Sandy's Spiel Tip-Off Classic Girls Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Tip-Off Classic Girls Top Performers


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1A D-I No. 4 Athens Christian 59
2A No. 10 Union County 47

Natalee Goff2024 5-10 W Natalee Goff – Athens Christian
Emmanuel landed a steal with the signing of Natalee Goff. One of the state’s best pure shooters, the big wing was on a heater from the opening moments of Athens Christian’s 59-47 win over Union County. Goff drilled five threes en route to winning Player of the Game, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Natalee has a quick shooting motion off the catch and has the physicality to attack from inside the arc as well. Goff has a knack for getting to her spots in the mid-range and has shown the ability over the course of her career to be able to create out of isolation settings, both on the wing and on the block. Natalee was effective on the glass, sliding in for a putback as her lone two-point field goal on Saturday. Goff has a high ceiling at the next level. Her ability to space the floor could earn her minutes early on in her career.

Josi Vaughn2026 5-5 G Josi Vaughn – Athens Christian
Josi exploited Union County’s sluggish transition defense, finding her offense in the open floor. Vaughn scored on two coast-to-coast takes and collected two more baskets by running the court. Josi created off the dribble with some shifty drives, implementing eurosteps to free herself. Vaughn tallied 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, hitting a corner three in the process.

2027 6-1 C Voldie Basana – Athens Christian
The latest international addition to Athens Christian shores up the starting five and gives the Eagles another intimidating post presence. Voldie is ahead of where Marlene Mbilima was at this stage last year, already with a sense of how to play in the paint. Basana isn’t shy about throwing her weight around, a physical big that scored well through traffic. Voldie’s offense came with her back-to-the-basket, not just easy dump offs. After sealing off defenders, Basana liked to drop step middle for baskets. She was effective in high-low looks and even scored on a short drive. Voldie recorded 9 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks. The burgeoning prospect is going to start popping up on more and more D-I radars.

Paula Robertson2026 5-9 G Paula Robertson – Union County
Paula came out of the gates with poise for Union County, a key factor for the Panthers being outscored in the first quarter by just two points, 15-13. The lefty had her jump shot working throughout the day, knocking down four mid-range jumpers including a step-back. Robertson has the size, shooting touch and competitive athleticism to develop into a nice prospect over her final three seasons. Paula finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in the 59-47 loss to Athens Christian.

Ariel McCarter2025 5-9 G Ariel McCarter – Union County
In search of offense to keep pace with Athens Christian, veteran Ariel McCarter was Union County’s most consistent option scoring in every quarter to end with a team-high 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. McCarter drained a three in each period while supplying aggressive defense, hustling from behind to block shots and deflect passes. Ariel handles a lot of the lead guard duties although I feel like she is more of an off-guard, but her reps handling vs. pressure are invaluable for her long-term development.

4A No. 6 Trinity Christian 80
1A D-I No. 3 Rabun County 62

Gabbie Grooms2024 5-9 G Gabbie Grooms – Trinity Christian
Gabbie looked every bit of an ACC player, the Georgia Tech-signee carrying the Lions past the shorthanded LadyCats, taking Rabun County’s best shot but always answering back in Trinity Christian’s 80-62 win. Grooms patiently dissected the defense, using her physicality to bump off defenders when getting to her spots in the mid-range and when scoring through contact for And-1s, three of which she converted. Gabbie’s scoring efficiency at all three levels along with her court vision makes her the complete package, good enough on her own to carry a team to a deep state playoff run. Grooms sank three three-pointers, two off the dribble. She mixed in step-backs with floaters and went 5-7 from the foul line. In total, Gabbie dumped in 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block, scoring an even 14 points in each half. In what was the highest-level game of the day, it was Grooms that shined above all others.

Ivona Djikanovic2025 6-0 F Ivona Djikanovic – Trinity Christian
With Rabun County starved for size and their depth lacking, Ivona Djikanovic wore down the beleaguered LadyCats with her low post game, eventually fouling out Presbyterian-signee Ellie Southards early in the fourth quarter. The versatile inside-out forward didn’t settle for perimeter scoring opportunities and instead exploited her advantage by anchoring herself on the low block. Djikanovic scored on pretty hook shots with both hands. She got on the glass for a putback and scored on a drive. In the second half alone, Ivona shot 7-8 from the line. Djikanovic double-doubled with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. The highly-skilled Montenegrin is the perfect sidekick next to Gabbie Grooms. Rider and Anderson have offered. That list should at least triple by the end of the season. Buy stock now.

