28.5 League Championship: Clutch Cardinal vs Colorado Hoopsters
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Final: Clutch Cardinal 53 – Colorado Hoopsters 17U 43 Clutch Cardinal’s first game at the 28.5 League Championship came against Colorado Hoopsters 17U in a close match-up that tested their abilities as a basketball club. Colorado Hoopsters started on…
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Continue ReadingFinal: Clutch Cardinal 53 – Colorado Hoopsters 17U 43
Clutch Cardinal’s first game at the 28.5 League Championship came against Colorado Hoopsters 17U in a close match-up that tested their abilities as a basketball club. Colorado Hoopsters started on a 6-0 run as Clutch Cardinal’s first score came on two Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR free throws followed by a Borter isolation drive. Mackenzie Naro sank her first three-pointer as Borter found Block for a triple of her own. Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR found Block for a triple as Borter found Edwards for a triple. Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR to Borter followed by a Mackenzie Naro three. Rice would find Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR for a short jumper. Naro inside to Winthrop. Rice to Naro for a three followed by another Naro triple. At half-time the score would be 33-21 in favor of Clutch Cardinal as their three-point barrage would put them over Colorado Hoopsters.
In the second half, the two clubs would continue to exchange possessions and points as the closest the game would get would be an 8 point deficit at 49-41. Block would start things off with a floater followed by a Shandy to Rice find. Shandy would find Winthrop as Borter found Edwards for a three. Mackenzie Naro would have a nice board and reverse scoop shot without facing the basket. Winthrop board followed by a Borter isolation bucket. Two Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR floaters would seal the game as Clutch Cardinal would spend the remainder of the game playing clock management as they would go on to win this game in a decisive 53-43 manner.
Stats:
Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State OR : 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR : 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocks
Ava Shandy: 1 rebound, 3 assists
Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR : 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Mackenzie Naro: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR : 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Hannah Rice: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Breakdown:
Sinking it From Deep
Clutch Cardinal was shooting it exceptionally well as six out their last eight scores in the first half came on three-pointers which put them on top after somewhat struggling early on. Mackenzie Naro stuck back to back three-pointers as she had three from deep in the first half. Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR , the versatile point guard with scoring tendencies, had one of her own as Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR had one in each half. These points came in handy in the second half as Clutch Cardinal merely exchanged points and possessions with their counterparts in order to hang on to a victory through discipline and defense as the rest would handle itself.
Alexa Borter Alexa Borter 5'11" | PF Beaverton | 2021 State ORBorter was one of the x-factors of the game as the versatile forward brings a well-rounded game to the table for Clutch Cardinal as she displayed the ability to get loose on a few isolation baskets. She is a physical presence in the paint on both ends of the floor and is quick enough to guard alongside the perimeter. Her 11 point, 6 rebound, 2 assist, 2 steal effort was a prominent stat-line in a game where she affected the contest in numerous ways that were felt by her teammates.
Contributions All Across the Board
Bridget Winthrop Bridget Winthrop 5'11" | PF Lincoln | 2021 State OR had a superb performance in her spirited 6 point, 5 rebound, 2 block effort where she showed some nimbleness around the rim and fierceness as a rim protector at the basket. Avery Edwards Avery Edwards 5'10" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR was another significant contributor as she sank two from deep as mentioned and chipped in a solid 8 point, 5 rebound effort. Hannah Rice’s 2 point, 2 rebound, 3 assist performance was another all-around effort by a team oriented player whereas Mackenzie Naro and Molly Block Molly Block 5'2" | SG Jesuit | 2021 State OR combined for 25 points with Naro being the sharpshooter and Block as the elusive guard who got to the rim consistently.