TOWN AND COUNTRY – One could easily calculate Jayla Griffith’s value to the Hickman girls basketball team by watching her lead the fast break, direct the motion offense and play smothering perimeter defense.
But her value proved even greater when she was given a quick breather on the bench Tuesday during the Kewpies’ game with Lift for Life.
Griffith barely sat down when she watched Lift for Life make three steals that resulted in three breakaway layups. She took an abbreviated sip of water and quickly returned to the scorer’s table less than 30 seconds after she subbed out.
“I tried to give her a break in the second quarter to keep her out of foul trouble, but I had to put her right back in,” Hickman coach Morgan Scott said.
Griffith scored 28 points and senior Ashlyn Klusmeyer added 19 to power Hickman to a 75-62 victory over Lift for Life Tuesday in the quarterfinal round of the Visitation Academy Christmas Basketball Tournament in Buder Gym.
No. 5 Hickman (8-3) advanced to face No. 1 Incarnate Word (7-0) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal matchup.
Lift for Life (8-2) moved into the fifth-place bracket and will face Cape Notre Dame (6-2) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Led by Griffith, Hickman used its transition offense to build an early lead. As Lift for Life retreated into the paint to stop the fast break, the Kewpies positioned themselves around the three-point line.
Junior Caroline Eastman spotted up in the corner and Griffith found her for a pair of transition threes in the opening minutes.
“In practice, we do a lot of transition drills, and everyone just knows where to run. I just pass it,” Griffith said.
Soon after, Griffith drained her own pair of threes as Hickman built a 15-8 lead on the strength of four long-range bombs during fast break opportunities.
If no quick opportunity availed itself, Hickman spread out the Lift for Life defense with five players around the perimeter. Griffith drove the lane for a tough layup and accompanying free throw. Klusmeyer posted up in the lane with plenty of space to unleash her bevy of spin moves and baby hooks.
“If we can get any kind of layup in transition, we want to; otherwise, we’re working on a five-out, motion offense,” Scott said. “We feel like we can take advantage of the defense being so spread out. Then, we can put Ashlyn in the middle and let her go to work one-on-one.”
After Klusmeyer and senior Keyona Hall drained threes, the fifth and sixth of the half for Hickman, the Kewpies enjoyed a 38-23 lead. On the next defensive possession, Griffith picked up her second foul and a substitute checked in for her.
Immediately, the tide turned. Freshman Cara Manuel made two consecutive midcourt steals and sent senior Chase Giddings away for breakaway layups. Sophomore Zha’Viara Harris did not let the next Hickman possession even get to midcourt before a swipe and layup gave Lift for Life six points in 16 seconds.
Griffith’s breather was more like a quick exhale, and she returned to the court.
“It was tough, but we had to get it back together. That’s why I came back in and did what needed to be done,” Griffith said.
Griffith handled the Lift for Life backcourt pressure, stopped the momentum swing, and Hickman took a 42-33 advantage into halftime.
Griffith scored six points and added an assist in the third quarter, but it was her defense on Lift for Life star freshman Amaya Manuel that stood out. Manuel, who ranks second in the St. Louis area at 22.1 points per game, was challenged on every shot and struggled to find room to drive.
“I always say that Jayla is an underrated defender. She has a great feel for the game and she did a great job on (Manuel),” Scott said.
Hickman took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Manuel and Harris led a frantic comeback effort for the Hawks. Harris drove into the lane to create contact and baskets. Manuel scored twice in transition, including an and-1 that sliced the deficit to 64-52.
“We knew that Lift for Life was a team that really fed off of energy, so we needed to play poised,” Scott said.
And just like when she quickly rose from the bench in the first half, Griffith squashed the Hawks’ surge of energy, draining a straight-away triple to push the lead back to 15 points.
Klusmeyer took over from there, positioning herself at the high post and alleviating pressure, finding backdoor cutters and making drives to the basket as Hickman kept Lift for Life at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
An explosive fourth quarter helped Manuel reach her season average of 22 points to lead the Hawks. Harris added 12 and Cara Manuel and Chase Giddings scored nine apiece.
For Hickman, the ability to participate in the Viz Christmas tournament for the first time has been well-worth the wait.
“We were on a waiting list to get into this tournament. We know it’s well-known, college coaches come to watch it and the competition is great. Our first year in it, and we’re enjoying it,” Scott said.
Griffith added, “It’s a great environment to play in. We’re excited to be here.”