2021 HoopSource Presidents' Day Showcase:Marathon Elite/Starzz

Final: Marathon Elite 51, Grandview Starzz 53 Marathon Elite played an exciting game that came down to the wire with Grandview Starzz on day two of the 2021 HoopSource Presidents’ Day Showcase where the team and its individuals were tested to the best of their abilities. In the first half, both teams were on even footing as they found themselves tied at 10 a piece before the Starzz began holding a slight lead over their adversaries. At halftime, Marathon trailed 22-27 as they looked to try to get an advantage through their intensity on defense and ability to unleash on offense in an instant. With the affair tied at 29, both teams began trading leads back and forth in the early second half. The Starzz began to pull away a tad bit but thanks to some late game heroics by [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"], Marathon came back late in the game. The game began with [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"] scoring the first five points, which would be indicative of her overall play down the stretch. Free throw, reverse lay-up, and board and bucket. She followed this by an impressive hustle steal and lay-up. [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] had a free throw and a steal for a lay-up. [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"] had an offensive board, retreated to the three-point line and had a nice pump fake three-pointer. Kail Chamberlin steal around half court and feed to South Medford teammate [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"]. In the second half [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] found Chamberlin for a rugged low-post score followed by a wild [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"] circus shot from the right block that banked in. Chamberlain to Bolden three-pointer gave them the lead but Starzz would fight back. Coleman to Malayah Bolden for a triple followed by two Chamberlin free-throws. Chamberlain would have a nice cut for a floater. A Chamberlin triple off the inbound would cut to lead to 39-43. [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"] would find [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] for a big three that would find Marathon within striking distance, 42-43. Marathon Elite strapped down on defense, as the combination of Coleman, Bolden, and Stone was effective as they pestered their opposition into mistakes and capitalized them into points. [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"] was the safety around mid-court as this would soon come into play. [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"] found [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"] for a three - as she would not only find it but be fouled in the process, completing the rare four point play. Chamberlin would come out of nowhere from midpoint to pinpoint the pass and steal it and lay it in to tie it at 48. The two teams would go back and forth and after some late game management, Marathon would find themselves down 51-53 with one last chance to either tie it up or go for the win with the ball in their hands. They looked no further than [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"], who had herself a monster game with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 steals at this point. She took the ball up the length of the court and one stride past half-court she let it go from about 25 feet - as the deep three came off the rim and they lost a close battle that came down to the final buzzer. Stats: [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"]: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"]: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"]: 9 points, 1 assist, 2 steals Laini Dahlin: 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal Kaylin Dea: 2 rebounds, 1 assist [player_tooltip player_id="158529" first="McKenzie" last="Hirsch"]: 2 rebounds Malayah Bolden: 6 points, 1 rebound Breakdown: [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"]: Do-It All From the tip-off, Chamberlin was all business as she showed an aggressive demeanor on the defensive end as a high motor player who finds ways to contribute in all the little ways. She also truly did it all offensively, whether it was out-muscling in the low-post or finding crafty ways to score in the paint. She is a polished and confident scorer who finds ways to score the way. Whether it is drilling it from deep or a wild shot that miraculously goes in, Chamberlin’s sole mission was to give her team the victory - by any means necessary. Although Marathon didn’t come up with the victory, the story of the game was certainly her 22 point, 10 rebound, 7 steal performance.   South Medford Synergy Upon first glance, it can be seen that South Medford’s DNA is embedded into this Marathon roster. Translating from their deep success from playing as a collective unit, [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"], [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"], [player_tooltip player_id="158483" first="Kaili" last="Chamberlin"], and Laini Dahlin all know how to play with one another and as a single unit. Defensively, they are all engaged and dialed in on the full-court trap, which came into play late in the game. Offensively, they look for each other effortlessly and seamlessly. [player_tooltip player_id="158503" first="Bella" last="Stone"] was the floor general who found players in stride, [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"] was the energetic guard that brings it on every play, and Dahlin was the low-post interior defender.   Bolden Cousins [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] and Malayah Bolden are cousins who play for Churchill and South Salem, respectively. Their skill sets are also similar, as they are highly skilled shooters who have excellent shot selections. Malayah sank both of her three-pointers, including one that they direly needed late in the game. [player_tooltip player_id="158495" first="Tiara" last="Bolden"] was the stringy and athletic defender throughout the game that they needed and she also found ways to contribute offensively as a three level scorer. The terrific tandem combined for 15 points in a valiant effort.