King Showcase: Bellarmine Prep vs. Moses Lake (5 Takeaways)

The ShoWare Center (Kent, WA) was home to three high school girls basketball games for the “King Showcase”. The first matchup was between Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, WA) and Moses Lake. Bellarmine Prep came into the game 13-2 and on a 12 game winning streak. They were ranked 10th in 4A according to the WIAA RPI. Moses Lake has played a pretty difficult schedule and came into the game 9-6, ranking 19th in 4A.

Bellarmine Prep got off to a strong start in the first half, running quality half court sets that included a lot of pick and roll, off ball movement and some horns sets with two high screeners. Bellarmine applies a strong pressure defense that is disciplined and not out of control. Moses Lake hung in tough in quarters 3 and 4, but could never get the lead below 7-8 points.  

5 Takeaways:

Bellarmine Prep is poised to make a playoff run in 4A

Depth, discipline and defense appear to be staples of Bellarmine’s attack. There is not much drop off as they go through their rotation. 2020 Analesa Mason is a 5’3 G that is ultra quick, can pass on the move and make plays in transition. 2020 Julia Bordeaux has solid size at the guard position at 5’9. She has smooth shooting form and communicates on defense. Analesa plays the top of their defense a lot and Julia plays at the back, communicating to her teammates where they need to be positioned.

Moses Lake is still a solid program after losing multiple college level players to graduation

Moses Lake was one of the best teams in all of 4A last year, but lost players to graduation, including Arizona State’s Jamie Loera. While it’s almost impossible to replace college level talent, the coaching staff has done a good job of preparing this year’s team to be competitive. They have played a lot of top ranked teams pretty tough. 2020 5’6 G Madisyn Clark does a good job of balancing scoring and facilitating from the point guard position.

Moses Lakes has no “quit” in their DNA

I have seen Moses Lake multiple times this year and mostly on the losing side versus quality competition. The one thing they don’t do is stop competing. One of the top hustle players for Moses Lake is 2019 5’11 F Kendyl Crum. She has a sturdy build, plays with a tenacity and rebounds the ball well. She truly sacrifices her body for the betterment of her team. This style of play helps Moses Lake compete and the reason they are still in the playoff hunt.

Brecka Erdmann is a solid college prospect

The 5’10 junior wing out of Moses Lake can play some on the inside and outside. She has a high release on her shot, which will suit her well at the next level. Her level of recruitment will be determined by her continued development on the perimeter.

Callie Stevens is TOUGH

At maybe 5’6, 2020 G Callie Stevens is a tough player to matchup with. She has a slim frame, but I saw her attack the basket fearlessly on multiple occasions. She can shoot the long range shot and handles the ball comfortably versus pressure. She will be able to help a college program at the right level, following graduation in a couple years.