AZ's Top Performers 4/8-10

Pictured kneeling L-R: Kenna McDavis, Shilpa Tummala, Alexa Jacobs; standing L-R: Jasmine Hotchkins, Cortnee Walton.

Leading into the springs evaluation period many teams and players like to get in some game time in local tournaments to work out kinks, shake off rust, and sharpen timing in preparation.  This weekend was no different in that many players showed why they are highly regarded prospects, new faces arose out of the bunch and budding stars continued to separate themselves.
Here is a briefing on some of the Arizona players to be seen next weekend starting with the 2012 class on through some 2015 players in no particular order.

2012's

• Cortnee Walton, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  Plays hard is her modus operandi.  She doesn't take a play off.  She plays for the team and bigger good, setting screens, blocking shots, rebounding, rotating off help-side defense.  She covers on-ball screens with the best of them, showing well and recovering.  She can hit the 15ft shot consistently. She has vastly improved her ability to put the ball on the ground and attack the basket from the pinch/high post area.  She is relatively proficient with her back to the basket.  Doesn't necessarily possess a variety of moves but knows how to use her body, protect the ball and finish. At 6'2 she possesses a solid build, fit with good shoulders, solid legs, a very durable body.  I've not known her to be injury prone.  Cortnee can greatly improve her game by getting more range on her jump shot, improving on perimeter skills and finishes.  She has been spending the past month running the 300 hurdles for school track team.  She will be traveling with her club team AZ Warriors to Boo Williams 4/15-17. They have not had practice together since high school ended and will be missing play-maker Shilpa Tummala.  Not sure what they will bring to the table this year at Boo.
• Shilpa Tummala, 5'11 G, (AZ12):  Shilpa is a game changer, simply put.  She is very capable of having big games and has had many of them, none bigger than her first half 18pts. before leaving the game with an injury to help lead her high school team, St. Mary's, to a state title this year. Also scored 30pts against Boo in last year's Boo William's event to only come up a possession short of taking the host team down in the first round.  Shilpa scores in a variety of ways, with the three ball, off the dribble, cutting/slashing, running the floor.  Shilpa will get better the better she takes care of her body.  It's very important she work on her defensive footwork, agility, conditioning and speed.  Strength training is going to improve her game drastically and help her to stay better injury free. She has been rehabbing a shoulder injury she sustained in the Arizona state championship game.  She was a last second scratch from Boo and will not be traveling with her club team to Virginia to better take care of her injury and not having the opportunity to prepare for competition.
• Jamee Swan, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  A very energetic small forward that plays with a lot of energy and emotion.  She rebounds with a viciousness and every time I have seen her she has improved more on her outside shot.  She possesses length and athleticism in a solid build. She is a fierce competitor and worker.  She seems to be headed in the right direction with her training, can maybe attack the basket better, add second moves to beat help and counters. Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17
• Shealyn Brown, 6'4 P, (AZ12): The best 6'4 body in Arizona. She has strong legs, good build for a post.  She is still looking to define her game in more detail but more and more I see her she is getting comfortable and making plays.  Shea runs the floor very well.  She is a presence inside and alters a lot of shots. She pulls down rebounds and is strong with the ball.  She has a nice stroke that she can connect on from 15ft.  The physical tools she brings to her game are undeniable but what would take her game to the next level is a deeper low post game.  She stills looks uncomfortable playing with her back to the basket and doesn't show a variety of moves.  I also think she can be great on the bounce but I need to see her attack the basket more.  Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17.
• Emily Wahlberg, 6'3 F, (AZ12): Not as strongly built as the other forwards and posts listed but has the best range on her shot.  Emily can shoot the three, the mid-range and pull-up off the dribble.  Not enormously quick but with work and strength training she can be a solid small forward because she has solid fundamentals and skills. Emily is probably also the best passer out of the bunch.  Both her high school and club team have good perimeter shooters and she has learned to find them.  Emily's biggest turnaround is going to be her getting stronger, faster and quicker.  She can probably use some tightening up on her dribbling since she is going to be a player that can play out on the perimeter as well as inside.  She doesn't seem to be very physical inside yet and is maybe more apt to place a face up game so possessing those skills are going to be key. Will be playing with AZ Rhythm at Boo.
• JeZhe Newton, 6'4 P, (AZ12): JeZheJeZhe doesn't particularly like to bang inside and struggles against feistier smaller posts that will get physical and hustle more. She tends to lose her legs and struggle finishing in hard battled games. So what I think is really important for her preparation to play at the next level is to learn to be more physical, work on her conditioning and work on her drive to attack the basket. Will be playing with GSB at Boo 4/15-17.
• Simone Westbrook, 5'9 G, (AZ12): Verbal commit to ASU is a crafty guard, very physical with good size. Shows some athleticism on takes and finishes at the basket. Likes to get out in the open court and is a great 1/1 player in those confines. She gets a lot of steels, knows how to anticipate in the passing lanes and when playing ball.  Can be a good rebounding guard. Doesn't have the most orthodox or pretty shot but will connect if left too wide open.  She prefers to drive and get to the rim.  Doesn't really possess a shot off the dribble. Might be too late but does need some work on her jump shot. She anticipates well but does seem a little slow at times.  Maybe doesn't always give all her effort on every possession.  She will be playing for GSB at Boo 4/15-17. **This just in- Simone will not be traveling to Boo, per personal reasons.**
• Arnecia Hawkins, 5'8 G,(AZ12): Early Verbal commit to ASU, very smooth poised player, very sound, disciplined.  Arnecia is very good at getting to the line, knows how to get to the rim and draw contact. She has a great mid-range game. Arnecia's game is getting that first step and pulling up for short jumper.  She is very good and consistent from the 10-17ft area. She is very light on her feet and get down the floor in a hurry.  Her shot can tend to be a little flat which is a bigger factor for her shooting beyond the arc. She is good with the dribble but not exceptionally quick or strong which seems to be a factor against ball pressure.  She looks more comfortable in the off guard roll as opposed to a point guard position.  I would like to see Arnecia getting stronger physically and make her dribble stronger and quicker.
• Cassidy Ranger, 5'10 SG, (AZ12): Cassidy is AZ's most improved player over all.  She didn't even make her varsity squad last year.  She has put in a lot of work with a great shooting coach her in AZ. and continues to make strides in her game.  She has solid shooting mechanics and is getting more and more consistent every time I see her. She has a solid 5'10 frame.  Her biggest adjustments have been catching up with the speed of games, defense, experience and she has made huge leaps since the first time i watched her.  She is still a subpar defender but I have notice improvements in this area and I believe she is committed to the end to continue her growth.
• Lauren Evans, 5'11 SG, (AZ12): Lauren is an athletic long lock down defender. She is highly competitive and brings it every night. Known for her defense, but Lauren is going to give you 15pts & 5-7 rebounds, 5stls a night on top of locking down opponents best perimeter player. Lauren does a great job of getting inside an opponents defense, whether off the drive or cut to knock down that 10-15ft jumper.  She can handle the ball in the back court.  Not a great 3 point shooter but still needs to be guarded outside the arc.  She does tend to over gamble on the defensive side and will have to learn to play more straight up against better ball handlers that will make her pay.  She can learn to become a stronger dribbler and more consistent shooter beyond the arc.

