The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report in partnership with NESTARZ held their first annual Spring Girls Showcase a couple of weeks ago and over 120 girls including much of the best talent in New England were present. We will take a look at many of those who participated over the next few days starting off with those whose really shined.
Madeline Blais (5'11" junior, New Hampton School) - Blais is a 6'1" long guard/forward that can get it done on both ends of the floor. Blais plays the game with such grace and makes things look easy. It is evident that the game comes easy to her and as a result she made it look easy at the showcase having her way most of the morning. On the offensive end she is exceptional at putting the ball to the floor and finding her way to the rim. She also is a deadly shooter who can really knock them down from deep. We liked her most at the event when she rebounded and led transition. She is an impossible match-up for all her opponents. Blais also made her presence known on the defensive end as she aggressively challenged every opponent’s shot.
Lexi Sells (5'10" junior, Bishop Feehan, MA) - Sells is a combo-guard that has a lot of talent, and one of those talents being that she plays very hard. Sells is excellent in transition and makes her teammates look better. She has a great touch and has the ability to score from inside-out. The bottom line is that Sells does not have many weaknesses to her game. She is a versatile player that can do everything.
Audrey Knowlton (5'9", junior, Gloucester, MA) - Knowlton is an off guard who is able to create off dribble and finish. Knowlton was one of the best shooting guards at the showcase and was making the three ball in bunches. Knowlton is also strong at the defensive end of the floor and an exceptional weak-side rebounder.
Olivia Healy (5'9", sophomore, Reading, MA) - Healy is a physical player who is a tough match-up for just about everybody who dears to cover her. At the showecase, that was the case as Healy had her way. Healy uses the inside-out game to create advantages for herself. She knocks down threes against bigs and punishes smaller guards around the basket. Healy can play multiple positions on the floor and is fun to watch leading transition.
Melissa Frase (5'9", senior, Kennett H.S., NH) - Just returning from an injury but you would never know it by the way she was playing! Frase was strong attacking hoop off the dribble and showed us a sweet long range jump shot. Frase also demonstrated a high basketball IQ as she sees court well, and always seems to make the correct basketball play.
Natatlie Leone (5'9", sophomore, Ashland, MA)- Leone is a slasher who can get to hoop from all spots on the floor. Leone demonstrated a high basketball IQ and was fun to watch as she effectively weaved in and out of traffic creating easy hoops for her teammates.
Casey McLaughlin (6'0", sophomore, Central Catholic, MA) - The skilled 6 ft forward showed she is crafty around the rim as she used her height and strong body to get to the hoop on several occasions during the event. McLaughlin also showed us that she has the ability to rebound, push the ball down the floor, leading her team on the break. McLaughin is a threat on offense as she can both take the ball to the hole, post up, or hit the mid range jumper. McLaughlin has a huge upside.
Ali Glennon (5'10", freshman, Bedford High School, NH) - Glennon may be a Freshman, but she doesn't play like one. Glennon played poised and under control and showed us that she knows how to finish around the basket. She has an excellent skill set and knows how to create space to get into the paint for a pull-up or get to the rim. The best part about Glennon is that she has a huge upside especially given she has a big wing-span.
Daisy Jordan (6'0", junior, Tilton School, NH) - Jordan is a physical girl who dominated in the post during the event. Jordan also showed she can get to the rim-always looking to attack. Jordan has very soft hands and finishes consistently around the rim. She is also physical and tough at the defensive end and is hard to score on.
Samantha Brenner (6'3", junior, New Hampton, NH) - Brenner is a post player with a multitude of guard talents. Brenner showed us she is an all around threat on the court because she can post up, step outside and hit the three, as well as go by her defender. She scored in all these ways during the event. Added to that, Brenner altered or blocked many shots during the event.
Morgan O'Brien (5'10", sophomore, Reading H.S, MA) - Two things we know about Morgan O'Brien is that she plays hard and she can really shoot the basketball from extended range. During this event she showed us she can still do those two things but she has also began to develop a midrange game. She had a couple of nice looking pull-up in the lane after she set her defender up to believe she was driving to the basket. O'Brien showed us an improved mid-range game and an improved ability to get to the rim off the dribble. O'Brien is also basketball saavy and knows when to make the right play or pass.
Brittany Lomanno - (5'6", sophomore, Billerica, MA) - Lomanno is as an exceptional point guard that has a high basketball IQ. Lomanno is a pass first point guard that always makes her teammates look good. Her skills and IQ were on display at the event as Lomanno showed us that she can run a team efficiently and effectively. Lomanno is one of the few point guards you will find that understands how to use the pick and roll, knows how to make the right pass, and truly understands the position she plays.
Caitlin Dell’Orfano (5'8", freshman, Central Catholic, MA) - The freshman was fun to watch as she plays the game at a maturity level well beyond her years. Dell'orfano is a an excellent shooter with a quick release who loves to spot up and shoot in transition. She can also score the basketball in a number of other ways. During the event she showed us a variety of offensive skills including a nice floater as she dropped a tear drop over a taller opponent. Dell'orfano is athletic and aggressive and competes at both ends of the court.
Lizzy Ball- (5'7", junior, New Hampton, NH) - Ball's greatest attribute is the high intensity she plays the game with and the fact that she leaves all her energy on the court. Ball demonstrated that she is a very good ball handler that can use both hands. Time after time she pushed the ball up court and finds her teammates running the lane. She also is an agressive lock down defender and gave her opponents nightmares throughout the event.
Amber Dillon (5'4", senior, Brookline, MA) - Dillon put her strong and athletic body on display at the event as she was able to pretty much do as she pleased. Given her strength and athleticism, she is most special in transition as she made several standout plays off the break during the event. Her strength, athleticism, and leadership skills were used not only to control the game at the point guard position, but she also kept the defense honest by knocking down pull up shots in a half court set.
Ginelle Cola (5'7", junior, Lowell, MA) - Cola is a very athletic guard who was very effective slashing to the basket and finishing. She played extremely hard and was active on both offense and defense glasses. Cola also plays tireless man-to-man defense on her opponents.
Megan Otto (5'11', junior, Scituate, MA) - Otto is a long and athletic guard who can play both inside and out thus making her a tough match-up. She showed us she can create off the dribble or knock down the pull up from fifteen feet away. Otto is also an excellent competitor and a great on the ball defender.
