28.5: The Bubble Week 1: Clutch Players Cardinal vs San Diego Sol
Clutch Players Rose started things off in Phoenix at the 28.5 League against a San Diego Sol team and things could not have started off any better for the Beaverton based club. They stormed to a 16-3 start as they…
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Continue ReadingClutch Players Rose started things off in Phoenix at the 28.5 League against a San Diego Sol team and things could not have started off any better for the Beaverton based club. They stormed to a 16-3 start as they stifled the Sols team into many mistakes with her half court trap, initiated by Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR ’s quickness. Things started off with a Naro to Block assist for a triple followed by a Winthrop to Keeney connection inside. Borter had a nice hanging lay-up for two.
Block found Edwards alongside the arc. Borter sank two free throws. Rice stole the ball and found Shandy for a fastbreak. Edwards sank a three off the inbounds. Winthrop offensive board. Shandy steal, up to Rice for an easy two. Edwards scores inside then Shandy offensive board and up. Kenney fund Block at the top of the key. Keeney found Borter this time for a triple followed by a nice Block isolation shimmy move to the basket. Keeney offensive put back, Borter into Keeney. Winthrop scores off the fastbreak twice in a row and follows it with an offensive putback. The last points of the half were an Edwards triple. At half, it was an astounding 44-7.
Things began in the second half with a Borter drive and Keeney offensive board. Naro found Winthrop for an acrobatic finish – which was an impressive take despite her not facing the rim.. Keeney found the rim after two offensive boards and Borter sank two free throws. Borter to Block connection followed by a Rice to Borter connection. The final score came on a Block to Keeney strong take to the basket. Final score: Clutch Players 62 – 15.
Stats:
Afton Keeney Afton Keeney 6'0" | PF Westview | 2021 State OR : 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR : 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR : 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 steals
Makenzie Naro: 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Emily Rice Emily Rice 5'5" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR : 2 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Avery Edwards: 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Ava Shandy: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Breakdown:
Group Effort:
This was a victory that was achieved through solid team play on both ends, as it began in the half-court trap and superb defense in the paint. But where it really shined was the selflessness in the transition and ball movement in the half-court offense. Emily Rice Emily Rice 5'5" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR made several nice steals which she turned into instant offense by giving it up to teammates for fastbreaks. Keeney was another great facilitator as she showed some solid passing skills as a forward. Shandy was all over the court making plays defensively and setting up her teammates around her. Defensively, Keeney and Winthrop were all over the boards and made a stifling two forward combination in the paint.
Perimeter Shooting
Avery Edwards hit for three three-pointers – all in the first half as she caught fire early on. Edwards doesn’t need a lot of space to feel comfortable to let it go and she is a high volume shooter that is a microwave waiting to heat up. Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR can shoot it from downtown and can get open thanks to her shifty moves as a primary ball handler. She also hit from deep as Clutch Players always had a shooter on the court who was able to score at any given moment. You know things were going well when Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR hit from three on her one attempt in the entire game, as she can shoot it but is primarily known as an inside scorer.
Surprise Performances
Afton Keeney Afton Keeney 6'0" | PF Westview | 2021 State OR and Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR were the two twin towers, as the duo combined for 20 points and 11 rebounds, but perhaps the most spirited performances were from Shandy and Rice as they made some team oriented plays throughout the course of the game. Emily Rice Emily Rice 5'5" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR is a defensive specialist who is a great on-ball defender who has a knack for coming up with the ball and starting the transition game. Shandy is of the same variety, but she also has success in the half-court offensive setting as an established passer who facilitates the floor.