2013's

• Lindsay Leikem, 6'2 F, (AZ13): A very sound fundamental forward.  Lindsay has the best shooting mechanics of any AZ big.  She is solid with her mid-range game.  She has decent ball handling ability, not extremely athletic or quick.  She is a safe player, not very dynamic but doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She plays within her self and fill it up if you can get her open in the right spots.
• Sydney Wiese, 5'6 G, (AZ13): Syd's M.O. is she has massive range, a lefty that is a deadly 3 point shooter. Syd is not afraid to launch it from anywhere on the court in any situation.  She is very offensively minded.  Syd is a great free throw shooter.  In the past year she has learned to set her feet better, quicker and quickened her release.  She seems to demonstrate moxy and poise in big games.  Syd has a very lean frame and is bumped off her dribble to easy. She struggles against stronger, quicker guards and is a sub-par defender.  She just doesn't have the strength or speed to stop elite guards.  She easily gets coerced into dribbling too much and into traps. Problem she has playing good guards is she dribbles with her head down, too much and doesn't have good economy of motion.  Just as her positive M.O. is she has range, her negative M.O. is whe turns the ball over too much and takes too many of her own shots. She is much better off the ball but is primary point guard for high school.  She does also tend to take ill-advised shots in the course of a game but that can be interpreted as what she is being asked to do.  Will be present at Boo with her club team GSB.
• Jasmine Hotchkins, 5'4 PG, (AZ13):  Super quick guard with superb ball skills. Jas is a great defender that can pressure the ball the length of the floor, she is very disruptive defensively and pesky.  She is getting much better off the ball anticipating passing lanes and coming up with steals.  Jas is a great shooting point guard that can score as well as distribute.  She has range, a very quick step and super quick pull-up off the dribble. Although she is becoming more proficient getting to and finishing around the basket amongst the bigs she can probably look to penetrate more with her skills and create for her team.  She can tend to put her head down on the take and miss open teammates.  Needs to learn to be more assertive, better communicator and leader on the floor.  Jas has played with many good players and still tends to pass and hide when she can help her team by being more assertive. Jas will be in Tempe at the AZ Elite Classic with her new club team AZ Rebels
• Britta Nordstrom, 5'11 F, (AZ13): Very athletic, powerful and strong on the take.  possesses good speed in the open court, can finish strong around the basket.  Britta has improved her outside shot but maybe not real consistent yet, much better driver and slasher right now.  She can work on her first step and developing a more consistent shot outside will drastically help that.  Is just an average defender and learn to improve her defensive game.  Will be at Boo playing for GSB.
• Kenna McDavis, 6'1 W,(AZ13): Kenna has good size at the wing and is long.  She has one of the smoothest strokes and can flat out shoot it from outside in transition.  She is athletic.  She can block shots and even play some offense down low or from the pinch/high post. Her size and length helps her on the take but she still tends to drive to upright, doesn't necessarily beat her defender, gets them low and makes a move on them.  Kenna is a great shot blocker but can sometimes be over anxious and find her self in foul trouble. She loves to play the game but sometimes might show too much frustration on the court. Although it is something she has gotten better with. Kenna will be playing with AZ Rebels at the AZ Elite Classic in Tempe, AZ.
• Kyndall Adams, 5'10 G, (AZ13): Athletic, great rebounding guard who knows how to get to the line.  Kyndall has played out of position a lot for her teams, truly a guard that has played a lot of forward.  That is the reason why she probably plays so strong when she drives or goes back up on offensive boards. She has learned to play bigger than she really is.  She has an outside game and the more she gets to exercise it, the more proficient she will become.  Tends to drive a lot when I would like to see her pull-up or shoot the open outside shot more when it presents it self. Confidence to shoot from outside and extending her range will be key to her success. Continually improving her ball skills is a must as I see her as a combo guard at the next level. She will be playing with her club AZ Rhythm in Virginia at Boo.
