2019 #HLWBB #MotorCityMadness Preview
Joey Yashinsky
Ahead of the #HLWBB semifinals on Monday, Horizon League contributor Joey Yashinsky previews the upcoming Horizon League Women’s Basketball Tournament with analysis by coaches and scouts from around the league.
1) Wright State Raiders (25-6, 16-2)
Coach: Katrina Merriweather
“They are just so balanced. A really well-rounded team. It is very difficult to defend them because their guards are really good and can really create. It’s not just one of them, either. It’s three or four of them. Then there’s the big post players inside that not only rebound the ball, but they also finish very well around the basket.”
“Then you have Symone Simmons, a 1,000-point scorer, 1,000-rebound player. She doesn’t always get enough credit, but she is key for them.”
“Angel Baker has been really good as a freshman. With her ability to score the basketball, and she can play off the ball too, it makes her that much harder to guard because of that versatility. She’s also a kid that just plays with a lot of confidence, and a kid with that type of confidence can go a long way in our league.”
“It’s extremely tough keeping Simmons and Tyler Frierson off the glass because they are so aggressive. They are what I call legit rebounders, meaning they go and get the ball. They don’t wait for the ball to come to them. Every time down, if you’re not boxing those two out, you’re in trouble. They are just so physical. Contact doesn’t bother them. It’s a big part of what they do and they do it just about every time down court.”
“Mackenzie Taylor has been one of the best shooters in the league for the last few years. Any room for her and it’s usually gonna go down. Michal Miller is another athletic guard, reminds me a little of Angel Baker. Those two are pretty similar in their games. Miller likes to hit that pull-up jumper.”
“Emily Vogelpohl’s got such active hands. You think you’re okay getting past her, then she tips it from behind. She’s a smart basketball player, reads passing lanes, reads people’s eyes to see where they’re going with the ball next. I think she’s also a capable scorer, but she’s taken on a role with all these other players that she doesn’t have to score as much to affect the game, so she affects things on the other side of the ball.”
2) Green Bay Phoenix (21-8, 15-3)
Coach: Kevin Borseth
“I think they are actually playing the best out of the top four teams right now. Down the stretch, they really found their stride. They didn’t win the conference title, but Kevin always does a great job getting those kids ready for the Horizon League Tournament. I see them being a real problem next week. They’re just so solid, they aren’t going to beat themselves, and they’re gonna defend. They held Cleveland State to 30 points. It’s just unbelievable what they are able to do there year in and year out.”
“Everybody on that team buys in to defending. They make it hard for you to run what you’re trying to run, and if you don’t hit shots early, you’re gonna be in trouble. And when you miss a bunch of those early looks, it starts to play on you mentally. You can’t waste any opportunities against that team.”
“Laken James has definitely stepped up in her role there. They had some major players graduate, then some major players got injured, so she had to step up and become more of a scorer, become someone the coaching staff could depend on game in and game out. She’s making big shots for them and she got rewarded making All-League Second Team. It shows that people were paying attention to what she was doing all season.”
“Jen Wellnitz is one of the best I’ve seen in this league at affecting the game without needing to score 20 points. She’s an unbelievable defender, she makes it tough on whoever is bringing the ball up. She’s a player that loves that side of the ball, so she’s never taking breaks. If you’re being guarded by her, you’ll have to work the entire game. And if she’s defending off the ball, you have to watch for her playing passing lanes. She affects the game so much without scoring, it’s unbelievable.”
“Their size is hard to deal with. The Wolf twins have got better as the year has gone on. When you’re dealing with that size to start a game, then they bring someone off the bench with that same size, it is definitely hard to match.”
“I think down the stretch here, all of their players are finding a rhythm. That’s a championship program over there. Those kids are built for March. I think they’ll be very prepared for next week and are obviously a team you need to watch out for.”
3) Youngstown State Penguins (22-8, 13-5)
Coach: John Barnes
“Sarah Cash is one of the hardest working players in our league. We’ve been saying that for the last three years on our scouting reports: don’t let her outwork you. She was huge in their win against Milwaukee, finishing the way she did, making clutch baskets. That’s a kid that started as a walk-on and became an All-Conference player, so I just think that speaks to her outstanding work ethic.”
“Mary Dunn has really impressed me this year. She’s been a huge factor in them having the season that they had. With her ability to score down low, trying to defend her inside and stop her from getting to her spots is a real challenge. She was just very consistent this whole year. It was huge for Barnes and that staff that Dunn came on the way she did this year.”
“You let Alison Smolinski get her feet set and she’s gonna knock it down. The key is to try and force her off the 3-point line and make her put the ball on the floor. If she catches it in rhythm, it’s lights out. When her and Dunn are playing well, they look unbeatable.”
“I like Chelsea Olson a lot just because of her versatility. This is a kid that can run the show, but she can also score. Not only that, but she defends very well and can guard quite a few positions. Coming in, I thought they might struggle a little bit without Indiya Benjamin just because she did so many things for them, but Olson has done a great job filling some of those gaps. She’s just a composed kid that affects the game on both ends of the floor.”
“This has been Melinda Trimmer’s year. It might have taken a couple years, but she is doing exactly what her team needs her to do: run the offense, don’t turn it over, and get the ball to the right people at the right time. And she has done that. And that’s why she’s one of the leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio. She makes very few mistakes and down the stretch she’s even been scoring more for them, which helps them. She’s solid, dependable; exactly what you want at that point guard spot.”
4) IUPUI Jaguars (20-10, 13-5)
Coach: Austin Parkinson
“They just wear you down. They pick you up full court the entire game, and if you’re not prepared for that, if you haven’t played in games like that, it’s hard for your kids to hang in down the stretch. And they’re really the only ones playing that style in our league.”
“Macee Williams is one of the best finishers in the league. Her footwork is excellent. She just goes to work down there. You almost don’t notice that she just had 20 and 10 on you. And she gets a lot of points from within their system. You don’t see her forcing things, she just plays within the offense. She definitely deserved to be the Player of the Year.”
“I think Holly Hoopingarner is a real key. Her ability to run their offense, pick up full court like she does, makes outside shots. She doesn’t get enough credit. I thought she deserved to be on one of the All-Conference teams. I was shocked she didn’t make it. Without her, they are not the same team.”
“You’ve really got to try and run Sydney Hall and Sydney Roule off the 3-point line, make them drive it. They can really do damage from out there. Everyone on that team plays their role. They need Hall to make shots, they need Hoopingarner to control the tempo, and they need Williams to do everything she does.”
“Tamya Sims is so athletic. She reminds me of a Scottie Pippen on defense just being able to guard every position. When they’re switching her onto a point guard, you’re just like, ‘Wow.’ She really competes at both ends.”
“Katelyn O’Reilly is a shot-maker. Kid that comes in and gives them offense, and just like everyone else on that team, she works her tail off. She’s a high-IQ player and I like that she plays with a little bit of a swagger. That was a great pickup for Coach Parkinson.”