4SHOT Sports

2006-07 Girls Hoops
APS Holiday Tournament
By Larry Williams/4SHOT Hoops
Dec 23, 2005, 06:30 EST

Championship Game

North Atlanta wins APS Tournament
Holloway named MVP

Douglass H.S. – Atlanta, GA

North Atlanta's Kanita Holloway was named the tournaments MVP.

North Atlanta’s Kanita Holloway finished off the 2005 APS Christmas Tournament with a 17-point performance that helped lead the “Lady Warriors” to a championship win over the home-standing “Lady Astros” from Douglass High. Her play also earned her the tournaments MVP award.

With Janelle Grayson and Kanita Holloway knocking down shots from everywhere North Atlanta jumped out to an early 15-4 lead over Douglass. The “Lady Warriors” defensive pressure caused Douglass into several turnovers which North Atlanta converted into points.

Charmikka Anderson did her best to keep Douglass close scoring 8 of her teams 14 first-quarter points. Grayson scored 10 points in the 1^st quarter including a pair of three-pointers. Holloway added 8 points as North Atlanta took a 28-14 lead at the end of the quarter.

North Atlanta cooled off in the 2^nd quarter and Douglass behind the play of Jaquenta Malone and Tiffany Johnson cut into the lead.

North Atlanta freshman Kanmesha Zucker is fouled as she goes up for the shot.

A three-pointer by the “Lady Astros” pulled Douglass to within nine 37-28 at the half.

Grayson continued to stroke the ball for North Atlanta in the 3^rd quarter knocking down her 3^rd three-pointer of the game. Douglass continued to force the action and started applying some pressure of their own. Stephanie Ellis picked up her game and Tarnisha Hudson drilled a three-pointer as they “Lady Astros” cut the lead to 49-44 at the end of the quarter.

Trailing 52-48 with just over 5:00 minutes to play Douglass started fouling and putting North Atlanta on the line. North Atlanta’s Courtney Jackson hit a big three-pointer and the “Lady Warriors” hit 9 of 11 free-throws down the stretch to hold off Douglass to win the 2005 APS Title 63-54.

N.Atlanta's Cassondra Covington tries to go under Doug's Charmikka Anderson.

Just a side note the “Lady Raiders” from Mays did not participate in the tournament, they were just returning from a tournament in Florida.

Scoring Recap

North Atlanta:
Janelle Grayson scored a game high 22 points to lead North Atlanta. Kanita Holloway finished with 17 points, Courtney Jackson scored 12 points and Cassondra Covington chipped in with 8 points.

Douglass:
Jaquenta Malone scored 12 points to pace Douglass. Charmikka Anderson added 10 points, Stephanie Ellis 9 points and Tarnisha Hudson chipped in with 6 points.

3^rd Place Game

“Lady Lasers” too hot for Grady
Stewart’s 26 points leads Southside

Douglass H.S. – Atlanta, GA

Former Crim star Brittany Woods scored 21 points that included 3 three-pointers.

The “Lady Lasers” from Southside High School didn’t waste any time letting a young Grady team led by future star, freshman PG-Tarnesha Platt know that if they were not going to be able to handle the pressure being put on them that they were going to be in trouble; and trouble it was.

Southside’s experienced backcourt led by Crim transfer Brittany Woods and sophomore Shaneku McCurry forced Grady into several early turnovers that led to easy lay-ups. The duo also did the job on the offensive end of the floor scoring 7 and 10 points respectively in the 1^st quarter to give Southside a 20-5 lead.

To Grady’s credit they continued to battle and played much better in the 2^nd quarter. Platt, just a freshman is going to be a star at Grady and her sister, junior Tiffany Platt both hit three-pointers for the “Lady Grey Knights”.

Freshman Tarnesha Platt scored 18 points to lead Grady.

Woods continued to show why she is one of the best players in Atlanta as she drilled another three-pointer. Junior Tanika Stewart also picked up her game scoring 6 points in the quarter to help the “Lady Lasers” take a 36-16 lead into the half.

Entering the season Tiffany Platt was regarded as an up and coming junior but you couldn’t tell by her 1^st half performance. But you got a glimpse of some of the skills the 5-11 junior possess as she came out in the 3^rd quarter will a bit more passion for the game scoring 6 points. Teammate Nyshantis McCants also did a nice job in the quarter scoring 6 points.

Stewart picked right up were she left off in the 2^nd quarter, scoring at will in the paint for Southside. Another Crim transfer Timaeus Roper came off of the bench and added a real spark with her hustle and rebounding. Woods hit her 3^rd three-pointer of the game as Southside extended their lead to 57-31.

Southside's Shaneku McCurry playing tough D.

Ta. Platt is now on the 4SHOT Hoops radar screen and if her 4^th quarter performance is any indication of what’s to come she will be beeping on the radar real soon. The 5-4 freshman drilled a pair of three-pointers and scored 12 of Grady’s 14 forth-quarter points in the quarter.

Stewart finished off a great game scoring 12 of her game high 26 points in the 4^th quarter as Southside went on to spank Grady by a score of 75-45 to capture 3^rd place in the 2005 APS Christmas Tournament.

Scoring Recap
Southside:
Tanika Stewart led all scorers with a game high 26 points. Brittany Woods finished with 21 points including 3 three-pointers and Shaneku McCurry added 13 points.

Grady:
Tarnesha Platt scored 18 points to pace Grady while sister Tiffany Platt finished with 14 points. Nyshantis McCants chipped in with 6 points.