• Katie Werner, 6'1 W, (AZ13): Great size out on the wing.  She hustles, plays hard, rebounds and knocks down outside shots.  She does a sound job containing her opponent and keeping players off the boards.  She still tends to drive up-right.  Her ball skills have improved much over the past year and can possibly even help bring the ball up against pressure. I see strength training playing a key role in her development, learning how to get low on her drive. I would like to see her set her feet a little quicker and quicken her shot and realease. She will be playing for her club team GSB at Boo.
• Olivia Lucero, 5'9 PG, (AZ13): Is a great system point.  She has shown her ability to set her team up and consistantly run a teams offense.  She is not necessarily a scorer but possesses tools to score if she has the opportunity.  She takes care of the ball and is heading in the right direction. Has good size at the pg position but can possibly be a more prolific ball handler and stronger. Plays for AZ Elite. They will be competing in their own tournament in Tempe this weekend.
• Alexa Jacobs, 5'8 G, (AZ13): Solid defender, fierce competitor, plays with a lot of energy.  She is pesky and can make plays on the defensive end.  She can knock down the open shot. Shot tends to be a little flat and can improve consistency with a little better arc. Decision making, making reads, and floor leadership are going to be key in her development. Playing for AZ Rebels in Tempe, Az this weekend.
• Chantel Osahor, 6'3 P, (AZ13): Great hands, vision and passing ability.  Probably the best passing post in the nation.  Chantel is very deceptive in everything she does, looks off defenders and can make no-look passes.  She sets up her drive well and can take to the basket.  She blocks shots and rebounds very well.  She can also help bring the ball up against pressure.  She also has to be guarded out on the perimeter because she can hit the three.  Key for Chantel is going to be her commitment to getting in shape.  She tends to get winded easily and she has had issues with injuries that can be drastically reduced with better conditioning. Her durability is a big question.  She will be playing with her club AZ Warriors in Boo Williams.
• Lyndsey Leikam, 6'2 F, (AZ13): Solid fundamentals, great shooting mechanics, solid frame and size for her position.  Lyndsey is a hard match-up because of her versatility with her size.  She can handle the ball, shoot, post, rebound, defend. I would like to see her work on her speed and extend her range.  If she can play more on the perimeter she will truly be a gem. Playing for AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Dominique Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Solid build, strong, tenacious defender. Dom is a bully on ball handlers.  With her build and energy she expends on the defensive end is frightening to other guards. She sees the floor well and knows how to push the ball and create tempo for her team.  Offensive perimeter skills are a little lacking and she might have trouble scoring if she needs to.  She will make her self better with better change of direction moves and working on her ability to shoot from outside. Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo.
• Danielle Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Maybe not as strong as her twin sister but quicker. She also is tenacious on the ball, really knows how to play defense. She has great court vision and makes great reads with the ball. A little better offensively than her sister but can also vastly improve her ability to change directions off the dribble and develop a more consistent shot. Both sisters struggle to find their own offense or create their own shot.  Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Chloe Johnson 5'6 G, (AZ13): Extremely athletic, fast and strong. She makes strong moves to the basket.  She is very vocal and shows leadership schools.  Not exceptionally quick handles but powerful explosiveness.  Needs some fundamental work on her shot.  Doesn't have great finger tip action, small hands. Ball comes off the side of the hand too much, tends to miss east/west more than north/south. Doesn't know quite how to get her legs in her shot yet. Doesn't have a mid-range game either.  Game is mostly predicated on athleticism and getting to the rim. Traveling with GSB to Boo.
• Aliyah Dickson 5'9 F, (AZ13): Strong, powerful athlete in the small forward/guard position.  Aliyah caries a strong wide frame with guard like athleticism.  She really knows how to use her body and is best at finishing against contact.  Game can be similar to a Bri Smith if she dedicated her self to the game, her team, and conditioning.  Aliyah is not a strong outside shooter.  She can learn to become more consistent outside and improve perimeter skills.  She relies on cutting slashing right now. Traveling with GSB to Boo



