MEMPHIS, Tenn. – If Thanksgiving is the time of year that you find yourself looking for a feast then the city of Memphis and the Girl Powher Tennessee Turkey Jamm is the table you want to be sitting at. In its third year, the annual event has established itself as an early season testing ground for some of the nation’s top teams and last weekend’s get together was no exception. Both high profile teams and players were on hand for the three day event and contrary to most holiday meals, everybody left the table wanting just a little bit more.
Highly regarded Bolingbrook (Ill.), McEachern (Ga.) and North Little Rock (Ark.) all left unscathed with two wins each among the elite teams on hand. Hoover (Ala.), Incarnate Word (Mo.) and Riverdale (Tenn.) each added one win to go with a loss while Memphis Central (Tenn.) got one win against two losses. Defending Ohio State champs Twinsburg dropped both of their games by margins of one (in overtime) and three. Faith Baptist (Fla.) picked up three solid wins among the next tier of competition.
A FEW TEAMS, A FEW THOUGHTS
North Little Rock (Little Rock Ark.) – Coach Daryl Fimple’s team made the short trip over I-40 and returned home with two wins including one over highly regarded Incarnate Word. The Wildcats are an athletic and deep team that will be challenging for most rosters to match up with. Impressive 5-7 senior combo guard and Arkansas State signee Sandy Jackson offered up a diverse and aggressive attack creating both shots and passes time and again. Add to that the inside threat of agile and physically strong SMU signee 6-0 forward Lexus Williams and opposing coaches will have to take an honest approach to their defensive schemes. And just for good measure, 5-11 wing Xena King, also bound for Arkansas State, is an athletic and active inside-out threat that can exploit match ups big and small. This is a well coached team, particularly on the defensive and of the floor. Jackson may have to help out on the point at times but she‘s more than up to the task if the need arises.
Twinsburg (Twinsburg, Ohio) – It would be easy to dismiss the defending Ohio state champions after dropping both games but an overtime loss on day one to Memphis Central and coming up three points short against Morgan Tuck and Bolingbrook are nothing to be ashamed of. Throw in the caveat that the best player in the school’s history, 6-4 Maryland bound senior Malina Howard, spent the large majority of both games on the bench with foul problems and nobody will be taking the Tigers for granted. Junior 5-8 combo guard Ashley Morrissette stepped up and provided some effective offensive firepower in Howard’s absence including the runner that sent the Central game into overtime. If more consistency comes her way the extensive list of schools she already has should grow even longer. Leah Fechko, a 5-8 senior guard, demonstrated once again why her versatile and scrappy play was instrumental in last season’s success. Despite the two losses Twinsburg is poised to make another run in Columbus come March.
Faith Baptist (Brandon, Fla.) – Playing on all three days, Michael Morgan’s group came away with three solid wins over some competitive teams. Depth and athleticism puts them in a position to compete with most teams that they might line up against. Justina James, a 6-1 junior forward, is impressive physically and shows flashes of being able to make plays in the paint and off the dribble. Another junior, Peddy Bain is somewhat undersized as a 5-11 forward but had some moments that showed potential worth watching. Senior guard Rickeya Williams offered up a diverse game with impressive individual skills that put her in a position to create looks for herself and her teammates. One other player of note was diminutive junior point guard Lashyra Butler. Wishfully listed at 5-3, she has lots of speed and quickness to go with some effective one on one skills and a lethal first step.
MHEA (Memphis, Tenn.) – Your first instinct might be to make the observation that this is a talented group of home schooled athletes and you wouldn’t be too far off base. However, what’s even more impressive is the fact that, at times, they had an eighth grader, two freshmen, a sophomore and a senior on the floor. That kind of youth combined with some smart, instinctual and skilled play makes them a team worth watching now and down the road. Senior 5-9 guard Bethany Lytle has been out on the club trail and has a smooth, fluid game that sees her create off the dribble and connect with sound form from the perimeter. Ultra impressive freshman Torri Lewis has also had some previous recognition and the 5-10 combo lived up to her billing as well as demonstrating some advances in her play. Joining those two in the backcourt is another eye catching freshman at the point, 5-6 Bailey Wilkes. Her ball handling, vision and passing skills make her an effective floor leader and off the ball she cuts with purpose. Two more Lytles, 5-10 eighth grader Emily and 5-9 sophomore Sarah both had some efficient moments as well.
Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.) – If you’ve won three consecutive state championships it’s hard to imagine that there would be any real curiosity about what you might be bringing to the table this season. The Lady Raiders proved that they are bound and determined to go after number four and despite losing All-American point guard Ariel Massengale to graduation seem poised to take on all comers. It’s not like the cupboard is bare mind you, especially when you see Connecticut signee 6-2 Morgan Tuck looking better than ever. Some familiar names are stepping up and providing the depth that will keep defenses from becoming too obsessed with devising ways to shut down Tuck. Junior Kennedy Cattenhead is a 5-9 combo providing solid and attacking play while defending with the best of them. Seniors Dalacy Anderson and Nia Moore demonstrated that the potential they’ve shown over the years is coming to fruition though Moore’s play was limited due to injury. Another senior making her mark in Memphis was 5-9 guard Keiera Ray. At both ends she was confident, attacking and simply making plays.
