PODCASTS

  PODCAST: Mark Williams - FROM THE BASELINE with Premier Basketball
 

• Important part of the Leicester Riders (pro) and Charnwood (scholastic) program for 7 years. Has grown a program from ground up and has been successful within coaching multiple teams.

 

• With Charnwood he has managed to win over 12 national titles while also helping over 30 students gain scholarships in the USA.

 

• He has also been part of the National Team - working with Great Britain U20 Women team for the last 3 years, Finishing 4th last year in European Championship.

 

• Has taken the girls from Charnwood to the international stage, having a successful AAU tournament trip with Premier Basketball - ALL girls from that team gaining scholarship. 

 

• Success within the World ISF games - winning a World Gold medal for 3x3 and also a bronze medal.

 

• Coaches the WBBL team (Pro Level) and has the best finish in program history and also brought first WBBL silverware to the Club. Made UK history as first British-Asian Coach to win national title in any mainstream sport. 

 
PODCAST:  https://soundcloud.com/shane-laflin/grandviewvalor-podcast 
 
Even though the Final was subsequently cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, the CHSAA was able to get in the Semifinals on March 12 ^th. And what a Semifinal it was. 
 
Grandview and Valor Christian both have one of the top 2022 post players in the country in Lauren Betts and Raegan Beers, respectively. They both have Division 1 bound point guards in Tomia Johnson (Grandview | FGCU signee) and 2021 Kindyll Wetta (Valor | Colorado commit). 


2022 Lauren Betts of Grandview



2022 Raegan Beers of Valor Christian 

Although the CHSAA system had the seeds as Valor #1 and Grandview #4, I would have given the early edge on paper to Grandview due to depth and overall size. 
 
What may have tipped the scales on paper is also what proved to be a huge key in the second half for Grandview, 2022 Marya Hudgins. She had a huge game with five threes and added another bucket, for a total of 17 points. 
 
Addison O’Grady (2021 | Grandview) was in a bit of foul trouble, but her presence alone made it hard to send double teams and rotations at Lauren Betts when they were on the floor together. Grandview has a solid third option at the post as well in 6’1 Dasiya Jones. 
 

(Running Score)	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q / Final
Grandview	7	17	30	49
Valor	11	20	31	42

 


2022 Marya Hudgins of Grandview. 

 
Grandview – Defensively
 
Grandview primarily played M2M defense throughout. They showed a soft press after some makes, but it didn’t seem to be a big part of their game plan. I think the biggest adjustment they made at halftime was that they turned up their on-ball pressure which disrupted the shot selection decisions of Valor and limited their ability to get good touches inside for Beers. 
Valor Christian – Defensively
 
Valor started in M2M with the traditional matchups, true to position. They showed some full court pressure at times, which was interesting to me because it seemed they wanted to play at a deliberate pace in the ½ court offensively where Grandview seemed to want to push the ball when they could. It takes a very well coached team to throw different styles at an opponent and be able to execute. At a few points in the game, Coach Jessica Caldwell had her PG, Wetta, front Betts as they had help and rotation from the back side for the lob. They executed very well, and the value of being able to change looks and rhythm on a team cannot be overlooked. 
 
Grandview – Offensively
 
With the lineup they have, Grandview is able to play in a continuous ball screen offense with wing pick and rolls + post rise and high-low looks. They do it very naturally and their posts are good passers and decision makers, so it works well. They also seem to really play out of a particular 1-4 high set with a few options including an initial backdoor from the wing. Most of all Grandview pushed the ball and the bigs really run the floor… It paid off for them late and they got easy buckets to separate. Credit Coach Josh Ulitzky for keeping them calm and teaching them how to believe in a system. 


Valor Christian Coach Jessica Caldwell in an early season huddle with her team.  