2014's coming





• Courtney Ekmark, 6' G, (AZ14): Displays arguably the best shooting mechanics of guards in Arizona.  She knows how to set her feet, spot up in teams offense.  As good as a shooter Ekmark is she also possesses great patience withing her teams offense.  She will keep working the ball within her teams offense until they get a lay-up or well open, uncontested shot. She is a pure shooter but also has the ability to handle the ball in the full court and has great court vision.  Courtney is not overly quick or strong and can struggle against quicker more athletic guards both on the defensive and offensive end. Courtney has a very lean frame and her lack of strength might be the biggest factor in her inability to explode off the dribble, get open or stay low and move her feet on defense. Having said that her opportunity to gain more mass is important.  She has the basketball tools tot do things maybe her body can't allow her to do right now.  Her 1st step can see improvement, her ability to create her own shot, get open, and play better defense can all improve. She has a superb shot but can possibly quicken her release a little as long as it doesn't take away from her efficiency. Traveling to Boo with her club team AZ Warriors coached by her dad Curtis, who also coaches her high school team.
• Casey Rarrick, 5'9 G, (AZ14): Fearless shooting guard who can attack the basket and connect from outside.  Casey has a certain moxy about her and caries her self with lots of confidence.  She plays big minutes for her high school and club team. Her club team possesses a lot of shooters that help spread the floor and have great ball movement.  My concern with Casey will be how she can handle pressure and how she will be effective against teams that play tighter defense. Her dribble isn't real quick and strong and she plays up-right, as do many young players. Needs to improve her point guard skills. Plays for AZ Rhythm who will be at Boo.
• Emily Wolph, 5'4 PG, (AZ14) Small quick guard, good handles that can shoot from outside. Great game at mid level.  Not sure she has the frame to get that much stronger to be an impact player at the next level.  She will definitely need to get stronger, especially in the legs and clean up her shot mechanics. AZ Rhythm will be at Boo.
• Ceclily Wilson, 5'9 G, (AZ14) Has displayed a lot of athleticism in attacking the basket. Elite athleticism right now.  Needs to continue to work on game and develop an outside shot.
2015's
• Armani Hawkins, 5'6, (AZ15): Showing the beginnings of a budding star.  She possesses strong fundamentals and has a great feel for the game. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Sabrina Haines 5'8, (AZ15): Very good rebounding guard, strong with major game experience for her age. She is a hard worker on the floor and seems to find ways to impact the game, mostly through her hustle and work. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Kendall Perry 5'7 G, (AZ15): Kendall is shaping up into a nice leader, capable of running a team. She has sound skills and looks to keep on flourishing.
• 

Shilpa Tummala shares her secrets to excelling on the court, in the classroom

As reported  By Whitney Holtzman of ESPN RISE GIRL: Captain's Corner, our local prep star Shilpa Tummala not only excels on the court but in the classroom.  

Junior at St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) says time management is a skill you have to master

Shilpa Tummala (back row, second from right) is not only captain of the girls basketball team at St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.), she's also No. 1 in her junior class.	Photo By: Courtesy of Shilpa Tummala

Shilpa Tummala isn’t just a leader on the basketball court for St. Mary’s (Phoenix, Ariz.). She also happens to be the leader of her entire class.

Tummala, a 5-foot-11 guard/forward, is No. 1 in her junior class of approximately 150 students.

So how does Tummala find time to rule on the court and in the classroom?

“It is tough to balance everything,” she said. “But it is possible. It’s all about time management, and sometimes I had to make sacrifices, such as not being able to go hang out with my friends when I have homework or not being able to watch TV during the week.

“The rule around my house was no grades, no basketball. … Maintaining my grades was mandatory because that is what would help me make a living later in life.”

