PSAL girls basketball beat writer Marc Raimondi breaks down the second-seeded South Shore Vikings in advance of Sunday’s Class AA championship game at Madison Square Garden.
South Shore
Nickname: Vikings
Head coach: Anwar Gladden (nine years)
Record: 23-5
Starting five: G Jasmine Odom, G Tatiana Wilson, G Aliyah Cooley, F Fannisha Price and F Jenice Winter
Key reserves: G Emmeri Archer, G Radasha Pope, G Shelby Powell, F Akiah Luceus and F Kadijah Jones
Team notes: Making its second trip to the Garden in three seasons after never having made a city final at the highest classification. … Poses perhaps the biggest threat to Bergtraum in years. … Defeated Francis Lewis, 62-41, in the semifinals Tuesday. … Own signature wins against St. Anthony’s (L.I.) and Mary Louis this season. … Ranked No. 7 in the city by The Post.
SCOUTING REPORT
(from city coach under condition of anonymity)
“South Shore is very athletic and aggressive. I believe everything within their offense starts with Jasmine [Odom] and Tatiana [Wilson]. Both guards love to try and take you off the dribble and start you off to early foul trouble. … Defensively you have to decide whether you’re going to play them straight up or help. The dangerous part is if you help, Fannisha Price and Jenice Winter will hurt you inside as well. … Aliyah Cooley will also hurt you from outside if you help on the guards. I believe they have so many weapons on that team, that it almost makes it hard to defend. If you key in on one player someone else can hurt you. … Odom and Price both remember what it felt like losing two years ago to Bergtraum. If you let Price hurt you down low she can have a picnic. Odom is probably the most talented guard in NYC in the PSAL. … The key for South Shore is their defense and ability to withstand the Bergtraum press. If they can contain [Shaniqua] Reese, [Cori] Coleman and [Ashley] Gomez they stand a very good chance to win. The key will be closing the game out. “
PLAYER CAPSULES
Jasmine Odom
Year: Senior
P
osition: Guard
Height: 5-6
Notes: Arguably the best guard in the PSAL. … Does everything one can ask of a combo guard. … Underrated defender. … Will most likely go to junior college.
Gladden’s take: “Best player in the PSAL. When she comes to play, it’ll be a good day.”
Tatiana Wilson
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
Notes: Transferred this season from Francis Lewis. … Pure scorer. … Has Division I interest.
Gladden’s take: “I’m happy for her, I really am. She’s going to visit St. Bonaventure next week for her official. She came, it worked out. It started off shaky, but once we made some adjustments she stepped up.”
Aliyah Cooley
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Notes: One of the best young players in New York City. … Excellent outside stroke. … Long and athletic. … Missed first month of the season after sports hernia surgery.
Gladden’s take: “Started off slow. The injury affected the grades a little bit. She’s gonna be special, too. She just has to stay focused. She’ll do great things.”
Fannisha Price
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Notes: As strong as any big girl in the city. … Excellent hands and a feathery touch on her jump shot. … Becoming the rebounder that she is expected to be. … Has handful of Division I looks.
Gladden’s take: “First team all-city in any publication. She came to play this year. I saw she goals this year on and off the court.”
Jenice Winter
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Notes: Willing to do the dirty work down low. … Excellent offensive rebounder. … Good defender with long arms. … Can finish well around the rim. … Surefire Division I prospect.
Gladden’s take: “Face of the program. That’s what the program is about. The kid comes in and works hard on and off the court. Special, special kid. Special person.”
BENCH
Notes: One of the biggest strengths of the team – South Shore has the most depth in the PSAL. … Team does not lose much when bringing in the reserves. … Guards Emmeri Archer and Radasha Pope have been steady in significant minutes this season. … Guard Shelby Powell would start for most high-school teams. … Senior forward Akiah Luceus is experienced and strong down low and freshman forward Kadijah Jones is a rising prospect.
“They all come in and they work hard,” Gladden said. “Our depth can wear people down.”
COACH
Anwar Gladden was like a broken record back in November. Every other word out of his mouth was “program.” He didn’t want South Shore to be just another PSAL program that struggles to get kids qualified for college. He wanted to make the Vikings into one of the pillars of New York City basketball – on and off the court – much like the CHSAA powerhouses and Murry Bergtruam. He has succeeded at that so far and his team has bought in. Gladden has never been more strict and the players have responded, cutting out the drama and staying together through thick and thin.
