BY WALTER SCOTT JR.
Matoaca’s Jordan Carpenter
After an impressive season, Matoaca’s forward Jordan Carpenter earned second team all-state honors for class 5.
At 5-9, the senior averaged a double-double this season with 11.5 points, and 12.9 rebounds per game. Not only was she a good player for the Warriors on offense, but she was also an outstanding defender. On the defensive end she averaged 4.7 steals, and 5.2 blocks a game.
Carpenter’s best game came on January 7 against Dinwiddie, where she displayed that excellent play on both sides of the ball. She scored a triple-double- 21 points, 17 rebounds and 10 blocks, also notching seven steals. Another performance that stood out was against Massaponax on December 27- she put on a showcase with 16 points and 25 rebounds.
“Her first immediate impact was her toughness on the boards. When she first came to us, we were in desperate need of that in order for us to be a better/competitive team, and for other players to take other roles,” said Matoaca girls basketball coach Glenna Lewis. “She was willing to do the dirty and thankless job of rebounding in order to get the ball to her teammates. Even when we wanted her to take the shot herself.”
“She has been able to talk to her teammates. Tried to make connections with everyone, middle school (JV team) to high school. Including having tough conversations with them. Being team captain is not always easy, but she grew to understand that responsibility over time,” Lewis said. “She’s been encouraging to her teams, and she trusts them. Telling them to shoot more, drive more, and to be better defenders, share the ball when necessary. Just to be more confident in their own skills to make our team better.”
Carpenter was offered by Shaw, Claflin, Bridgewater, Averett, Roanoke, and Shenandoah before eventually committing to Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.
MBK’s Maya Ellis
One of the best scorers in the state, Meadowbrook guard Maya Ellis also earned class 5 second team all-state honors.
The junior is noted as a very versatile player, who can just about do it all. Her scoring ability is one of the things that is most notable about her game though. She scored 30 points in seven games this season, which led to her reaching the milestone of 1,118 career points.
One of Ellis’s best games this season came on January 30 against Colonial Heights, where she torched the nets for 40 points.
“Maya has progressively stepped up from being just a role player to a team leader. She has obviously been diligently working and committed to improving her skill sets.” said Meadowbrook girls basketball coach Daniel Connor.
“Unfortunately, our current environmental and social situation will impact her level of training for continuous improvement. But based on her past performance, I’m optimistic for Maya to maintain her offensive explosiveness, even though expecting an increased amount of defensive pressures,” Connor explained. “I am looking forward to seeing Maya expand her other game stats as well to demonstrate to coaches what level of competition that she will be capable of playing.”
Ellis has drawn initial interest from a wide range of colleges at the Division I, II and III levels. Schools such as William & Mary, Jacksonville State, Campbell, Shaw, Claflin, Mary Washington, Bridgewater, Averett, Roanoke, Christopher Newport and Shenandoah have been in contact.
