28.5: The Bubble Session II: Clutch Rose vs Arizona Elite Prep

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Clutch Players started the 28.5: The Bubble Session II against Arizona Prep Elite in a game that went down to the final minutes.  Clutch Players ran off to an early 11-4 lead, as Sixta hit the game’s first three and Spear hit some baskets along with some free throws.  Sixta began finding her teammates, Naro for a triple and Richman for a lay-up.  Borter picked off a player around half-court and took it herself.  Clutch began another run, as Naro found Richman in the corner and Kenney found Borter in the corner.  A Spear left-handed take made things 23-10 in favor of Clutch.  Sixta found Richman on back-to-back possessions and Spear hit two free throws as Clutch led at the half, 30 - 18.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Clutch seemed to hit a wall in the second half as they were scoreless in the first few minutes as Arizona Elite took advantage, going on a 6-0 run.  [player_tooltip player_id="158564" first="Zoe" last="Borter"] hit an incredibly tough, off-balanced shot at the basket to end the drought.  Arizona Elite began hitting three-pointers from all over, as the next time Clutch would score would be off a Richman three, bringing the game to 39-38 in favor of Clutch with a minute to go.  Arizona Elite would hit a lay-up to bring it to 40-39 as Clutch Players was fruitles in their last possession as they lost a close game but had some great individual efforts.</span> <strong>Stats: </strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="207822" first="Claryn" last="Keeney"]: 1 rebound, 2 assist, 1 steal</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158515" first="Charlotte" last="Richman"]: 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158544" first="Emma" last="Sixta"]: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Abby Zurasky: 1 rebound</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158564" first="Zoe" last="Borter"]: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158521" first="Sarah" last="Lamet"]: 1 block</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158567" first="Lainey" last="Spear"]: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158547" first="Madison" last="Naro"]: 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 steals</span> <strong>Breakdown:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158567" first="Lainey" last="Spear"]: Perimeter Threat</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Spear is incredibly fluid at 6’2”, as she has shown the ability to be a difference maker alongside the perimeter.  She has the length but as well as the quickness to get steals around half-court, as she did several times during the contest.  Spear also has the ability to drive it from the top of the key and other surrounding areas and take it to the basket, something that is rare for someone that plays her position.  Spear is an intriguing player that has incredible skill, something that is bolstered by her IQ and ability to make key reads on both ends of the floor.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sixta’s Sixth Sense</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="158544" first="Emma" last="Sixta"] is an incredibly cerebral guard that makes a living off reading the defense and allowing her teammate to cut, resulting in easy baskets for her team.  She is also great at finding teammates alongside the arc.  She is the type that can string together assists back to back thanks to her decisive playmaking skills.  Sixta has a great overall feel for the game and on defense, she has great timing skills as far as rebounding goes.  Although her shot wasn’t going down as much as her team would’ve liked, she is a clear difference maker - on both sides of the ball, when she is in the game.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Richman and Borter</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Richman is the three-point threat that is also a savvy systems guard that we have all come to know.  She is one of the more seasoned leaders on this team, as she is incredibly poised when she is alongside the perimeter.  [player_tooltip player_id="158564" first="Zoe" last="Borter"] has shown her ability to get a bucket throughout the game and in a wide variety of ways.  She can hit it from deep but also has the grit to get tough, skilled shots in the paint.  Such as the one where she got off an incredibly off-balanced shot that not only was difficult, but went in.  Charlotte and Zoe provided for some offensive consistency throughout the course of the game where it got stale at some points, for both clubs.  </span>