Tummala has some advice for girls who are struggling to find a balance.

“The advice I would give is if you get your assignment ahead of time, don’t procrastinate and wait until the last minute,” she said.

She also has different techniques for how to handle homework on practice days vs. game days.

“If you have a late practice, go to the library and do homework rather than hanging out with your friends after school,” she said. “On game days, go to the library during your break period or lunch hour and finish whatever you can. The more you do during the day, the less you have to do after.”

She also points out that getting homework out of the way helps to clear the mind.

“Some days, you may actually finish all of it, and therefore you will be relieved and can be completely focused on the game,” she said.

Tummala also emphasizes that school work can actually be a great form of team bonding, since every team member has work that needs to be done (or at least that they should be doing).

It certainly serves as a way to bring the St. Mary’s girls together.

“Usually, the whole team is in the library studying or doing homework,” she said.

And while Tummala would like to play basketball in college, she hopes to eventually go into biomedical engineering.
But her most pressing advice?

“Be confident in your game at all times and keep working hard,” she said. “Reach for your goals and don’t let anyone get in the way of that. Enjoy playing the sport you love and embrace every minute of it.”

Where Is Lexy Kresl?

With all the hype around Nike sponsored Saint Mary's, who was ranked as high as #7 in Powerade/ESPN Fab 50, Pinnacle's run at a state title in 5AII with arguably the most offensively talented team assembled this year, Chandler's talent and new transfer Simone Westbrook, the MLK match-ups - Mesa Mt. View v Highland, & Hamilton v Chandler, and Xavier's young talent and senior leadership, one might pose the question, "where is Lexy Kresl?".  Since Lexy signed her NLI to play for the Univesity of Colorado Buffs, one might think that last year's Arizona scoring leader fell off into relative obscurity.  Nothing could be further from the truth. She is currently averaging 25 ppg, 14 rpg, 7 apg, & 7 spg.  With the departure of Michelle Spray and Kayla Robinson no one knew what to expect from last years 4AI state champions.  Well, Kresl has led another group of young ladies to a 25-3 record, one loss coming to 5AII state hopeful, Horizon Huskies.  They split their series with region opponents Apollo and Prescott, and might still be considered a favorite to repeat. 

Kresl's stats are solid.  She gives you everything in every aspect of the game.  I've been fortunate to know Kresl since before she ever played a game of varsity high school basketball.  What I can tell you is that she is arguably, if the not, the hardest working female basketball player in the state of Arizona.  Where this work-ethic stems from is a strong desire and extreme dedication to goals she has long set for herself in her youth.  It's this vision that has moved her, kept her focused, making countless sacrifices and spending numerous hours in the gym.  She made up her mind to set out and accomplish the things she has on the basketball court.  When most young kids her age are hanging out to be seen in the hottest spots, sheltered in their homes with the latest gaming console, or internet socializing, Lexy is somewhere getting it done.  Besides the mandatory time she puts in with either her high school or club team, she runs on her own for extra conditioning.  She trains with her club coach Gregory Strickling on days off, or gets to a nearby sports club to put up additional shots.  She might not be the most orthodox of players but she has been handed unique situations that have forced her to conform to a certain skill set that allows her to be an impact for her teams.  She has conformed while learning on the go, on the floor, being made a leader early in her career.  When I think of Lexi and her ability, in my mind I relate it to being a chameleon of a player.  She has adapted her game and style to her goals, her team, and the most direct objective of any competitor, to win.  She never wavered or compromised her dreams to that of her skill level or ability but rather the other way around.  So with that in mind I set out to ask her a few questions to get her perspective on matters. 

• TRIFECTABASKETBALL:  "What sets you apart from the pack?"
• LK: "Well, I don't follow the pack, so I guess that's a good start. I don't care if someone trys to hold me back or thinks it odd how determined I am to succeed. I don't try to blend in and I believe that has helped me not only in basketball but in general."
• TRIFECTABASKETBALL:" What are your goals for the spring and summer to prepare yourself for a successful college career?"
• LK: "This spring and summer I plan to work harder than I ever have before. I know that is the biggest mistake many make after signing to a program, they think they already have it made. I want to be conditioned, both physically and mentally, before going to Colorado and I plan to work on scoring in multiple ways, more effectively, as my main job will be just that. I want to prepare myself so that when I arrive no one questions if I should be there, and I don't want to be surprised by the workload or effort I will have to endure."
• TRIFECTABASKETBALL:  "How do you see yourself as a leader not just on the basketball court but in the community and as a mentor for younger athletes?"
• LK: "I've never really taken to being a verbal leader but instead I lead more by example. Typically, if I set the tone I can get others to follow, and have really improved my ability to push my teammates in the past year. Also, if you perform well you gain respect. When you have that respect your teammates willingly comply. Although I don't have much time outside of basketball, I try to help. I am involved with my church, multiple clubs at school, and various organizations that benefit others. My goal in life is to inspire people, which I assume will derive from my leadership and basketball abilities. If anything I do influences younger athletes in a positive way, I consider that a success."
• TRIFECTABASKETBALL:  "What three things would you demand young players that want to follow in your footsteps of playing DI basketball?"
• LK:  

