CHANDLER, Ariz.— While the Joe Smith Division usually garners most of the attention among the teams competing in the Nike Tournament of Champions, the 2011 John Anderson Division may well lay claim to their fair share of the top team and individual talent on hand. And no matter what bracket you happen to be looking at it’s not difficult to find accomplished players in both the frontcourt and backcourt of any game.
Leading From the Perimeter
Despite their opening round loss, Bishop O’Dowd (Calif.) looks to be one of those teams ready to make a jump to the big stage of the Smith Division next year. Their impressive play is highlighted even more when you consider their roster features only four seniors, none of which are among their impact contributors. Without a doubt the sparkplug that makes them go is 5-2 point guard Ariell Bostick. With the ball in her hands defenders can only guess what direction her attack is going to take and reading her passing is like guessing this week’s Powerball numbers. In transition Bostick utilizes both a change of speed and direction to set up some instinctual and impressive passes. Virtually every one is delivered with zip and exploits even the smallest of openings in defensive pressure. There are times that the junior will force the issue and try to thread the needle with a little more flair than necessecary but her instincts in terms of the options she’s looking for are obvious. She has the ability to create off the dribble and that assertive play produces not only her playmaking but also makes her a legitimate threat to score herself in turn keeping the opposition playing her straight up and honest. Though she’s lacking in height, Bostick has both explosive quickness and physical strength to compensate and presents a challenging match up to any athlete willing to close out.
Offering Balance and a Threat Inside
When most folks talk about the talented and experienced team from St. Joseph’s (Mo.) the first players they’re going to mention are the 6-0 Stock sisters Maddie and Morgan. The Missouri bound seniors each offer up a challenging combination of size and perimeter skills and both have continued to advance and refine their skills over the course of their careers. While their performance is instrumental to the success of the Angels, it’s hard to overlook the contributions of 6-3 interior threat Sydney Stipanovich. A factor in transition and the halfcourt, the junior from St. Louis, Mo. is an effective scorer from the elbow as well as on the block. A close look at her skill set gives you the impression that there’s been some textbook coaching and focused fundamental development to her game. She’s aware of her positioning on the floor and is conscious of the options available to her as well as the ones she should be looking for on the catch. Her shot selection is sound and her form down low and from 15 feet gets results. Stipanovich provides a presence on the boards and rotates effectively on the defensive end. At times there can be the impression of some “soft” play but the tools are there to mix it up at the next level when the time comes and things get physical.
