2021 HoopSource Presidents’ Day Showcase:Marathon Elite/Starzz
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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…
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Continue ReadingFinal: 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 Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR , Marathon came back late in the game.
The game began with Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR 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. Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR had a free throw and a steal for a lay-up. Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR 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 Toni Coleman Toni Coleman 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR .
In the second half Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR found Chamberlin for a rugged low-post score followed by a wild Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR 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. Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR would find Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR 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. Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR was the safety around mid-court as this would soon come into play. Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR found Toni Coleman Toni Coleman 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR 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 Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR , 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:
Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR : 3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR : 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals
Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR : 9 points, 1 assist, 2 steals
Laini Dahlin: 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Kaylin Dea: 2 rebounds, 1 assist
McKenzie Hirsch McKenzie Hirsch 5'11" | SF Crater | 2022 State OR : 2 rebounds
Malayah Bolden: 6 points, 1 rebound
Breakdown:
Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR : 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, Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR , Toni Coleman Toni Coleman 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR , Kaili Chamberlin Kaili Chamberlin 5'9" | SG South Medford | 2021 State OR , 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. Bella Stone Bella Stone 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR was the floor general who found players in stride, Toni Coleman Toni Coleman 5'5" | PG South Medford | 2021 State OR was the energetic guard that brings it on every play, and Dahlin was the low-post interior defender.
Bolden Cousins
Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR 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. Tiara Bolden Tiara Bolden 5'9" | SG Churchill | 2021 State OR 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.