bluesooner17
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It’s a little scary what Jessi Murcer’s doing.
Westmoore’s 5-foot-7 sophomore guard just tore through the Durant Lions Classic this weekend, scoring 26 in the final to earn most valuable player in a tournament that had plenty of quality applicants.
But it’s not just what she’s doing.
Shooters can get hot. They can get cold. Murcer’s not that.
If her game is already refined to this point as a sophomore, just imagine how much better it can get. Her play is distracting.
She’s so good off the ball, that it draws your attention away from whoever has it. Her ability to read passes, dribble, cover her man, move into the right area against a zone and just her understanding as a whole are way ahead of schedule for her age. There are plenty of examples; here are some personal favorites.
Murcer was at the elbow, near the 3-point line. She made a pass into the post, but only after forcing her defender to lean towards the paint. The defender went with the ball, Murcer didn’t hesitate. She took a couple of quick steps to the corner and the post fed the ball back to her. Norman North coach Rory Hamilton threw his hands up in the air. What are you going to do? Swish.
Murcer is at midcourt.
She picks the pocket of the ballhandler and has a clear path to the basket. She’s fast and a skilled dribbler. She also had missed her first two shots, and didn’t look her usual self shooting. So just take the breakaway layup, right? No, there’s more to be had. She takes a look back, slows down, absorbs the contact, throws up a controlled layup. The refs blows the whistle, Murcer hits the floor, ball goes through the net. Westmoore’s bench shouts “And 1.” It’s that easy.
Only it’s not, Murcer just makes it look that way. The way she plays the game is why fans, even those supporting the opposing team, enjoy watching Golden State’s Steph Curry. There’s a little bit of a robotic feel to it. Every movement is precise, and she gets the most out of all of them. She has to. She’s a few inches shorter than everybody else out there. Skill is her advantage.
It’s amazing how far it’s already taken her. She’s turned one of the best players in the state, Ashley Gomez, into a sidekick. Well, more of a partner, but still it’s not too shabby. That’s why Gomez’s explanation of why Murcer is so good, makes perfect sense.
“Jessi is just a hardworker,” Gomez said. “Ever since she came in as a freshman, she’s just always in the gym, always putting up shots, getting in work. I mean that’s really what’s made her who she is.”
There no shaking a feeling that Gomez and senior guard Syndey Chastain’s play will ultimately decide how far Westmoore goes.
They’re still the leaders of a team that looks like it’s on a Blues Brothers-type mission from God to claim a state title. But it is hard to ignore what Murcer is doing. Especially, when it’s so fun to watch.
John McKelvey
Westmoore’s 5-foot-7 sophomore guard just tore through the Durant Lions Classic this weekend, scoring 26 in the final to earn most valuable player in a tournament that had plenty of quality applicants.
But it’s not just what she’s doing.
Shooters can get hot. They can get cold. Murcer’s not that.
If her game is already refined to this point as a sophomore, just imagine how much better it can get. Her play is distracting.
She’s so good off the ball, that it draws your attention away from whoever has it. Her ability to read passes, dribble, cover her man, move into the right area against a zone and just her understanding as a whole are way ahead of schedule for her age. There are plenty of examples; here are some personal favorites.
Murcer was at the elbow, near the 3-point line. She made a pass into the post, but only after forcing her defender to lean towards the paint. The defender went with the ball, Murcer didn’t hesitate. She took a couple of quick steps to the corner and the post fed the ball back to her. Norman North coach Rory Hamilton threw his hands up in the air. What are you going to do? Swish.
Murcer is at midcourt.
She picks the pocket of the ballhandler and has a clear path to the basket. She’s fast and a skilled dribbler. She also had missed her first two shots, and didn’t look her usual self shooting. So just take the breakaway layup, right? No, there’s more to be had. She takes a look back, slows down, absorbs the contact, throws up a controlled layup. The refs blows the whistle, Murcer hits the floor, ball goes through the net. Westmoore’s bench shouts “And 1.” It’s that easy.
Only it’s not, Murcer just makes it look that way. The way she plays the game is why fans, even those supporting the opposing team, enjoy watching Golden State’s Steph Curry. There’s a little bit of a robotic feel to it. Every movement is precise, and she gets the most out of all of them. She has to. She’s a few inches shorter than everybody else out there. Skill is her advantage.
It’s amazing how far it’s already taken her. She’s turned one of the best players in the state, Ashley Gomez, into a sidekick. Well, more of a partner, but still it’s not too shabby. That’s why Gomez’s explanation of why Murcer is so good, makes perfect sense.
“Jessi is just a hardworker,” Gomez said. “Ever since she came in as a freshman, she’s just always in the gym, always putting up shots, getting in work. I mean that’s really what’s made her who she is.”
There no shaking a feeling that Gomez and senior guard Syndey Chastain’s play will ultimately decide how far Westmoore goes.
They’re still the leaders of a team that looks like it’s on a Blues Brothers-type mission from God to claim a state title. But it is hard to ignore what Murcer is doing. Especially, when it’s so fun to watch.
John McKelvey