Millennium/Desert Vista Open Division Championship Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goodyear <strong>Millennium</strong> took on Phoenix <strong>Desert Vista</strong> In the inaugural Girls Open Division Basketball Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams came to battle as the first quarter was a defensive struggle in which there was limited offense initially. Millennium started out in a zone in an effort to slow down the high powered Thunder. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 11-9 lead in the first quarter. The Desert Vista Thunder closed out the quarter with a quick 4-0 run to bring the score to 13-11 heading into the 2nd quarter. In the beginning of 2nd quarter Desert Vista turned up the defensive pressure holding Millennium scoreless for the first half of the quarter. The Thunder went on a 10-0 run forcing Millennium to call a timeout. Desert Vista's defense turned into offense as they outscored Millennium 19-10 in the 2nd quarter. The score heading into halftime was Desert Vista 32 Millennium 21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3rd quarter started how the 2nd ended with Desert Vista going on a quick 7-0 run. At this point the Thunder's perimeter defense is controlling the game forcing turnovers and rushed shots. A big 26-8 3rd quarter has Millennium on it's heels and looking like the majority of Desert Vista's opponents this season. Going into the 4th and final quarter the score was 58-29. In the final quarter with a running clock the Thunder just needed to finish the job. Desert Vista cleared the bench with 3:30 remaining in the game. The Desert Vista Thunder win <strong>63-37</strong> becoming the 2023 Girls Open Division Champions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Here are a few of the standouts from this game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='558892' first='Jerzy' last='Robinson']<strong> Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best girls high school players to come thru the state in some time. She does a little bit of everything. She has the size of a forward, handle and passing of a point guard, shooting of a wing, all rolled into one. Her potential is limitless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='205641' first='Elli' last='Guiney'] <strong>Millennium</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The gutsy guard did what she could to keep the Thunder close. She made contested shots, rebounded well and looked to set up her teammates. She continues to play at her own pace and is super crafty. I look for her recruitment to take off this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='588763' first='Dylan' last='Swindle'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The young sophomore came out ready to play. She shot the ball at a high rate and got to the basket at will. On defense she was a ball hawk collecting steals and deflections with quick hands and feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='203873' first='Shay' last='Ijiwoye'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leader for the Thunder. Shay is a load on both ends of the court. On offense she sacrificed her offense for the better of the team but that is what true point guards do and that is what she is. She is extremely strong and hard to take the ball from. On defense she stays locked in so much you think she will get a steal every time down court. One of the top 2024's in the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='138094' first='Bella' last='Barrett'] <strong>Millennium</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior shot the ball well for the Tigers showing offensive versatility. She showed that she knows how to get to the spots where she is most effective. She displayed a very good touch from the perimeter and played with a good IQ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339069' first='Michaela' last='Fairwell'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another budding young star for the Thunder came up big. Fairwell hit three's, rebounded and ran the floor exceptionally well. She used her length extremely well on defense causing havoc for whoever she was guarding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='205646' first='Eanae' last='Dagons'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior point guard played very well in a limited roll offensively. She showed that even though she is a capable scorer that she impacts the game even when she isn't putting up big scoring numbers. She pushed the ball well on offense keeping the defense on it's heels. On defense she displayed quick hands and feet. One of the top on-ball defenders in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->