By Bob Corwin
As the cliché goes, it’s a team game. Yet so often, particularly in club basketball where opposing teams have little if any time to prepare, the more talented team prevails. That was not the case in the final of the top rising senior division at AAU’s Spring Fling 2 held at Disney World near Orlando, Florida, on May 11-13.
CFE based out of the Orlando, Florida, area controlled the game after the first quarter where the scored ended tied at nine. Playing without Ronni Wiliams (6-1 F 2013 Daytona Beach (FL) Atlantic HS) who starred for CFE at the Boo Williams event and was injured (expected about to be out for perhaps another month) during the tournament in Hampton, CFE showed team ball can overcome supposed better talent.
The key to the game was better control of tempo and a greater willingness to share the ball by CFE. For her leadership and ball distribution in the quarter court, we awarded our first star of this contest to Sydnei McCaskill (5-6 PG 2013, Orlando (FL) Dr. Philips HS). Her game over the last several months has been maturing in her decision making and understanding of tempo. In this game she scored but 9 points but kept matters on course. Second star went to Hannah Schaible (5-9 2G 2013 Orlando, Dr. Philips HS). She finished with 13 points. Her overall intensity level (jumping on loose balls and hitting the glass from the perimeter) made her fun to watch. If her perimeter shots continue to fall as on Sunday, BCS schools could easily ramp up their interest in July. To date she has been considered a good mid major prospect through the early spring by this service. Third star goes to Zykaria Lewis (5-8 2G 2013 Bartow (FL) HS; orally committed to UCF) who hit big shots in the fourth quarter when she scored 8 of her game high (with Schaible) 13 points.
So what went wrong with Team Fowles (yes sponsored by the Olympian Sylvia Fowles who grew up in Miami)? The team had trouble scoring all day Sunday. In this game, low post offense was largely absent with the majority of shots hoisted from the perimeter: Brittany Brown (5-7 combo G 2013 Choctawhatchee HS, Fort Walton Beach, FL) who scored 10 points while taking 15 shot; Brittany Dinkins (5-6 G 2013 Norland HS, Miami, FL) 13 points on 16 shots; Aisha Edwards (5-8 combo G 2014 Coral Spring (FL) Charter HS) 10 points on 11 shots. The team’s expected advantage in the low post never occurred as Kai James (6-5 C 2013 Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens FL) scored but one point, being benched for most of the second half in favor of a smaller line-up. In fact, the less heralded CFE posts did the better job around the basket. For that matter, let’s give kudos to CFE posts Karrah Johnson (6-0 C 2013 Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, FL), Gia Groover (6-2 C 2013 Bartow FL) and Brooksie McGraw (6-2 C 2013 P.K. Yonge HS, Gainesville, FL) for holding the middle together for CFE.
Who is the point guard for Team Fowles? With Raigyne Moncrief (5-8 G American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL) hobbled by a leg injury which kept her below full speed, the job was done by committee. Even earlier in the event before Moncrief’s injury, this was still a question. While CFE was sharing the ball and getting out on the break under McCaskill’s leadership, the Miami-based team was going solo, bombing away with just mediocre results. CFE led 27-20 at half and 42-31 after three quarters. The lead never dropped below six down the stretch.
Best Young Player Seen at Disney:
Atyanna Gaulden 5-6 PG 2016 believed headed to Coffee County HS, Douglas, GA: medium built with fine speed and quickness; strong on-ball defender; slick handles; very good court vision and basketball IQ for such a young player; can go to basket strongly to right or left; must improve perimeter shot and shooting range in general; potentially top 25 nationally in class if shot develops, if not still top 75 as the rest of her game is so good.
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