Class A Consolation: Laverne vs. Seiling
After losing in the regional championship round of the Class A playoffs, No. 3-ranked Seiling looked to secure a path to the state finals via the consolation bracket. They took the first step in that direction in a major way…
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Continue ReadingAfter losing in the regional championship round of the Class A playoffs, No. 3-ranked Seiling looked to secure a path to the state finals via the consolation bracket. They took the first step in that direction in a major way on Monday afternoon with a 76-34 victory over unranked Laverne. Seiling will now face the loser of the area championship game which takes place this evening between unranked Turpin and No. 13 Garber, the team who defeated them in the regional championship, 59-51.
Player of the Game
Braci Nyberg Braci Nyberg 5'7" | PG Seiling | 2024 State OK | 5-7 PG | Seiling | 2024 | @BraciNyberg
Nyberg stands out immediately – honestly, her whole team does, but Nyberg especially – for her tremendous dedication on the defensive end. A guard with good size, she can lock down an opposing guard and forces a ton of turnovers. She scored 15 and racked up the assists, but her stellar play can be summed up in one 20 second spurt. She worked hard off the ball to get into an open position, drained the three, then snuck in behind the player receiving the inbounds pass and stole it, passing it to a slashing teammate for the assist. What more can you ask really? Shooting ability mixed with a dedication to defense and a high basketball IQ equals a big-time basketball prospect.
Katelin Long | 5-8 CG | Laverne | 2023 | @kate_11_long
Long was a revelation in this game despite her team struggling all afternoon with the press of Seiling. In transition, Long is vicious, with stellar handles and the ability to finish at the rim no matter who stands in the way. She showed a great mid-range jumper and the ability to hit from outside. She is the kind of player – when you’re someone like me who does rankings – that makes you pull out your laptop and immediately add her to the list of players to be ranked. She stood out from the tip for her size, speed, and especially because, in a game where her team trailed from the outset, she never let off the gas. She never quit and a lot of times seeing a player play from behind can tell you much more than seeing a player win.
Isabella Hammons | 5-9 F | Seiling | 2024 | @HammonsIsabella
Man, what a scary proposition for Class A basketball in Oklahoma that both Hammons and Nyberg are only sophomores. Yet another player whose dedication to defense is exemplary, Hammons can also put the ball in the bucket. She is a small school four who can definitely stretch the floor with her shooting ability. She scored 14 with four three-pointers and was two for two from the free-throw line. When I tell you that Isabella can shoot it, she can flat out shoot it. She has a smooth stroke with a quick release and her size and length make her shot very tough to block. She is not a liability with the ball in her hands and showed the ability to rebound the ball with opponents draped all over her. The refs were letting them play and she was snatching rebounds one-handed. Hammons is definitely one to keep an eye on.