By Kevin Lewis, Ballislife Workers Author
Coach Daybreak Staley has at all times embodied a philosophy by a phrase that epitomizes hercoaching fashion and persona: “Favor ain’t Honest.” To Staley, favor is a blessing one endureswhen they constantly carry out on the highest degree. Only a few packages on this period of ladies’scollege basketball have embraces that mentality, however for the South Carolina Gamecocks, thatlevel of mentality has turn out to be the usual.
Securing yet one more SEC Event title, together with a share the SEC common season crown,the Gamecocks proceed to cement their legacy in girls’s basketball historical past. This time, theirdominance isn’t regulated to a singular star, however slightly a committee of stars who’ve embracedthe imaginative and prescient of Staley and have almost executed this new discovered method of dominance in flawlesseffort.
South Carolina’s New Components for Success
Of their commanding 64-45 victory over the Texas Longhorns within the SEC last, the Gamecocksshowcased a distinct fashion of dominance, one constructed of perimeter stress and workforce rebounding,slightly than brute paint presence. Historically, we’ve seen the Coach Staley groups rely surelyon dimension and stress within the paint to intimidate offenses, however this season introduced a newchallenge, and a brand new discovered phrase: adaptation.
Junior ahead Ashlyn Watkins has been sidelined since January with a torn ACL, and since theinjury, the Gamecocks have tailored their fashion of play by trusting their extra perimeterstrength from final season. The dynamics of perimeter stress and relentless rebounding hasgiven groups a distinct outlook on their dominance. This capability to evolve wile persevering with to winat a excessive degree is what separates good packages from true dynasties.
A Assertion Efficiency
The Gamecocks wasted no time establishing management in opposition to Texas. They opened up acommanding lead within the second quarter, which was eerily much like the primary matchup inColumbia. Within the affair, South Carolina impressively held SEC Participant of the Yr and sophomore Madison Booker to 1-15 taking pictures and 4-13 from the sector general within the sport for ten factors. As well as, Booker went 3-19 from the ground within the first matchup.
The cost was led by a set of underclassmen together with sophomore, MiLaysia Fulwiley, again courtroom mate Tessa Johnson, and freshman sensation, Joyce Edwards. Talking of depth, it was Edwards who offered a set off the bench that finally gave South Carolina the lead they’d by no means relinquish.
Upperclassmen Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin additionally chipped in on the continued dominance within the third quarter. The Feagin three ball from the highest of the important thing would finally put the settlers to relaxation as they led 52-33 going into the ultimate stanza. A 9-4 Longhorn run early within the fourth could be the closest they’d get to South Carolina. In the end, it was an excessive amount of for the Longhorns to face up to.
South Carolina’s capability to dominate in several methods, whether or not by dimension, pace, or technique,underscores why they’re and have been the gold customary in girls’s school basketball andthe SEC for the final decade. Staley’s management, coupled with the workforce’s adaptability, ensuresthat the Gamecocks’s reign isn’t ending anytime quickly.
Because the event looms, one factor is obvious: favor is probably not truthful, however in South Carolina, it’s well-earned.
