The third game for day one of Phenom’s Holiday Classic took place between Spartanburg Christian and Victory Christian. Things opened up in a similarly competitive fashion for both teams, as they both showed patience and a desire to execute their sets. Victory Christian was great at making their presence felt defensively and then capitalizing in transition. Spartanburg Christian primarily operated out of the half court and converted at an effective rate. The Lady Kings ended the first quarter with a 7-8 lead. After a tight opening period, things remained intense leading up to halftime. There were multiple lead changes, but Victory Christian still held grasp of their 15-16 advantage heading into the break. Bethel Ekperigha, Harmony White, and Val Batista were a massive part in mounting a 20-28 lead for the Lady Knights through three quarters. However, the Warriors hung tough behind the play of Madalyn Galloway and Mackenzie. All in all, Victory Christian maintained their lead and claimed a 24-42 win over Spartanburg Christian.
Victory Christian:
6’1 ’23 Val Batista
It’s easy to see the appeal with Batista, who already possesses excellent physical attributes and fluidity at this stage in her development. She moves very well, both laterally and from baseline to baseline, and displayed quality defensive instincts around the basket. Batista highlights solid touch, altered shots at a consistent rate, and battled for rebounds on a regular basis. Although she already makes contributions within the flow of the team, her best basketball is still on the horizon.
5’2 ’22 Harmony White
While there were many standouts for this Lady Kings, White was certainly one of the most vocal from start to finish. Despite being slightly undersized, she consistently made her presence felt on both ends of the floor. White is a pesky on-ball defender with quickness, anticipation, and a willingness to make hustle plays. She looks to set up others whenever possible, but also seizes scoring opportunities within the flow of the offense.
Spartanburg Christian:
5’2 ’21 Madalyn Galloway
Though slightly undersized, it’s easy to be impressed with Galloway’s contributions, especially as an on-ball defender. Her energy, quickness, and first-step anticipation allowed her to be a pest at the point of attack. Galloway does the little things, fights for extra possessions, and makes solid decisions with the ball offensively.
5’7 ’21 Mackenzie Spivey
Leadership came in various different forms for Spartanburg Christian, but Spivey was arguably the most versatile and productive player for the Warriors. She did everything, from handling the ball and scoring to defending and asserting herself as a rebounder. Spivey scored from all levels, made the correct play with consistency, and stepped up whenever the team needed.