Sophomore wing Allisha Gray is a star in the making for the Tar Heels. Read how coach Slyvia Hatchell has her team back in the top 15 in the country. Photo cred – Spencer Herlong/UNC Athletics
Season Overview
The best way to find a winner from the crowd is how they respond to adversity. After having to miss all of last season due to her fight with lukemia, coach Slyvia Hatchell has stepped back on to the sidelines and led her Tar Heels to a 23-7 record this season. They currently are ranked 12th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 15th in the AP Top 25. Hatchell’s storied coaching career is well documented with three National Championships and over 950 wins. This season could be one of the more special seasons in the Hatchell’s coaching career as she has stepped back in without missing a beat.
Looking at the Tar Heels roster, Hatchell has a budding star in sophomore guard Allisha Gray. The 6-foot left hander from Sandersville, Ga., was named to the Naismith Award Mid-season Top 30 List last month. Gray currently averages 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She is complemented by interior presence in Stephanie Mavunga of Brownsburg, Ind. The sophomore post averages 14 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while also shooting a team high 50% from the field.
Game Recap February 12, 2015
UNC 71 Florida State 63
Florida State came into this game ranked in the top 10 in the nation with plenty to play for in terms of post season seeding. Coach Sue Semrau’s team came into Chapel Hill riding a nine game winning streak and hoping to bolster themselves into the conversation of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. For 34 minutes during this game, it appeared that the Seminoles would have too much fire power for the Tar Heels. However, all of that changed when Allisha Gray found her rhythm late in the game. Gray would score 13 of her game high 22 points in the final six minutes of the ACC contest.
It should be noted that this win was simply won on the offensive end. The Tar Heels are above average defensive team. They hold their opponents to a stingy 37% from the field on a nightly basis. Hatchell’s game plan of switching all screens kept the Seminoles out of the lane for much of the night. They also regained control of the defensive glass, which sparked the transition game.
Play Breakdown
Hatchell went to her go-to play down the stretch for Gray. In this set, she is able to get great side to side action but is able to keep the ball in Gray’s hands. This play allows for Gray to receive several different types of screens while keeping the action consistent.
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Key Points:
Gray is on the wing on the left side (3). She receives a handoff and then takes a hard dribble to shorten the pass to the opposite guard.
The post player sprints up the lane ready to set a flare screen. Gray hit a big three off of this action midway through the 2nd half.
Another option here is for Gray to use the post player as a ball screener rather than passing to the opposite guard.
The final option here is when the defense adjusts to Gray as a shooter, she can use this high post screen as a back cut. The help defense has been cleared and the lob is there.
Jonathan Hemingway is the owner of Coach Hemingway Basketball, Inc. Hemingway is on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. He has worked within the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director and journalist. He works as the assistant director of scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com and the OTRHoopsReport.com, which are scouting reports that service over 200 college and universities nationwide. Reach him via email at JonathanHemingway@PeachStateBasketball.com.
