5 Takeaways: Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic Championship Game
I was treated to a thrilling matchup between the Amarillo Sandies and the Arlington Martin Warriors in the championship game of the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic. Arlington Martin led by a score of 22-17 in what was a sloppy first…
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Continue ReadingI was treated to a thrilling matchup between the Amarillo Sandies and the Arlington Martin Warriors in the championship game of the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic. Arlington Martin led by a score of 22-17 in what was a sloppy first half of basketball littered with turnovers on both sides. However, both teams cleaned things up in the second half. The Sandies came out hot after halftime and took a slight lead over the Warriors and were able to control the game from that point on. Amarillo ultimately defeated Arlington Martin 47-39 and took home the championship trophy.
Here are five takeaways from the Dallas Mavericks Fall Classic championship game:
Zayla Tinner is a beast
This girl is the real deal. Tinner operates as a point forward for the Sandies. Her size allows her to see over the defense and pick it apart. Her offensive versatility really caught my attention. She can shoot, pass, dribble, and rebound, all at a high level. The senior forward had a bit of a rough start to this game, but she took over in the second half. Tinner relentlessly got to her spots deep in the paint and made some tough shots and layups. It’s impossible for smaller guards to stop her from getting inside. I also loved how she can find open shooters whenever she senses a double team coming her way. She is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
Arlington Martin had a clear edge in speed and athleticism
The Warriors were unable to come away with a victory in this game. However, they were clearly the quicker and more athletic team on the floor Saturday. Their speed is apparent at both ends and it led to a lot of fast break points. The guard trio of Autumn Smith, Mariah Roberts, and Imani Gatlin-Kilgore can really fly. Smith in particular was causing all sorts of havoc on defense and came away with a ton of steals vs. Amarillo. Had these three been able to convert on a few of their difficult shot attempts inside, Arlington Martin would have been in a position to win this game.
Zeryhia-Lee Tuimoloau Aokuso is a star in the making
The freshman combo guard is the first player off the bench for Amarillo, but I wouldn’t be shocked if she finds her way into the starting lineup by the end of the year. Tuimoloau Aokuso is a physical player who isn’t afraid to bump around with the bigs inside. She doesn’t settle for jumpers, but instead opts to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Furthermore, she is a tremendous on-ball defender. The 2023 prospect does an excellent job of moving her feet and staying in front of opposing ball handlers. I was really impressed with her game. She’s going to be a stud for Amarillo for the next four years.
Tall ball handlers of Amarillo gave Arlington Martin trouble
Amarillo often had either Tinner or Tuimoloau Aokuso bring the ball up on offense. This duo of tall ball handlers caused a lot of problems for Arlington Martin defensively. The duo managed to pick the Warriors apart and exploit mismatches on numerous occasions. And when their shots weren’t there, their height allowed them to fling passes to open shooters on the perimeter. Like I said, Arlington Martin was the more athletic team on the court Saturday night, but they still couldn’t overcome Amarillo’s size advantage, and I think that was the difference in this game.
Mariah Roberts is a sniper
Roberts was Arlington Martin’s best scoring option in this contest. She drilled quite a few threes from the catch as well as off the dribble. I was surprised that the Warriors didn’t go to her more in the fourth quarter when the game started to slip away from them because she was doing her thing on offense. She has a good handle and a quick first step that forces the defense to respect her drive. It’s really tough to guard her in isolation. The junior shooting guard is a really nice foil to Smith in the back court who is more of a playmaking point guard. Roberts is poised for a big season.