“It’s Always Sunny at the ‘Slope”

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight the <strong>Desert Ridge Jaguars</strong> (1-4) traveled to central Phoenix to take on the <strong>Sunnyslope Vikings </strong>(5-1) in a 6A showdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite their early season record, the senior laden Desert Ridge team rolls out three starters each night with a growing list of college offers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='327682' first='Kaycee' last='Steinke'], [player_tooltip player_id='655614' first='Saige' last='Miller'], and Hannah Mask. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They would be matched up tonight against a very young, but very experienced Sunnyslope starting five who should be considered one of the best starting fives in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='754668' first='Teagan' last='Mcilroy'], [player_tooltip player_id='530986' first='Kylie' last='Rarrick'], [player_tooltip player_id='837359' first='Shannon' last='McIlroy'], [player_tooltip player_id='754702' first='Margaret' last='Luba'], and [player_tooltip player_id='819334' first='Amelia' last='Mickelson']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup would be your classic matchup of size vs. speed. Which ever team can control the pace should walk out with a victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams would begin tonights matchup with early scoring opportunities, however cold shooting from the floor would limit either team gaining momentum. As the first quarter moved along, the full court pressure and length of the Sunnyslope team would begin to irritate and create problems for Desert Ridge. Through a series of deflections, forced turnovers, and rebounds Sunnyslope would slowly begin to take momentum scoring on a number of easy buckets and uncontested perimeter shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the end of the first frame Sunnyslope would lead 22-7. As the second quarter began the Sunnyslope pressure intensified. Desert Edge would do their best through a series of timeouts and lineup changes to neutralize the unrelenting pressure, however the Jaguars would continue to struggle much of the second quarter. At the half, Sunnyslope would lead 36-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the teams came out for warmups to begin the third quarter you could see and feel a renewed energy and focus from the Desert Edge team. It showed immediately in their confidence and execution slowly beginning to break the Sunnyslope pressure. Open shots along the perimeter began to occur more frequently, post players were more frequently being fed, and the Desert Edge size became a problem the Slope guards on the glass. Sunnyslope would need an early timeout in the third to refocus for what would be a very evenly played quarter (21-18) with only a slight edge for the Vikings. As the fourth quarter began Sunnyslope would again begin to force their will and eventually take back full control of the game. After a very encouraging third, the guard play of Sunnyslope would eventually have the final say in winning this matchup fairly easy <strong>73-41</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["819334"],"_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":"Amelia is one of a handful of staple-players in the Sunnyslope program where she is averaging 10 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 2.5 spg over her 4 year varsity career (60 games). On her Sunnyslope squad, Amelia is probably considered a u0022postu0022, however she is anything but your traditional post. Amelia plays more like a wing or big guard with an ability to stretch defenses with long range 3's off the catch (91 career 3 pointers made to date) and use a strong dribble drive to beat defenders off the dribble. Perhaps the greatest attribute, that may go unnoticed, is Amelia's ability to defend and rebound against opponents true bigs and u003cstrongu003eu003cemu003equicklyu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003e get outlet passes to waiting teammates for transition down court. Opponents better be able to find Amelia trailing in transition after Sunnyslope's initial attack or it could be a long night.rnrnOn this night Amelia finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["754702"],"_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":"Maggie Luba is going to break many records before her time is up at Sunnyslope. Only a sophomore, Maggie is averaging 12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 2.1 spg in 33 varsity games. Maggie brings a little bit of everything to the table when it comes to preparing for her. Offensively Maggie is a three level scorer with the ability to hit from deep, strong dribble penetration (finishing with either hand) where she is shooting 54% from the field, and has the size and length to post up most opponents. In any of these situations, Maggie becomes a bigger problem if she is fouled; hitting almost 80% of her free throws. Defensively, Maggie is the head of the defensive-snake using her length to force u0022sloppyu0022 and u0022softu0022 passes from opponents for either deflections or steals. Maggie also uses her athleticism and speed to quickly converge on unsuspecting opponents in suffocating double-teams. Maggie is the u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003eprototypicalu003c/strongu003e u003c/emu003eu0022Swiss Army knifeu0022.rnrnOn this night Maggie finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["530986"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kylie is another staple in the Sunnyslope program where she is averaging 12.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, and 1.0 spg over her 4 year varsity career (58 games). Over the course of Kylie's career u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003eeach and everyu003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003e statistical category has doubled every year. I would not be surprised at all to see end of the season numbers north of 12 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, and 2 spg. Kylie is the clear leader of this team and the engine that makes Sunnyslope go. Offensively Kylie plays the game fast, aggressive, and simple. A scouting report calling to u0022sagu0022 on Kylie is not the best option with an ability to hit from deep (making 68 3's in her career to date). A scouting report calling to u0022pressureu0022, Kylie has nice tight handles and will use a series of head-and-shoulder fakes before exploding right past you (shooting 60% from the field this season). And if defenses commit to helping, you are falling right into her hands as she will find an open teammate ready to fire.rnrnOn this night Kylie finished with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["754668"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='754668' first='Teagan' last='Mcilroy'] is yet another staple in the Sunnyslope program where she is averaging 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, and 4.2 spg over her 4 year varsity career (59 games). Teagan has been a u003cemu003eu003cstrongu003emodel of consistencyu003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003e over the course of her career for the Viking program and a bit of a silent sniper for opponents. Teagan brings the biggest threat of outside shooting to the team leading the program in 3 pointers made over her career (111) and Assists (270). Teagan is the classic definition of a combo guard who again does not have many weaknesses in her game and a variety of tools at her disposal depending on what defenses are trying to do against her. Teagan also has an excellent variety of stop-and-go/ hesitation moves that make pressuring her defensively a challenge.rnrnOn this night Teagan finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6573ab784842b"} /-->