1. "determination to succeed, absolutely nothing can stop you"
2. "sacrifice,  you have to give up many "fun" opportunities to make it"
3. "desire to win (love for the game), if you don't enjoy it you'll never make it"

Schedule for the 4AI state playoffs

Lexy Kresl Blogspot

Vote Lexy Gatorade Player of the year

High School:  Shadow Mountain HS, Phoenix, AZ
Position:  shooting guard
Coach:  Gerrard Carmichael, 602-300-8506, carmicge1@aol.com

Player accomplishments:(you can put your own info also):  Freshman: 2nd team all region, hon mention all state, 13 ppg, sophomore:  1st team all region, hon mention all state, 16 ppg, Junior:  1st team all region, Metro player of year, 1st team all state, All Arizona, ESPN Rise all american, 4A1 state champs/MVP, 27.6ppg, Senior year: Wendy's Heisman Arizona winner, McDonald's All American nominee, as of 1/1/11 24ppg, 12 reb pg, 4A1 3pt champion.

What about this individual warrants......(this is solely your opinion or gives you a chance to add any additional information that you think should be known)

Community involvement: National Honor Society(3 yrs), Society of Women Scholars(4 yrs), Club impact (3 years), Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research(7 yrs), Principles Advisory Committee(1 yr), Key Club(3 years), Volunteer at church with youth groups/vacation bible school and arts camp(4 yrs), Pep Assembly MC/coordinator(Sr. year), Youth basketball camp volunteer(4 yrs)

THE SHILPA FACTOR

pictured L-R: Shilpa Tummala, Kenna McDavis

In a highly anticipated rematch between #1 (5AII) Pinnacle and #1 (5AI) St.Marys  much was at stake.  For Pinnacle it would be their right to a claim to fame, solidify themselves as not just a top notch AZ program but a chance at national recognition, recognition for their players and bragging rights.  For St. Mary's it was about pride, tradition, a standard and not slipping another spot in ESPN/Powerade FAB 50.  St.Mary's entered the season ranked as high as #7 nationally but has dropped down to #17 after their recent loss to Pinnacle.  In that first match-up Shilpa un-characteristically fouled out in the first half of play, only putting up three points for the entire game.  Being forced to sit most of the first half and eventually fouling out nullified her ability to be the impact player she is for her team and the factor her opponents have to reckon with throughout the course of the show.  That allowed Pinnacle to stifle St. Mary's offensive prowess with their popular box/diamond and one on sharp shooter Courtney Ekmark. The final score was St. Mary's 58, Pinnacle 68.

Since that first showdown, the rematch has been the talk of AZ's womens' hoops community.  St. Mary's used the forum for breast cancer awareness, calling for a "Pink Out", sported their pink warm-ups and high-glossy pink Nike 2010 Hyper Dunks.  OK, enough with the fashion status, on to the game.  Again like in the first game ShilpaTummala started the game on the bench.  This allowed Pinnacle an effective leverage on SM's. By imploring their diamond/1 and box/1 defensive set, Pinnacle was able to cut down the opportunities of Courtney Ekmark, SM's biggest scoring threat on the floor at the time.  SM's showed patience with the offense but still bewildered on how to score they took many shots that were off the mark.  Just what Pinnacle wanted to get into their transition offense.  Pinnacle quickly went up 8-2, mostly on break away lay-ups.  SM's looked a step slow, matched up in transition poorly and were getting out hustled, out rebounded.  Then entered ShilpaTummala into the game.  Within a minute she made her presence felt with consecutive 3's that tied the game.  Kenna McDavis came down on the other end and connected from long range herself, keeping Pinnacle in the game.  Then Shilpa hit her third straight 3 and quickly the fans caught fire and momentum starting swinging in SM's favor.  SM's found their offense which was allowing their press defense to become affective. When Ekmark started connecting from outside, SM's went on a scoring binge to close out the quarter 20-12.  During the 3rd quarter, SM's started to pick apart the Pinnacle defense with their passing game.  I have yet to see a high school team as patient and score off the pass as well as SM's.  SM's was finding back door cuts off pass feeds by Osahor and the Williams sisters.  SM's suffocating jump defense allowed Pinnacle to score only 7 points in the 2nd.  Numerous Pinnacle turnovers and SM's efficiency gave SM's the upper hand in terms of possession and they converted for 20 points of their own in the 2nd.  SM's took a dominant 40-19 lead into intermission.  

