MIAA D3 State Championship: Preira Protection

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The MIAA D3 Title Game featured a great matchup between #2 St. Mary’s and #4 Rockland. St Mary’s star-studded offensive backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="266787" first="Yirsy" last="Queliz"] and [player_tooltip player_id="267553" first="Niya" last="Morgen"] had to go against the physical, long defensive Rockland backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="264264" first="Maggie" last="Elie"] and [player_tooltip player_id="359073" first="Sydney" last="Blaney"]. Right away, you knew this was going to be a battle. Not to mention the matchup down low between Bentley commit [player_tooltip player_id="183953" first="Julia" last="Elie"] vs. [player_tooltip player_id="184043" first="Kellyn" last="Preira"]. It made for a must-see bout with Elie coming off an 18 and 11 night against #1 seed Medway and Preira being one of the better post defenders in the ’23 class. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">St Mary’s controlled the game for the 1st half, leading 26-19 going into the break. Led by the huge defensive efforts of Preira and Queliz on offense, it looked like St. Mary’s would run away with the game. Rockland picked it up in the third quarter and outscored St. Mary’s 14-8 behind the play of ’24 guard [player_tooltip player_id="264264" first="Maggie" last="Elie"] and disciplined, aggressive team defense that thwarted the St. Mary’s offense. Both teams traded big shots in the 4th, and with about 30 seconds left, Queliz hit the go-ahead midrange jumper to put St. Mary’s up 46-44. The ensuing Rockland possession ended dramatically. A terrific inbounds pass from [player_tooltip player_id="359073" first="Sydney" last="Blaney"] to [player_tooltip player_id="183953" first="Julia" last="Elie"] for a layup as time expired was rejected by Preira, securing the Championship for St. Mary’s. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Player of the Game: </strong> [caption id="attachment_402553" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/C254A8DD-5B3C-4271-BB61-370194A68213-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647737729.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-402553" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/C254A8DD-5B3C-4271-BB61-370194A68213-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647737729-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Produced4Soul[/caption] &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="184043" first="Kellyn" last="Preira"] - 5’10’’ - SF/PF - ’23</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Preira was tremendous in the biggest game of the season. It started and ended on defense for the 5’10’’ forward who held Bentley commit [player_tooltip player_id="183953" first="Julia" last="Elie"] to 9 points and secured the Championship with the game-clinching block. Preira was dominating on defense throughout the game, and it wasn’t just with shot rejections. She was active in passing lanes, getting to 50/50 balls, and bumping cutters nonstop, which threw Rockland completely off their offensive rhythm. The discomfort Preira caused was apparent, and she put together one of the most impactful defensive performances of the winter. She also had 16 points which included some big shots in the 4th quarter to help St. Mary’s claim victory. </span> &nbsp; <strong>St. Mary’s Standouts: </strong> [caption id="attachment_402557" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/7D523EC1-BA3B-419D-A5FB-2D1171AA1028-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647737955.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-402557" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/7D523EC1-BA3B-419D-A5FB-2D1171AA1028-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1647737955-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Produced4Soul[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="266787" first="Yirsy" last="Queliz"] - 5’5’’ - PG - ’23</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With the game tied at 44 and about 30 seconds remaining in the 4th, Queliz nailed the go-ahead jump shot. A simple hesitation crossover created enough space for Queliz for her to rise up and drill a mid-range pull-up to put St. Mary’s up for good. Whenever the Spartans needed a bucket, Queliz answered the call. When Rockland got back in the game in the third, Queliz stopped a run with an aggressive and-1 finish to halt Rockland’s momentum. All year, Queliz has been a reliable playmaker who raises her game when the stakes are at their highest. </span> &nbsp; <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-402566" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/FA1FB2F6-6EED-4C68-A32E-B08032044523-crop-1242x816-1647738849-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="393472" first="Bella" last="Owumi"] - 5’8’’ - SG - ’27</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Owumi scored all 6 points in the first quarter, which led the game at that point. I liked her aggression and ability to change speed so effortlessly. She made a couple of nice moves from the wing and had the length to finish easily at the rim. For a 7th grader, I liked her assertiveness early in the ball game. It didn’t seem like the moment was too big for Owumi, and she gave St. Mary’s good production from the small forward position. </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="402569" first="AJ" last="Hyacinthe"] - 5’7’’ - SG - ’24</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Hyacinthe came off the bench as a catch and shoot specialist and helped stretch the floor with a three in the first half. I liked the energy and effort Hyacinthe brought on defense. I thought she was active on the perimeter and showed good instincts.</span>