Triumph Region Final 17U Standouts – Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so many talented players on the court at the Upward Center, it's going to take a few stories to hilight all ofthe standouts. In this article we look at more players who left their mark on Day 1 of the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["346854"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":659491,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a15593dea05"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346854' first='Jolena' last='Gardner'] put in the work and showed why she is one of the top 2025 players in the State. One play and one half summed it up. She was defending on the outside and blocked her opponent's shot. After recovering the deflected ball, Gardner proceeded to dribble it coast to coast and finish with a layup on the other end of the court. Speed, agility, power, and finesse all wrapped up in one sequence. If that wasn't impressive enough, the versatile Gardner also connected on some beautiful top of the key and corner three pointers. She then went inside the paint and mixed it up against some 4s and 5s. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349438"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a15593dea61"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349438' first='Piera' last='Alexander'] had an impressive first day at the tournament. As usual, Alexander excelled in her role as the floor general, putting players in good position to succeed on the floor. Subsequently, she got the ball to open teammates on the inside and outside for threes, open midrange shots, and layups. Alexander didn't stop there. She got a chance to "eat" too, knocking down several threes and floaters in the paint. The versatile point guard played well on Day 1, showcasing a well rounded game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502107"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":689872,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='502107' first='Ashton' last='Harris'] was as impressive as anyone on Day 1 of the tournament. The versatile Harris really stresses a defense with her ability to penetrate, shoot from the outside, and pass the ball. Harris's left hand jumper is as sweet as honey butter, and on Day 1, she was accurate and efficient from behind the three point line. The notes on the iPad labeled Harris as a u0022beastu0022 and a u0022get down hillu0022 kind of player. u0026nbsp;Both fitting for the talented and versatile Harris.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["667632"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='667632' first='Khloe' last='Miller'] was a force on the court - and then some. Miller has length, determination, and a great motor and was a huge standout on Day 1. Miller put on a clinic rebounding the ball, scoring on the inside, blocking shots, and intimidating countless of other shots. Miller was impressive and her intangibles were just as impressive as the tangibles.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a15593deaea"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":689883,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='963013' first='Kyleigh' last='Chestnut']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='712782' first='Richmond' last='Heat'] 2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a15593deb7b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylie Chestnut was a standout on Day 1. The talented guard just went about her business and quietly put a dagger into the heart of her opponent. Chestnut scored on the perimeter, got points on drives and floaters in the paint, and got out and scored in transition. One play that comes to mind was a change of direction while an incoming pass was in mid-air. Chestnut was filling the right lane on a fast break. She could have made the catch and shot a contested layup, but instead adjusted her angle before the catch and finished on the opposite side of the original "plan of attack." One other note about Chestnut - she just finished her 7th year of school. The future is more than bright for this rising star! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->