28.5 League “The Bubble” Clutch Cardinal versus Oregon Elite
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Final: Clutch Cardinal 58, Oregon Elite Gold 45 Two adversaries from the Beaver State matched up at the 28.5 League in Arizona in that of Clutch Cardinal and Oregon Elite Gold. With players familiar with their foes in playing AAU…
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Continue ReadingFinal: Clutch Cardinal 58, Oregon Elite Gold 45
Two adversaries from the Beaver State matched up at the 28.5 League in Arizona in that of Clutch Cardinal and Oregon Elite Gold. With players familiar with their foes in playing AAU and against each other in high school, this was something of a rivalry match. The game began in the two teams trading blows as they began to get used to each other’s playing styles and working around it. Emilia Bishop Emilia Bishop 6'1" | PF Wilsonville | 2021 State OR and Sofia Megert Sofia Megert 5'4" | PG South Eugene | 2022 State OR were two bright spots for Oregon Elite Gold as Emi provided some superb rebounding and low-post scoring whereas Megert was a slippery scorer with different ways to get the job done.
For Clutch Cardinal, Mackenzie Naro was on an absolute tear as she hit the first of her three-pointers in the first half, scoring all of her points from alongside the arc. Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR was a staple as an all-around player with the tools and skillset to make others around her better. At halftime, it was a relatively close game as Clutch Cardina led 27-18. In the second half, Carly Wheeler Carly Wheeler 5'11" | SF Sheldon | 2021 State OR provided some scoring all over the court through perimeter shots and sleek interior moves. Sofia Megert Sofia Megert 5'4" | PG South Eugene | 2022 State OR continued to score from all over and Emi continued her pursuits on the block.
Afton Keeney Afton Keeney 6'0" | PF Westview | 2021 State OR was getting highly involved on the block as a scorer as Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR began to find interior scorers from the high post. Mackenzie Naro continued her onslaught from the perimeter as she hit another three three-pointers in the second half. The game would come close with Oregon Elite trailing 45-52 with around three minutes to go, but Carly Wheeler Carly Wheeler 5'11" | SF Sheldon | 2021 State OR would nurse an injury, taking a bit of wind out of Oregon Elite. Elite would fail to score for the rest of the game while Clutch Cardinal would play time management and win this one 58-45.
Stats:
Oregon Elite
Gracie Arnold Gracie Arnold 6'1" | PF Cottage Grove | 2022 State OR : 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Emilia Bishop Emilia Bishop 6'1" | PF Wilsonville | 2021 State OR : 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Reese Ericson Reese Ericson 5'6" | PG Lakeridge | 2022 State OR : 2 assists, 1 steal
Sofia Megert Sofia Megert 5'4" | PG South Eugene | 2022 State OR : 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Addie Reardon Addie Reardon 5'9" | SG Lakeridge | 2021 State OR : 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Carly Wheeler Carly Wheeler 5'11" | SF Sheldon | 2021 State OR : 9 points, 1 steal
Beaux Bruegman Beaux Bruegman 5'10" | SF Sheldon | 2023 State OR : 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Lindsey Wilson Lindsey Wilson 6'0" | PF Mountainside | 2022 State OR : 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals
Clutch Cardinal:
Afton Keeney Afton Keeney 6'0" | PF Westview | 2021 State OR : 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Ava Shandy: 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR : 13 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR : 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR : 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals
Mackenzie Naro: 18 points, 2 rebounds
Hannah Rice: 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Mimi Baldwin: 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR : 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Breakdown:
Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR Does it All
Borter rebounds, scores inside with great consistency – and can take a bump while doing so. She is also a keen player with a good eye for finding teammates around the basket and alongside the perimeter. She plays at an excellent pace and is patient in making her next move. Borter is a versatile type of player that can play alongside the wing but also bruise down-low as she has a solid frame. Her 13 point, 2 rebound, 4 assist, 2 steal effort was a big reason for Clutch Cardinal holding onto their lead in the second half.
Keeney and Naro
Anytime you make 6 three-pointers in a game, it is certainly a success – but it is the amount of consistency in which she made them throughout the game which is to be praised. Naro shot an eye-popping six out of eight from deep for her 18 point total and it was spread throughout the game, as she didn’t simply get hot out of nowhere, spreading her point total in sequence. Keeney was a significant down-low threat for Clutch Cardinal as she got loose in the second half and continued to score at will. Keeney’s 13 point, 6 rebound total was a cornerstone for their success in the second half.
Megert “The Hurt”
This is Sofia Megert Sofia Megert 5'4" | PG South Eugene | 2022 State OR ’s second full tournament running with Oregon Elite Gold, but you would’ve thought she was with them the entire summer as she is another gem in their unit. She can shoot it from deep as well as has some crafty moves in the paint as she showcased a nice euro-step in the first half. She also plays in the half-court setting at a nice pace and shows the ability to create for others with her great sense of urgency. Her 11 point, 3 rebound, 2 assist effort was a great contribution from a player that has gotten better with every game.
Reardon and Wheeler
Addie Reardon Addie Reardon 5'9" | SG Lakeridge | 2021 State OR and Carly Wheeler Carly Wheeler 5'11" | SF Sheldon | 2021 State OR bring different things to the table, but what they have in common is the ability to scrap on defense to create opportunities on offense. Both have the uncanny ability to apply pressure on the full court press and create fastbreak opportunities all based on hustle. Reardon and Wheeler are also above average shooters who have great shot selection and also can go inside and get a bucket when their team needs it. The scoring tandem combined for 16 points for Oregon Elite Gold.