Kaila Hubbard
Endia Banks of E.O.T.O. has put together multiple impressive performances in the first half of July. *Photo by Ty Freeman.
LEBANON, Tenn. -- The final day of the Real Deal in the Ville II meant championships were on the line in all of the brackets, adding a little extra pop to the normal buzz of hoards of college coaches watching.
With the first championship game of the day, in the @VinceSmithPSB Bracket at the PSB Real Deal II, the Lady Phoenix Express clinched a close victory against the Toledo Thunder So. Shaniya Jones of High Point, N.C., was the driving force behind the success of the offense; leading and facilitating a team combined 56 points. The 5-foot-6, class of 2018 guard has the ability to put a lot of pressure on the defense in transition and in the halfcourt, with her quick foot speed and ball handling skills. Creating for herself and her teammates in the lane got it done, ending the weekend on a high-note.
BWSL Norfolk Express finished a down to the wire matchup against a scrappy Georgia Pearls Elite team, 58-57. Junajah Somerville out of Norfolk, Va., made two game changing plays that delivered the victory to the Express. The 2017 guard snatched a big steal to change possessions and then hit a running laying up in the middle of paint to put her team up by one point with three seconds to go. She lead all scorers with an impressive 25 points.
NC Lady Phoenix faced off versus an athletic Cross-Over Hoops Premier team in a hard fought battle that turned into a free-throw shoot-out. It was a one-point game the last five minutes and ended in the Cross-over outlasting strong free-throw shooting by the Phoenix, 52-51. Point guard Ciera Crudup of Highland, Va., took charge from start to finish tallying a game-high 21 points. The 2017 guard made a couple clutch 3-pointers late in the game, along with some key shots at the line to maintain the lead and secure the victory.
The championship game for the @BrandonClayPSB bracket started off with EOTO versus Team St. Louis locked in a tight battle. There was a two-point difference at the half, favoring EOTO. The two platoon strategy of coach Huffman seemed to be effective early but Team St. Louis kept fighting back and eventually won 53-42. Renetha Dickson of St. Louis, Mo., was the leading scorer for her team with 14 points. EOTO was lead by Endia Banks with 20 points.
Best Choice United and Team Elite Hubbard squared off in the championship game of the @KTaylorPSB bracket. It was a hard fought contest and Best United came out on top, 69-58. Anaya Peoples of Danville, Ill., lead all scorers 26 points and and Kaila Hubbard of Jonesboro,Ga., lead Team Elite with 13 points.
Stephen Peck is the owner of Dream In Motion Athletics and is a national evaluator for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report. He also serves as a on-floor skills coach at the Elite Basketball Academy events. He can be reached at StephenPeck@peachstatebasketball.com.
Wetmore joined ProspectsNation.com in the summer of 2014 after graduating from the University of Washington with a Communications degree. She left Washington as the all-time leader in games played and also played with the softball team in the College World Series. She was the Gatorade State Player of the Year her senior year in high school capping off a career which included three state titles. She can be reached at mercedes@chrishansenbasketball.com.