SM's continued their torrid pace into the the 3rd.  Walton's presence inside was keeping drivers at bay and limited Pinnacles second chances.  Pinnacle's only highlight in the half was Weise's relentless attack of the basket that got her to the charity stripe a few times and to the basket on an un-characteristic SM's lack of help defense.  Kenna McDavis was an efficient 2-3 from 3 and showed ability to pull up off the dribble but Pinnacle's in-ability to take care of the ball at times hand-cuffed their offensive weapons.

By the first minute of the 4thQ SM's had gained a 29 point advantage 66-37 and Pinnacle's reserves were entering the game to finish it off.  SM's would eventually coast to a 69-49 victory.  The turning point can be isolated way back in the first quarter when Shilpa entered the game and knocked down 3 consecutive 3's in just three minutes of her being on the floor.  She finished the first half with 16 points and 25 points for the game, always a hard item for opponents to account for when she is doing it like she so often does.  The difference in the game, the X factor, equals the "THE SHILPA FACTOR".  Many girls stepped up and showed their worth and on any given night a dozen or so of the players that played this night can have big games but the night belonged to St. Mary's and the MVP was Shilpa Tummala.

A CHANCE TO REPEAT

While much focus has been on the big 5AI schools, their match-ups and players, Shadow Mountain has been inching closer to a state title repeat in 4AI.  Shadow Mountain is a top the leader board with an impressive 24-3 record and chance to get to 25 wins this week against Independence.  They managed this being without key players at times.  They won the Lady Titan Winter Hoops Classic going 5-0 and took second in the Scottsdale Holiday Invitational, only losing to a vastly improved  5AII Horizon team.  Shadow's other two losses came against region opponents Prescott and Apollo, with whom Shadow split both series 1/1.  Even though Shadow lost some key seniors last year, they are led by experience veteran, last year's Arizona leading scorer and Colorado signee  Lexi Kresl, who averaged 27.6 ppg. last year.  Shadow has seen much needed improvement and play from Cydnee Ceballos, D'Metria Coleman, and transfer Jasmine Taliman. The road to repeat will not be easy, especially if rival Apollo has anything to say or do about it.  Last year's runner up is a tough beat and one of AZ's most notable rivalries are between the two schools.  Apollo, after taking second place last year, feels this is their year, and they will fight tooth and nail to erase the bad taste of losing in the 4AI state championship last year out of their mouth.  Apollo is led by ASU signee Promis Amukamara, an extremely athletic guard, who is going to bring everything she can to help her team win.  Look for this match-up, which will only continue as the two move on to play in college, for wouldn't you know it, separate schools in what will be the newly formed PAC10.

In The Family

 Marvin Bracy takes the handoff from Joeal Hotchkins on the anchor of the United States' heat winning 4 x 100m relay that ran the fastest qualifying time of 39.69 

Former Chaparral high school (NV) track star Joeal Hotchkins, who also ran for the Vegas Lightning track club, signed a NLI today to run track for the Oregon Ducks. Hotchkins, who is a sophomore this year at Central Arizona Community College, last year ran a 10.15 in the 100M and a 21.1 in the 200M.  Hotchkins' 100M time would have won him the PAC10 title & 4th place in NCAA last year.  As just a sophomore in high school Joeal won the the state title in the 200, and as a senior lead the the Southern Nevada Honor Roll on nevadatrack.org in three events: 100M, 200M, and long jump. 

Joeal Hotchkins isn't the only speedster in the family, cousin Jasmine Adina Hotchkins is getting it done on the basketball court at Xavier College Prep in AZ, and for GSB (Gregory Strickling Basketball).  Jasmine can be found locking down her opponent on the defensive end with her quick lateral foot speed, filling the lanes or pushing the ball at neck breaking speed in transition.  Xavier's athletic director, Sr. Lynn Winsor, said that she has never seen a girl get to the ball and dribble up the court as fast as Hotchkins.  Hotchkins could be a perfect fit for the Guru of Go, Coach Paul Westhead, and his Oregon Ducks.  That would give the Ducks two Hotchkins speedsters.  Like cousin Joeal, Jasmine also wants a chance to compete at the DI level. 

Coach Hurley Wins 1000th Game, Is The Games Greatest Ambassador At The Grassroots Level

Nice article by Steve Politi for CNN.com on Coach Bob Hurley:

Bob Hurley Sr. is about to hit a milestone few basketball coaches on any level have reached: 1,000 victories.

