SMYRNA, Tn.- Already firmly established in Washington D.C. for eight years now, the She Got Game Classic made a return trip to Tennessee for the second consecutive year for a sequel that offered up some outstanding pre-holiday hoops. Stewarts Creek High School served as the host for the tournament that displayed 17 teams from 7 states over three days of play.
For the complete schedule and results, follow the link below.
http://www.shegotgameclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-TN-SGGC-Schedule-V2-Scores.pdf
It isn’t exactly breaking news, but Hamilton Heights (TN) has a bevy of talented players, but two stood out this weekend above the rest. Jazmine Massengill (2018) showed why she is so highly recruited with a big game in the tournament opener. Trailing Stewarts Creek for the entire game, Massengill showed off her ability in transition, slicing through the defense and scoring eight straight points in the fourth quarter and eventually leading her team to a four point victory. She has the ability to knock down the three, especially in catch and shoot situations. She shows a willingness to crash the boards and once she has the ball, she can really push in transition. Her left hand needs a little work, but her athleticism allows her to compensate for that right now.
Massengill didn’t have to do all of the heavy lifting for Hamilton Heights, as 2020 Treasure Hunt also flexed her muscles. Already blessed with a next level body, the 6-0 Hunt plays well beyond her years. She is a high level athlete with the ability to score around the rim in a variety of ways. Her range extends well beyond the three point line, though shot selection is still a skill being learned. With the ability she has at her young age, if Hunt puts in the work, she will continue to be a name known for a long time.
With the amount of coverage provided at seemingly every event nationwide, it is rare for players to fall through the cracks. Well, Stewarts Creek (TN) has two players who that have done just that. Briannah and Brandi Ferby (Both 2017) are identical twins but their game varies from the other. Briannah is a scoring point guard who shows no fear on the court. Her 28 points were nearly enough to upset Hamilton Heights in the opening game. She doesn’t score in just one way either. Floaters, step backs, the deep ball; you name it, she can do it. Brandi meanwhile makes her living on the defensive end. On-ball and off, Brandi shows great instincts and fundamentals even against players bigger than her 5-7 build. Don’t get it confused though; she hit several three’s and is a capable offensive threat.
Not every player immediately jumps out to you when you first walk up to a court, but after spending just a few minutes watching, Daniel Boone High School’s (KY) Macie Culbertson made sure everyone was on notice. Culbertson, a 2018, stands at 5-10 and has a good build. Several times she broke the opposing team’s press by simply pushing the ball up the floor in turn showing the vision and control to find her open teammates. When she wasn’t bringing the ball up herself, she was finding open gaps in the defense and knocking down three’s at an impressive rate. Never getting rattled, Culbertson is one of those players that will fill a stat sheet and by the time the opposition even realizes her impact, it’s too late.
The phrase “never judge a book by its cover” is one that should be used for 2020 Kayla Allen Shiloh High School (GA). Standing 5’3 and sporting glasses similar to those of Steve Urkel, any doubts you might have about Allen are removed rather quickly. The point guard uses her small stature to her advantage, weaving in and out of traffic with ease, staying low to the ground while showing impressive ball handling skills. She has a nice stroke from deep and gets to the rim well. Beyond that, she has a floater game that eliminates many of the size disadvantages she faces. Often just knowing what your own weaknesses are and knowing how to counter them are keys to success, and Allen has figured those out.
Haley Hall, a 5-8 2017 guard from East Carter High School (KY), is the type of player that gives you more and more reasons to like her as the game goes on. Early on, her play was nondescript, but upon realizing that her team was playing a bit deflated, she flipped the switch. Her jump shot looks good and the results are even better. Her range also proved to be impressive, stroking several shots well beyond the three point line. An emergency point guard if ever she needed to be, Hall is someone who is solid in all areas. She might not ever lead a team in any one statistical category, but at the end of the day, every successful team needs a player like Hall.
