Game Recap: Estrella Foothills at Deer Valley
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The #4 team in the state Deer Valley, hosted #6 Estrella Foothills in a 4A showdown between two rock-solid teams eager to make a splash start in region play. Both Deer Valley and Estrella Foothills’ defenses were prepared and locked…
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Continue ReadingThe #4 team in the state Deer Valley, hosted #6 Estrella Foothills in a 4A showdown between two rock-solid teams eager to make a splash start in region play. Both Deer Valley and Estrella Foothills’ defenses were prepared and locked in from the start, making it extremely difficult for either team to score in the first three quarters. At the end of three quarters, Estrella Foothills held a slim 23-19 advantage. Then, the fourth quarter happened, and, more notably, Deer Valley’s Diamond Stevenson Diamond Stevenson 5'8" | SG Deer Valley | 2024 State AZ happened. Stevenson completely took over the fourth with her defensive prowess, athleticism, and playmaking abilities. Sophomore Mollie Childress Mollie Childress 5'6" | CG Deer Valley | 2026 State AZ caught fire from beyond the arc, leaving the Estrella Foothills defense scrambling for solutions. Deer Valley would go on to score an impressive 24 points in the fourth quarter alone, securing a 43-36 victory.
Diamond Stevenson Diamond Stevenson 5’8″ | SG Deer Valley | 2024 State AZ is a do it all guard that defends, rebounds, and can score at a high rate driving to the basket using a nice mid-range pull and a float game to keep her opponents off balance. Extremely hungry and aggressive defender on the ball that uses her incredible speed, athleticism, and quick hands to generate steals for her team and “create chaos” for opponents. Diamond crashes the boards well and quickly passes the ball up court for easy transition opportunities. Diamond is without a doubt the heart and motor of this Skyhawk team. Diamond is currently averaging 14.4 points per game.
Mollie Childress Mollie Childress 5’6″ | CG Deer Valley | 2026 State AZ is a gamer and absolutely welcomed the moment when her team needed her most nailing 3 3-point bombs in the fourth quarter alone. Throughout the course of an intense and physical game Mollie proved to be a good defender, strong rebounder and reliable ball handler that smoothly got Deer Valley into their sets. I anticipate this sophomore to continue to develop her overall game into the face of the Skyhawk program over the next two seasons and one of the top shooting guards in the state. Mollie is currently averaging 7.6 points per game.
Brooke Elliott has really good size and is always using it to gain position advantages in and around the paint area. Brooke can finish well as a square up to the basket post and will undoubtedly develop into a force over time as a back to the basket player as well. Brooke has good defensive awareness and knows when to show her size and step up to stop penetration while playing help-side defense. As Brooke continues to develop, she will absolutely become a key piece for Deer Valley who must have a player with equal size guarding her or a team willing to run a double team at her. Brooke is a prospect college coaches will be keeping an eye as her career unfolds. Brooke is currently averaging 4.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg.
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Madison Pond Madison Pond 5’10” | SF Estrella Foothills | 2024 State AZ possesses a very good and polished outside game, complemented by impressive range from beyond the arc. As a classic “3-and-D” forward, she excels in both scoring and defense. Madison stands out for her excellent rebounding skills at her position and demonstrates the ability to bring the ball up under pressure when needed. On the defensive end, Madison plays a crucial role in help-side defense, effectively converting her efforts into steals by aggressively playing passing lanes. Looking ahead to her collegiate journey at Hastings College, I expect Madison to be a valuable day-one contributor to the Broncos program. Currently, Madison is averaging of 11.3 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, and 3.1 steals per game.
Highlights
Eva Amenhauser knows how to play the low post. She has a lethal drop step and uses her body to seal unsuspecting defenders very well to receive entry passes. She also possesses a nice jump shot from 15 feet that she hits with consistency, making her a tough cover defensively on pick-and-rolls or pick-and-pop situations. Eva rebounds very well, gathers the ball strong and pivots to locate and snap outlet passes to initiate the Wolves break. Eva is currently averaging 9.2 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game.