CPU vs. W-SR: Strong Utility Players

Though I mentioned it in my previous article, I'll bring it up again — Center Point - Urbana and Waverly - Shell Rock are two well-drilled, disciplined teams. Their matchup on Friday was a ton of fun to watch and has me excited to see where both teams end up come tourney time. On both squads I noticed a handful of players who executed their role really well. From hustle plays, to making the extra pass to an open teammate, to making a big defensive stop, these players got it done on both sides of the court and really showed their value on the floor. If you're looking for consistent players who do a lot of things well, then this article is for you.    [player_tooltip player_id='766450' first='Deni' last='Katcher'] has a solid motor, strong court vision, and good intuition while moving without the ball. Throughout the game I noticed Katcher catching her defender off-guard with a smart cut for an open look, including a curl cut through an open lane and a relocation for a kickout three in the second half. Katcher moves well and makes good decisions — if she is on the floor you can bet your offense will have the spacing it needs to execute. She also is more than capable of hitting the three ball, cashing in two on Friday night. Additionally I think Katcher brings length and athleticism defensively — she's active on the ball and has a low stance. She stepped up to guard W-SR's top players late in the second half and did a good job to make scores difficult.     [player_tooltip player_id='1143270' first='Maya' last='Burkhart'] inserted herself into the conversation on Friday with her aggression on defense, hustle in transition, and overall energy. She made offense a chore with her disruptive, scrappy defense and changed the mood of her team immediately upon checking into the game. Burkhart had multiple tipped passes in the first half and forced a turnover while she was at the top of CPU's press. She also did a great job turning defense to offense — Burkhart forced a bad pass then out-sprinted everyone down the floor for a throw-ahead scoop layup. Throughout the game she did a good job to put pressure on the defense by sprinting the floor hard. Though she's not an oversized guard by any means, she hits the boards hard too.     I think [player_tooltip player_id='896461' first='Mya' last='Hillers'] showed variety in her game on Friday and made good decisions on both sides of the ball. Hillers really knows how to position herself on the floor for success — she seals well, will attack the help-side to draw multiple defenders, and finds the open player when she is double-teamed. The 5'10" forward showed off her footwork and offensive skillset across the floor on Friday, including with a jab step to leave a defender behind and a shot fake on the perimeter for an open drive to the rim. Later in crunch time, Hillers drew two defenders on a strong seal and kicked out to a teammate for a big-time three pointer. Defensively, Hillers did a great job executing in different positions. Whether she was stepping out to trap on the perimeter or holding down the paint in CPU's press, I was impressed with Hillers' mobility and utility.     There is a lot to like about Waverly - Shell Rock's [player_tooltip player_id='1143272' first='Sydney' last='Bienemann']. The 5'10" senior was dynamic and consistent across the board while finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists (and no turnovers to boot). Bienemann is reliable at the rim (going 3/3 from the floor on Friday) and showed off a number of different finishes. She will score through contact, knows when to use a shot fake, and is strong with the ball — if you pass it to Bienemann in the paint, you can count on her to make a good decision. Defensively, I also thought she did a nice job as a help defender and secured the ball well on her rebounds. Additionally she walled up well when her player had the ball in the post.     [player_tooltip player_id='1143274' first='Addie' last='Ott'] is the perfect example of a player making the most of her minutes when her number was called. Offensively and defensively, Ott made huge plays down the stretch to help the Go-Hawks solidify their win Friday night. Ott did an excellent job to move her feet on the perimeter and draw a charge late in the fourth, then soon after ripped the ball baseline for an aggressive drive, drawing a foul and sinking both free-throws. Ott was subbed in during defensive possessions in the final minutes as well, which is a testament to her reliability and discipline. Despite not playing huge minutes, Ott was a difference-maker for Waverly - Shell Rock and showed she can step up and make a play anywhere on the floor.

Though I mentioned it in my previous article, I'll bring it up again — Center Point - Urbana and Waverly - Shell Rock are two well-drilled, disciplined teams. Their matchup on Friday was a ton of fun to watch and has me excited to see where both teams end up come tourney time. On both squads I noticed a handful of players who executed their role really well. From hustle plays, to making the extra pass to an open teammate, to making a big defensive stop, these players got it done on both sides of the court and really showed their value on the floor. If you're looking for consistent players who do a lot of things well, then this article is for you.