2016 State 6A field ready
NORTH SHORE’S Blankenship, Francis and Okeene are ready
HOUSTON, Texas- Okay, I probably couldn’t have written the script better than it has played out, well actually write it before the season started as North Shore and Dekaney (6A) and Crosby (5A) all have made it to Austin, I mean San Antonio, I can’t get that right. After seeing Duncanville at the Texas Invitational, I said they were “playoff ready” and no team I had seen would stand in their way and although they’ve had some scares down the stretch for a bit, at the end of the day, they are just where they want to be as they open up undefeated (37-0) against Cibolo Steele (36-3). I don’t much about Steele but Duncanville’s Cierra Johnson (Louisville) is 6’5, a McDonald’s All American and one of the best posts in the country while 2018 Zae Green is in the mix for MDAA as well as she’s one of the best in her class
Dekaney vs North Shore are both 36-1, how about that and although the Mustangs lost to the Wildcats by double digits in a fall league game, throw that out of the equation because you have one of the best point guards in Texas, best in the area, in Jaelyn Richard Harris for Dekaney against one of the best guards in the country, North Shore’s Chasity Patterson and no matter what anyone tells you, the game starts at the one and these teams are because of that, well their supporting cast has been great. Jasmine Harris and Kene Hamilton have put up numbers all season while Makeedah Collins (Dillard) an create issues from long range and inside but the play of undersized Keishawna Scott has definitely played a factor, as well as those sophomore “bigs” Tatiana Hill and Sierra Dirden
I called Patterson “The Future” six years ago, I was right, I’m always right about talent and she’s playing “all world” right now. Alyssa Okeene (North Carolina) looked TARHEEL ready in the regional finals, she was simply creating problems on both ends but the X factor this season would have to be Victoria Blankenship which I alluded to in the story on “new addition” way back in the preseason but Madison Francis, the smallest player on the court, simply went off this past weekend. This is the Mustangs first trip to the state tournament, the other participants have been here before, well the Pantherette’s have been here double digit times but it’s going to be exciting and entertaining