Gilbert at Hamilton: Elite-8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Thursday, February 22nd I attended the Elite-8 OPEN playoff game of the #1<strong> Hamilton Huskies </strong>hosting #9 <strong>Gilbert Tigers</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers came out of the gate hot from deep with three deep ones in the first quarter by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205677' first='Morgan' last='Evenson']</strong>. The second quarter, the Huskies started pilling up extra possessions and owning the glass led by [player_tooltip player_id='598978' first='Callie' last='Hinder']. Hamilton led 25-23 at halftime. They extended their lead to 39-31 heading into the 4th quarter as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205652' first='Savanna' last='Creal'] </strong>started showing off her talents. Super freshman tried willing her team to make a comeback but the <strong>Huskies</strong> overall size proved to be too much as they won <strong>55-43</strong> and advanced to the Final-4. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were some of the standouts</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205652' first='Savanna' last='Creal'] Hamilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior had some dominant stretches from inside and out. She can step out and shoot the three but is best around the basket. She has a knack of getting herself to the FT line and is an out of area rebounder. She will score on put backs, cut, dribble drive baseline plus post up and use a drop step move. She scored 17 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='598978' first='Callie' last='Hinder'] Hamilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the tallest players in the state was nearly impossible to stop close to the rim. She will post up with hook shots, use good post footwork and had multiple in-traffic buckets. She is a good passer out of the double team and can seal her defender off to score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205644' first='Reanna' last='Farrington'] Hamilton&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized guard is athletic and can play multiple positions. She can hit the catch three and has a pretty touch on her FT's. She can post up and spin off of her defender and will score on rebound put backs. She also has quick hands on defense to bother her opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624028' first='Taylor' last='Sipfle'] Hamilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another one of taller post players in the state had her own dominant stretch of the game. She rebounds everything in her area and will score on put backs, layups in transition and most importantly she understands how to seal her opponent and go to work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='859499' first='Kayla' last='Adams'] Hamilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic and fast combo guard can score getting downhill in heavy traffic while using either hand. She rebounds well, defends her positions and plays with energy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='588386' first='Caia' last='Campbell'] Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A true combo guard plays on or off the ball. She always knows where to be on defense and sees the game differently then most as a freshmen. She is a phenomenal passer with either hand with a next level feel for the game. She scored a team high 17 points with five deep shots off the dribble or off the catch. She also will pull-up from mid-range and on top of that defend the top opposing guard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='598979' first='Aspen' last='McClees'] Gilbert&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong forward fills up the stat sheet. She is incredible inside to rebound and block shots and can make plays. She will score it near the basket after she dribble drives around bigger players. She boxes out taller players like you should and seems to always be around the ball to collect steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205677' first='Morgan' last='Evenson'] Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <strong>Embry-Riddle </strong>commit is the teams three point specialist. She started on fire with three in the first quarter. She is best off the catch and the lefty has a pretty stroke. She can hesitate to freeze the defender and get to the basket. She uses her size to rebound and will box out and hustle for loose balls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205645' first='Meisha' last='Caserio'] Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized point guard can score with blow by layups with either hand while using a quick first step. She has the floater game and can score with off the dribble threes. She is a pest on defense to rebound and even block shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->