2027 5-3 G Madison Bennett – Trinity Christian
With both teams looking for a third scoring option to step up, Trinity Christian and Rabun County both saw their freshmen rise to the occasion. For the Lions, it was Madison Bennett. The quick little guard drilled timely threes especially in the first half. Every time it felt like Rabun County had momentum with their three-point shooting, Bennett would stymy the LadyCats with a deep ball of her own. Bennett sank five threes finishing with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. For Trinity Christian to compete for a state title, Madison will have to hit shots. Saturday was a great day for Bennett.

Adelyn Thompson2027 5-5 G Adelyn Thompson – Rabun County
With three starters missing including two guards, Rabun County thrust Adelyn Thompson into the starting lineup for her first career start. The freshman rewarded the LadyCats with a game-high 19 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist. Adelyn looked comfortable on the floor and played with confidence, letting it fly from beyond the arc with four threes spacing the floor with deep range. Thompson showed toughness getting downhill, dropping in a pair of floaters. Adelyn carried the LadyCats in the third quarter as fouls piled up elsewhere, scoring 12 of Rabun County’s 16 points. Finding consistent offense around Lucy Hood and Ellie Southards will always be key for the LadyCats. If Adelyn can continue to establish herself as a legit scoring option, it will bring Rabun County’s ceiling to a whole new level.

Lucy Hood2024 5-9 PG Lucy Hood – Rabun County
Orchestrating an offense that drilled 13 threes, Western Carolina-signee Lucy Hood was the head of the snake that found ways to get her teammates open shots. Lucy buried two of her three three-pointers in the first quarter and added 11 points after halftime. Hood used her physical big-guard approach to get downhill and bump off Trinity Christian’s pesky little guards. With a large burden on her to create offense, especially with Ellie Southards out in the fourth quarter, Lucy still managed eight points in the final frame all while defending Georgia Tech-signee Gabbie Grooms throughout the game. Hood posted 17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in the 80-62 loss.

Ellie Southards2024 5-8 W Ellie Southards – Rabun County
Trinity Christian started to pull away in the second quarter, the LadyCats falling behind 37-25 before Ellie Southards unleashed a three-point barrage igniting a personal 12-0 run with four consecutive threes to tie it up. The Presbyterian-signee stroked six threes before fouling out at the 6:57 mark of the fourth quarter down 64-53, Rabun County outscored 16-9 to close the game. Ellie pumped in 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in abbreviated action. Southards’ strength and toughness when defending larger players is effective, but can sometimes haunt her in games with tight whistles that end up limiting her physicality. Though fouling out, Southards’ elite shot-making on the perimeter stamps why Presbyterian inked her. Ellie is at her best when she’s active along the perimeter, creating with side-steps and step-backs instead of waiting in the corners for ball reversals.

 

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 67
1A D-I No. 8 Lamar County 54

Christen Collins2025 5-3 PG Christen Collins – Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Lamar County had no answer for the quick aggressiveness of Christen Collins. The little lefty was a prime reason why Lamar County had three starters with three fouls by halftime. Collins sliced up the defense, getting to the rim at will. She scored in transition, finished with her right hand, utilized a hesitation move to get downhill and added two threes in the fourth quarter for good measure. Christen did the bulk of her damage at the line though, shooting 12-15 from the stripe. When Lamar County started making a late run, cutting the lead to eight in the fourth quarter after trailing by 17 at the half, it was Collins who extinguished all hope netting 13 points in the fourth quarter to ice the game 67-54. Christen is an under the radar workhorse that’s used to carrying the load offensively. In Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe’s Sweet 16 loss to Lumpkin County last year, Collins accounted for 16 of the Warriors’ 32 points. D-II programs looking for jitterbug quickness will want to check out the southpaw.

2024 5-6 G Zakiria Foster – Lamar County
With Shakiria Foster hampered with foul trouble, it was Zakiria who did the best she could to keep the Trojans within striking distance. Foster nailed three threes and attacked the basket. Zakiria left points on the board, going 2-8 from the line, but her athleticism and motor were bright spots for Lamar County. Foster tallied a team-high 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.