8th Annual Sterling Invitational Day 1 Players Preview

The 8th Annual Sterling Invitational kicks off today with two games.  Two more are scheduled for Tuesday with Kingman playing both days.  Unlike bracket play in past years this year’s edition is broken into two pools.  All pool play games are being played at Sterling High School.  Upon completion of pool play the first place teams as well as the second place teams will play each other Friday at Sterling College.  The two remaining games, pool third place teams and a fourth place team taking on Chapparal, will be that same day at Sterling High School.  Below is a look at some of the players taking the floor Day 1. <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kingman</span></h2> <strong>Hannah Pearce, 5’8", W, 202</strong>1 - Pearce has a solid build, good length, and quick hands.  She shoots quickly from the perimeter, finish around the rim with both hands, and transitions well. <strong>Alex Schreiner, 5’7", PG, 202</strong>2 - Shreiner is energetic on both ends of the floor and disrupts with her quick hands.  At transition speed with the ball she sees the floor well to find teammates.  Shreiner also finishes around the rim with both hands. <strong>Kayla Belt, 5’6", CG, 2022</strong> - Belt is a top defender for the Eagles and is a capable three-point shooter. <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott City</span></h2> <strong>Amber Latta, 5’5", PG, 2022</strong> - Latta is a highly experienced, returning starter from Scott’s 3A state tournament team a season ago. She has run the show this season against a very difficult schedule, has quick hands, and can finish on either side of the basket with contact. A perimeter threat, off the catch, the dribble, or by jump shooting Latta is a three point threat. <strong>Ella Rumford, 6’0", PF, 2022</strong> - Rumford has good athleticism and speed to get down the floor for transition opportunities.  Able to score well around the rim she also will step out and knock down a three. <strong>Brooke Strine, 6’0", C, 2023</strong> - Strine has good size and length to take up space in the paint.  She anticipates well on the shot block and has good transition speed. <h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Smoky Valley</span></h3> [caption id="attachment_247331" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-247331" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Abby-Rose-2022-Smoky-Valley-12.19.19-205x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="220" /> Smoky Valley 2022 Abby Rose. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption] <strong>Abby Rose, 6’0", PF, 2022</strong> - After showing signs of what was to come a year ago Rose has emerged as a top forward due to her length, instincts,  athleticism, and ability to do many things well. She has added the three ball to her game and has gotten stronger and more physical inside. [player_tooltip player_id="231271" first="Adrian" last="Hazelwood"]<strong>, 5’8", PG/SG, 2024</strong> - Hazelwood opened her high school career with a 14 point showing in a win over Abilene. She uses good head and shoulder fakes to create perimeter shots and elevates well on them.  Hazelwood transition’s well and has good strength. [player_tooltip player_id="160905" first="Ellie" last="Brumbaugh"]<strong>, 5’3", PG/SG, 2021</strong> - Brumbaugh was the team’s most reliable perimeter shooter a year ago.  An experienced mult-year varsity starter she has good hand speed to pick ball handler’s she defends. [caption id="attachment_239612" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-239612" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Kali-Briar-2022-Sterling-261x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="172" /> Sterling 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="124974" first="Kali" last="Briar"] from December 2019. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] <h4><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sterling</span></h4> [player_tooltip player_id="124974" first="Kali" last="Briar"]<strong>, 5’6", PG/SG, 2021</strong> - Briar is not only a deft at the point but is a great perimeter shooter.  Quick hands also turn her defensive plays into transition baskets due to her handles and court vision. [player_tooltip player_id="125016" first="Bennie" last="Horsch"]<strong>, 5’10", SF, 2021</strong> - Horsch is long, athletic, fast, and has a rebounding knack.  Can finish around the rim and score well in the mid-range. [player_tooltip player_id="125008" first="Makenna" last="Linden"]<strong>, 5’5", PG/SG, 202</strong>2 - <span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:’Verdana’;font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">Linden creates well off the dribble, hustles and handles well in transition, uses the bounce to drop dimes to perimeter shooters, and passes well to wing cutters.  She also has three point range.</span> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;