Valor Christian – Offensively
 
Valor really did a great job spreading the floor and getting Betts away from the rim so they could get better looks. I could hear Coach Caldwell calling different actions at different times and they moved as a unit and really executed. Wetta led the way distributing the ball and Beers is their most potent weapon, and 2021 Jenna Siebert does a really good job both shooting the ball and attacking the rim. Junior Sydney Mckibbon started the game off for them with a three ball. The two-man game with Wetta and Beers was effective, especially in an elbow-elbow area 5-1 ball screen that they looked at a few times. Beers struggled early in post ups vs Beers, but settled a bit and got patient and used her body, frame, and left hand to be effective. She is an effective three-point shooter, especially in the trail/slot area…smooth stroke! 


Grandview Head Coach, Josh Ulitzky, and Lauren Betts. 
 
Ultimately, late in the game the difference was a few untimely turnovers and shot selection for Valor that gave Grandview some easy buckets compared to the rest of the game. Credit Grandview for ramping up their defensive ball pressure, rebounding, and for executing in transition the entire game. Many times, if teams do not get easy looks early, they abandon it. Betts ran the floor the whole game and it paid off in the second half. 
 
I thought Coach Caldwell’s game plan was excellent. Her players were locked in and they always respond amazingly to her. They got great looks early and defended well. A learning experience for sure as 3-4 minutes of the game was the difference in them hanging on for the W. 
 
Coach Ulitzky does such a good job with keeping cool on the sideline. His team did not come out playing their best, but halftime proved valuable for them. Teams that stay with things even when they are a little scattered are strong teams and well coached. Coach Ulitzky managed this game really well. 
 
   
Tomia Johnson | Grandview | FGCU Signee 
            Quick and fast .. really can get out quickly in transition; applies defensive ball pressure
            
Addison O’Grady | Grandview | 2021 |  PBR #82 Nationally
            Great frame for a power forward/post .. Has nice touch out to the perimeter. Got in
            a little bit of foul trouble in this one, but presence was felt 
 
Marya Hudgins | Grandview | 2022 |  PBR #50 Nationally
            Stock riser all year long .. First year in CO after moving from GA; Great size at the 
            forward or wing position .. Has proven she can really shoot it. In this particular game,
            she hit 3 corner threes off of relocation, a three off the bounce in a drag-dribble 
            situation where she created space, and also a straight on wing three off the bounce .. 
            impressive
 
Lauren Betts | Grandview | 2022 |  PBR #1 Nationally
            Not to be taken lightly when we say amongst the truly  ELITE of her class.. If size is a 
            Premium, what is skilled size? Betts is skilled size.. Over the course of the last year, she
            has gotten really good.. Her FT jumper is smooth and crisp, she has gotten patient in the
            post, and passes well out of inevitable double teams.. what stood out the most in this
            game? She consistently sprinted the floor.. fantastic. As she adds strength to her frame
            and to her core, watch out. Defensively, she just makes it so hard to score inside..
            whether 1 on 1, or as she looms in rotation and help. 
 
Kindyll Wetta | Valor Christian | 2021 |  PBR #73 Nationally
            Glad to see Wetta back off of the stuggle of multiple knee injuries. She has a break 
            down handle and does a really good job distributing the ball and getting to the rack. 
            She can shoot the ball from the perimeter and she uses that well to keep defenses 
            guessing and as she changes tempo.
 
Raegan Beers | Valor Christian | 2022 |  PBR #4 Nationally
            Another in the  ELITE category.. Size, frame, and skills are hard to compare. She is
            strong in the post up and has a feathery touch out to the three and also has a very
            advanced handle .. She sees the floor very well and is a skilled passer .. In this game she had        
            trouble scoring vs Betts 1 on 1 initially, but adjusted and was able to produce for her team.
           She is a tough matchup .. 
 
Jenna Siebert | Valor Christian | 2021
            Overall very skilled and smart.. can shoot the three or fundamentally attack with her
            handle off the dribble.. A good player on a good team. D1’s should be checking in.