He has won them the hard way at St. Anthony High in Jersey City, New Jersey, sweeping the hardwood floor before home games and riding yellow buses to cramped gymnasiums up and down the East Coast.

The victories helped make him just the third boys high school coach to earn enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. They earned him the respect of some of the highest-profile coaches in the sport, including Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.

But his true legacy is much deeper than the lights on the scoreboard. Hurley said he would trade in those wins -- every last one of them -- for a chance to help more inner-city kids.

"You know what? I would give them up for one more chance with some of the kids I didn't reach over the years," Hurley said. "If I could have a second chance with some of those, it would be worth all the adulation."

Hurley doesn't coach for the attention. If he wanted that, he long ago would have left St. Anthony, a tiny Catholic school a few blocks from the Holland Tunnel, for the arenas and riches of the college game.

He chose to stay in Jersey City, becoming one of the coaching legends in the high school game. Hurley, whose current team is ranked second in the country in an ESPN poll, will likely win his 1,000th game late next week. No one is sure exactly how many losses that includes -- 109 or 110 is the best guess -- but they rarely happen more than once or twice a season.

Still, even with 25 state parochial titles, the victories are a small part of what he has accomplished. Hurley, 63, has been a father figure for hundreds of inner-city teenagers over the past four decades. He has placed nearly all of them in four-year colleges, most on scholarships.

Some are doctors and businessmen now. Others are lawyers and police captains. One owns a popular restaurant in Jersey City and once held a seat on the city's board of education.

Terry Dehere, who went on to play at Seton Hall and in the NBA, could have moved on from his roots. Instead, he moved back to Jersey City, twice renovating his boyhood playground, restoring an abandoned building for low-income housing and hands out 500 turkeys annually each Thanksgiving.

"(Hurley) had a direct effect on a lot of young men's lives growing up in Jersey City," Dehere said. "To have a coach who was dedicated and a taskmaster helped a lot of kids -- and I'm a living testament to it."

Dehere played for Hurley in the late '80s. Two decades later, Mike Rosario was the star of the team, a hot-tempered kid who used basketball as a refuge from the life in a housing project.

"He started disciplining me like I was one of his sons," Rosario said. "It was to the point where I was like, 'Wow, I had never been pushed like this in my life.' I learned how to be a man and not a boy." Rosario now plays college ball at the University of Florida.

Coaching at a place like St. Anthony isn't always a glamorous life, but Hurley has always recognized its importance in the city where he grew up. The school, with just 250 students, boasts a 100% college acceptance rate over the past 18 years, according to its Web site.

Hurley has helped keep the doors open through his fundraising efforts, never making more than a $6,500 stipend for coaching. He worked as a probation officer and then a parks department official before retiring from his day jobs to focus on his team and his grandchildren.

His first victory came on December 8, 1972. It was an impressive debut, a 64-43 win over a team whose coach was ejected in frustration, but there were few signs of a dynasty in the making.

"I remember that like it was yesterday," Hurley said. "You think, 'Wow. It would be nice to do that again.' "

St. Anthony kept winning and winning, and producing college-ready players along the way. That attracted attention from the next level. Finally, in the spring of 1985, he received a phone call from then Xavier coach Pete Gillen with a simple message.

"It's time."

He accepted an offer to become Gillen's top assistant. But then he arrived home to find his three children waiting. Bobby, his oldest son, had written a list of reasons why he had to stay at St. Anthony that left the old man in tears.

"Who's going to be my coach? You're going to be on the road all the time. Are you ever going to see me play?"

So Hurley stayed put. His team with his son at point guard is regarded as one of the best in state history, and when he graduated from St. Anthony, Bobby Hurley helped turn another coach into a legend, too.

Krzyzewski has won four national championships at Duke, including two when Bobby Hurley was his point guard. He was the presenter on August 13 when Hurley Sr. was inducted into the Hall of Fame, standing proudly over his shoulder as the high school lifer joined the most exclusive club.

"Bob has a passion to help young men get the opportunities they would never have gotten unless he and basketball entered their lives," Krzyzewski said. "He should be in the Hall of Fame not for the number of wins, but for the number of lives he's changed."

His induction was not just a victory for Hurley. It was a validation for thousands of high school coaches across the country.

Few will ever get the same recognition. Hurley has been the subject of a best-selling book, "The Miracle of St. Anthony," and an award-winning documentary, "The Street Stops Here."

But in a way, when he stood with NBA stars such as Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone at the induction ceremony, he stood for all the coaches who work at the grassroots level of the sport.

The men and women who not only shape the lives of young people, but sweep the floors before games.

"What we see is the finished product," Malone said before the induction ceremony. "But somewhere along the line, somebody looked at every one of us and said, 'I think I'll give that young man a chance.' Our high school coaches don't get nearly enough credit."
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