Championship in the E - F Division Bustleton Bengals beat Gauchos (39 - (33).
In the 5th Grade Division Fairfax Stars won what they say was rightfully there's. They beat K - Low Elite (27) - (16). Stars feel is though in there eye's that they won two Championships. In session one they lost in the Championship to Top Notch, but the Stars say due to some unprecedented chain of events that happen they should be awarded last sessions Trophy and Tee Shirts. In the other 5th grade Championship Riverside Hawks defeated Glen Arms Gladiators (36) - (5).
Top Performers List:
Nyla Black - 2027 - Guard - Southern Starz Georgia - Went on a scoring frenzy at session 2 at Spooky Nook. Put a few people on notice that she too also is a scoring threat for the Starz. Despite going 1 - 3 this past session, Black took huge strides in Winter Series. 1 on 1 creator... Athletic lean guard.. Attacks the rim often...
Giuliana Huaranga - 2029 - Guard - New Jersey Raptors - Good size and frame for her age, can play a few different position. Vocal leader... High basketball IQ... Good hands... Made a few passes with one hand...
Micah Doy - Young - 2029 - Guard - Team Durant - Young nice lead guard, small put was able to get too the rim in traffic... Nice with the handle... Quick with it... Cat like speed...
Kamaya Davenport - 2029 - Forward - Team Durant - Raw athlete, a natural run and jump kid. Plays with a lot of intensity... Likely will hit a growth spurt... Defends lay ups in the lane...
Geornae Davis - 2027 - Forward - Team Takeover - A mix of skills and size for a young Davis.. Very mobile... Can put the ball on the floor like a guard... Can make a quick move to the basket for her size... Solid inside defender... Active on both ends...
KiYari King - 2028 - Guard - DPS - Young guard who is playing up with her team, makes really good decisions off the dribble. Makes very difficult passes to her teammates so its out of reach for her defenders to disrupt... Distributes and dishes the ball in the lanes... Fast pace player... excellent court vision...
Aila Courtenay - 2027 - Forward - FBC Young Gunz - Brings the noise and the energy. Not shy at all, seems to want all the smoke. Face up game and will make you pay with her size in strength... Solid interior play... Recognizes mixmatch in the post... Strong finisher.... Knows how to use her body...
Caylee Allen - 2030 - Guard - New Heights - Fast, definitely one of the smallest kids in the gym. Played up in the 6th grade division. Barely big enough to get lift in her shot... Mature enough to make the right decisions. Stays low while in attack mode...
Sabrina Anderson - 2027 - Guard - Elevate Elite - Productive guard with excellent court vision. Anderson is very creative especially when the ball is in her hands... Creates off the dribble... Scores and assist...
Aleah Sunkins - 2027 - Wing - New Jersey Gemz - Versatile wing who finish at the basket with either hand. Long arms and legs to go with her frame... Can handle the ball on the outside... Does some good things athletically...
Sharee Wilson - 2028 - Combo Guard - Dynamite / Sideline Cancer - Good young combo-guard... Got to the rack in transition, even got a few and 1 calls by doing so. Aggressive on both sides of he ball... Brings some toughness to her game.... Good mid-range game...
Caitlin Dempsey - 2028 - Point Guard - Palisades Elite - True point, doesn't look to score but can if she wants to. Team lost in the Championship to Starz, they finished 3 - 1. Dempsey keeps it simple while running the point. Can break and read a press... Speeds down court to get the next play ready.... Good handle....
Skylar Guilliod - 2028 - Guard - New Jersey Raptors - Raw, still finding her way. Good size plus physical... Good hands got out in transition a few times in finished at the basket...
Vanessa Flood - 2028 - Forward - Team Takeover - Already has some height to her frame.. Agile prospect... Forward right now, still in Middle School... Active on the boards... Seems comfortable while on the post... Lets wait to see what the future is like for Flood.
Dahlia Debourou - 2028 - Guard - New Jersey Raptors - High energy guard with some already good size and athleticism. Made a buzzer beater during the game to give her team the win. Good jump shot... Has some tools... Still figuring things out...
Alana Rodriguez - 2028 - Guard - Team Takeover - Continuously to get better, always showing promise... Gets to the cup with ease... Does a lot of different thing... Flies around on the court... Plays with a lot of energy...
Hailey Benbow - 2028 - Guard - New Jersey Gemz - Athletic lead guard with strong upper body strength...She is the floor general for her team... Gets the team moving... always in the flow of the offense....
Bianca Kaiser - 2028 - Guard - New Jersey Gemz - Another solidified, ball handler... Tough as they come... Not afraid of the big moments... Pass first guard...
Chloe Jenkins - 2029 - Guard - West Coast Elite - Young big versatile guard, has good size. Calm and poise. Long arms and legs... Someone people should take notice of... Scores in many ways...
Kaitlyn Mills - 2028 - Combo-Guard - West Coast Elite - Scorer's mentality whether it's on the ball or off.. Plays well under pressure... Has ability to create off the dribble... Can handle the ball and shift with it... Great range beyond the arc....
Jenelle Solis - 2028 - Guard - West Coast Elite - Control defender with plenty of speed, can beat you to the cup in variety of ways... Can get to the bucket off the dribble... Really quick first step. Weaves in and out of traffic... Finds the creases in the lane to either dish or finishes.. Speedy Gonzales...
Peyton Pugh - 2029 - Guard - Team Miller - The youngster did some some thing in Winter Series Session 2. Controls the tempo of the game... Feeds of the energy of her teammates... Directs traffic... Small but effective at what the coach needs her to do... Doesn't look to much to score but don't leave her wide open.... Got out of a few traps...
Taleiyah Smith - 2027 - Guard - New Heights - Body control and change of pace is what I seen. Has some of that quick speed. Plays on a guard heavy team already, but she is effective when she does enter... Excellent awareness while on the floor... Likes to get out on the break in transition...
