Diamond's State HS Playoff Game

[Wbbfan1]

GHSA - Link

I think I have the right game linked. Replays are usually available later on the same day the game is played.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Norcross losing 14-9 end of 1st qtr. Diamond has not looked good so far. They are playing McEheran who is ranked #1 in the State of Ga.

 

[pap49cba]

Norcross trails 14 - 9 end of 1st. DD has yet to score.

 

[AboutWeston]

29 to 19 at the half. DD with a big block to end the half! (BTW - thanks for the link to this very entertaining HSWBB game!!!)

 

[Wbbfan1]

Losing 29-19 @ the Half. Diamond hasn't scored and does have an injured hand. She injured her hand in January. Norcross has not looked good at all.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Norcross trailing 47-38 end of 3rd. Had plenty of chances to get back into the game, but the whole team is not shooting well. Diamond has 3 points on a 3 point shot.

 

[pap49cba]

Not exactly dominating. She looks a little out of sorts. Wonder if any of the coaches are attending.

 

[UConnCat]

Not exactly dominating. She looks a little out of sorts. Wonder if any of the coaches are attending.

Glad I'm not watching. Geno isn't there (per John A he was at MSG for the men's game), but maybe one of the assistant coaches is there.

 

[alexrgct]

She has had and will have better days. I hope to heck some of those better days are in a UConn jersey.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think this shows that Diamond needs UConn perhaps more than we need her. Geno will make her a complete player to complement her superior physical skills.

 

[AboutWeston]

Down to the end and DD's team is back in it, down two - now 4 - but probably not going to win...

 

[Alydar]

I watched the last 4 minutes and it was a comedy of errors. Norcross missed a bunch of ft's in the last 2 minutes while McKechern kept turning it over. DD airballed an attempt to tie with seconds left.

 

[Wbbfan1]

McEchearn wins 64-61. Norcross had numerous chances to tie and even win the game. Missed Free Throws and turnovers caused the loss.

 

[Alydar]

Thanks for the link

 

[alexrgct]

I think this shows that Diamond needs UConn perhaps more than we need her. Geno will make her a complete player to complement her superior physical skills.

I said something fairly close to this and was greeted with a certain amount of "high horse-ness" in response (not from you, Eric, if you're reading this). There are reasons why she might want to go to Maryland, reasons I can respect, but in terms of basketball per se, UConn would be the best place for her to harness her prodigious athletic talents.

 

[dcdon]

Keep in mind that McEachern is the #2/3 team in the nation, and beat Norcross back in the first gameof the season. Despite the poor play by Norcross, it was closer this time around.

 

[UConnCat]

According one of the Hoopgulrz guys, lots of head coaches at the game, including Hatchell, Freese and Summitt, as well as several assistant coaches.

 

[speedoo]

I think this shows that Diamond needs UConn perhaps more than we need her. Geno will make her a complete player to complement her superior physical skills.

I think what it shows is that Norcross was defeated by a much better team, that successfully took Diamond out of her game with constant double teams and an ability to score whenever they had to. The team that won was much better coached with more talent overall than Norcross has.

Diamond is an incredible athlete and she is clearly still rusty from her injury, which is probably still affecting her play... big cast like thing on her left wrist and forearm.

 

[Goodies07]

According one of the Hoopgulrz guys, lots of head coaches at the game, including Hatchell, Freese and Summitt, as well as several assistant coaches.

Probably to watch more than Diamond. I know McEachern has a number of D1 prospects. Here's a link to an article from their first game against Norcross

"Norcross won the title game last March pretty easily – 61-36, but McEachern has perhaps the best team to come out of Cobb County in years. The team has SIX players who have committed or signed with Division I schools.
Those include returning seniors Kayla Montgomery (a 6-foot-4 center who has signed with Clemson), guard Dominique Wilson (Arkansas) and forward Pachiyaanna Roberts (Syracuse).
Junior guard Mia Cooper has committed to South Carolina, and freshman guard Te’a Cooper has committed to North Carolina. Yes, a freshman with a verbal commitment.
And then there’s Destinie Gibbs, a 5-9 forward who has signed with Ole Miss. Gibbs transferred from Southwest DeKalb."

 

[Bestiarius]

Diamond did not sparkle in this game. Not talking about lack of scoring, that can happen, but she did a lot of standing around and made many bad decisions. Norcross is not a well coached team. Not much is demanded of the players. Hard to believe that these are the State's best teams. Diamond did make some nice passes, but her teammates were not able to handle them. If she comes to Uconn, DD will have a lot of learning to do and practices will be hell for this Norcross Blue Devil.

 

[pap49cba]

I have to say I was not impressed but it is the first time I've watched her in a live game. And as I said earlier, she almost looked out of sorts for some reason. She may be banged up and obviously is playing one-handed.

 

[Olde Coach]

Diamond did not sparkle in this game. Not talking about lack of scoring, that can happen, but she did a lot of standing around and made many bad decisions. Norcross is not a well coached team. Not much is demanded of the players. Hard to believe that these are the State's best teams. Diamond did make some nice passes, but her teammates were not able to handle them. If she comes to Uconn, DD will have a lot of learning to do and practices will be hell for this Norcross Blue Devil.

"Diamond did make some nice passes."

I would say "awesome passes." Long, and very fast, and very accurate.

Also, she showed great court vision to spot the open players.

 

[HuskyMJ]

From watching this game and then seeing highlights of Kaela Davis, I would say Davis is the more polished player and more college ready. DeShields has things you cannot teach like speed, athleticism and vertical leap but basketball fundamentals I think Davis has an advantage. DeShields has huge upside still which makes her attractive. I will be happy either way. If we get her Geno has the best athlete in the country who can be molded into a great player. If we don't get her, well I don't know if he is missing out on the caliber of player like KML or Stewart.

 

[MilfordHusky]

From watching this game and then seeing highlights of Kaela Davis, I would say Davis is the more polished player and more college ready. DeShields has things you cannot teach like speed, athleticism and vertical leap but basketball fundamentals I think Davis has an advantage. DeShields has huge upside still which makes her attractive. I will be happy either way. If we get her Geno has the best athlete in the country who can be molded into a great player. If we don't get her, well I don't know if he is missing out on the caliber of player like KML or Stewart.

This is exactly why some rate Kaela over Diamond. But Diamond's upside, like her vertical leap, may be unsurpassed. That's why I think she could really benefit from UConn 's coaching.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I said something fairly close to this and was greeted with a certain amount of "high horse-ness" in response (not from you, Eric, if you're reading this). There are reasons why she might want to go to Maryland, reasons I can respect, but in terms of basketball per se, UConn would be the best place for her to harness her prodigious athletic talents.

Maryland 's arena, though now about 10 years old, may be second to only Louisville's Yum Center. It looks like Verizon Center in downtown. Very impressive! Maryland is a good school, and the D.C. metro area has lots of appeal. And, as we know, Brenda had a good sales pitch,