28.5 League Championships: Oregon Elite Navy/Sagebrush Hoops

Final: Oregon Elite Navy 60 - Sagebrush Hoops Black 67 Oregon Elite Navy took on Sagebrush Hoops Black in the Final Four of the 17U Platinum Bracket of the 28.5 League Championship on Sunday as they played a formidable foe in a familiar setting. Oregon Elite started on a 9-2 run as [player_tooltip player_id="204574" first="Allie" last="Hueckman"] scored off the inbound, [player_tooltip player_id="158525" first="Sage" last="Kramer"] found Dani Starr in the corner for a triple, [player_tooltip player_id="158476" first="Sydney" last="Burns"] board and bucket, and a Burns find to Hueckman up the court. Starr skipped it across the baseline to Hueckman in the opposite corner for a triple. Hope Hassmann danced around the entire defense for a tough lay-up. Kramer ran the point forward, finding Hueckman for a pull-up jumper. [player_tooltip player_id="158555" first="Keelie" last="O’Hollaren"] found [player_tooltip player_id="158478" first="Natalie" last="Lathrop"] at the basket for a score - making it 18-12 Oregon Elite. Burns found Hueckman in the corner for a three as Burns ran the break, finding Berry at the rim. [player_tooltip player_id="158486" first="Cami" last="Fulcher"] pivoted to find Starr in the corner for another triple. Kramer found Hassmann at the top of the key for a three. Kramer had a heads up play, getting two tips before scoring on a tough put back. At halftime, Oregon Elite led 33-27 over a tough Sagebrush team. Sagebrush answered with two three-pointers to tie the game at 33 a piece to start the half. Dani Starr had two free throws along with a Kramer lay-up despite contact. Starr board and bucket followed by a Kramer triple made it 42-37. McClave scored on back to back possessions - with an aggressive drive and a triple. [player_tooltip player_id="158525" first="Sage" last="Kramer"] had a nice wrap around pass to Starr who converted an and-one as Oregon Elite was down one. Dani Starr scored off the inbound as Hueckman stole the inbounds to find Fulcher who was fouled - hitting one. Starr steal and find to Burns made it Oregon Elite 58-59. Their last score would come in the form of a Hueckman board and bucket as they would go fruitless in their several last possessions. Overall, it was a resilient game by two great teams as they came short 60-67 to a disciplined and structured Sagebrush squad. Stats: [player_tooltip player_id="158486" first="Cami" last="Fulcher"]: 1 point, 2 rebounds, 3 assists Hope Hassmann: 5 points, 2 rebounds [player_tooltip player_id="204574" first="Allie" last="Hueckman"]: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal [player_tooltip player_id="158525" first="Sage" last="Kramer"]: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists [player_tooltip player_id="158555" first="Keelie" last="O’Hollaren"]: 1 rebound, 1 assist Dani Starr: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal [player_tooltip player_id="158479" first="Schuyler" last="Berry"]: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal [player_tooltip player_id="158476" first="Sydney" last="Burns"]: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists [player_tooltip player_id="158506" first="Ana" last="McClave"]: 6 points, 1 rebound Kelsie Siegner: 1 rebound [player_tooltip player_id="158478" first="Natalie" last="Lathrop"]: 2 points, 4 rebounds Breakdown: Hueckman and Starr The talented three sport athlete had two three-pointers as 13 points in the first half alone as she more than showed up - providing a huge spark for her team in a huge game. Hueckman is the athletic and poised shooter that has an excellent shooting form as well as ability to let it go with consistency and quickness. Starr is the sharp and aggressive sharpshooter whose height allows her to be a great shooter - as she is able to see over her defenders. She is also a superb player in the paint with the ability to rebound and take players in the post with size and skill. [player_tooltip player_id="158525" first="Sage" last="Kramer"]: Blue Collar The most significant [player_tooltip player_id="158525" first="Sage" last="Kramer"] play of the game perhaps came at the end of the first half as she grabbed an offensive board, missed - gathered her own miss - and put it in. She is a tremendous worker in the paint who is excellent on timing jumps for rebounds and is incredibly physical and resilient in the paint. A great all-around player who plays with a chip on her shoulder defensively and makes a lot of plays for herself and others. She can run the point forward position with a lot of awareness who can find others in stride running towards the basket. Her 7 point, 5 rebound, 4 assist performance was telling of her abilities as a versatile player. Team Play Other players stepped up for Oregon Elite during their second half run with Sagebrush - including [player_tooltip player_id="158506" first="Ana" last="McClave"] who scared on back to back possessions with a drive as well as a triple. She is also a determined defender who pesters her opposition into mistakes routinely with a high motor. Hope Hassmann continued to show her ability to score and make plays for others as a poised guard who plays well beyond her years. [player_tooltip player_id="158486" first="Cami" last="Fulcher"] was an activated and skilled floor general who makes sure others are in scoring position and knows how to calculate an offense. Syd Burns and [player_tooltip player_id="158479" first="Schuyler" last="Berry"] brought consistency and added stability at the guard and forward spots respectively with leadership and skill.