D4 State Semifinals Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams stepped onto the court Thursday, dreaming of competing for a D4 MHSAA State Championship on Saturday. Ewen-Trout Creek defeated Concord 34-24 and Fowler defeated Genesee Christian 57-32. Here are a few performers who stepped up for their teams in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["896944"],"_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":1220760,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ecd23"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bree was dynamic with her shifty hesitation and crossover dribbles. She beat defenders with a burst off the dribble to score a strong layup through a foul and tacked on the free throw. Bree crossed over her defender to score a smooth left-handed layup and converted free throws like a machine from the charity line with six in the game. Bree showed her perimeter accuracy with a deep straightaway triple and secured many rebounds. She split double teams with quick low crossover dribbles and created steals on defense. Bree led ETC to a 34-24 victory vs. Concord with 15 points (6/7 FTs), four rebounds, and three assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["995709"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ecd85"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Irelynd impacted ETC as a rebounder and shot blocker against Concord. She extended her range to knock down long two-point jumpers from the corner and wing. Irelyn protected the rim by swatting shots in the paint, converted two free throws, and finished a layup. She ended the game with a stat line of eight points, a game-high 14 rebounds, and three blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["995701"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ecdce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cieara was the most aggressive player for Concord and she worked hard to keep her team within striking distance against ETC. Cieara flashed athleticism and potential to be excited about. She used a quick sweep move to beat her defender off the dribble driving baseline and finished the contested layup off two feet. Cieara buried a deep wing 3 and swiped the ball away on defense, finishing the play with a strong and-one layup. She drove hard downhill and used a crossover to beat her defender for another layup. Ciera's all-around impact as a defender, rebounder, and scorer caught my attention--she finished the game with nine points, seven rebounds, and three steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["519162"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ece12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Haven looks ready to make an immediate impact at Spring Arbor. Her athleticism, physical profile, and fundamental skills were on full display during the semifinals against Fowler. Haven drove hard to the basket and avoided a defender using a high pickup to finish a left-handed layup off two feet. She jumped up to block shots inside and floated in midair to score a floater after beating her defender with a baseline drive. Haven has developed her perimeter shot and showed it by draining two confident triples up top, including one at the buzzer to end the third quarter. Haven sealed her defender inside to catch an entry pass and scored a left-handed layup using a drop step. She led the Soldiers with 18 points, five rebounds, and four blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220751"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ece51"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reagan is a freshman with potential who I enjoyed seeing for the first time during the semifinals against Fowler. She stepped up for the Soldiers with a big second half. Reagan drove hard and used a quick spin to score an athletic scoop layup off the glass. She showed her outside shooting ability by burying triples from the corner and up top. Reagan dropped in a pull-up jumper off the glass and poured in 10 points with three assists for Genesee Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["716683"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ece8f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katie has been stellar all season for Fowler and she continued her success during the semifinals against Genesee Christian. Katie buried a corner 3, dished a long assist over the defense after securing a rebound, and scored an offensive rebound putback. She dropped in two baseline drive floaters with a soft touch and beat her defender using a quick crossover to score a left-handed layup. Katie poured in 12 points with seven rebounds for the Eagles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1180557"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ececd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elizabeth is a scrappy and determined guard who came up huge again on both sides of the ball for Fowler during their semifinal win vs. Genesee Christian. Elizabeth chased down an offensive rebound to score a layup and caused a foul with a determined boxout. She split defenders with a quick crossover to score a contested layup and accelerated to score another layup off two feet. Elizabeth showed her resiliency by hitting the floor to compete for a loose ball after her shot was blocked. She effectively created scoring chances for teammates and converted five of six free throws at the line. Elizabeth scored 13 points with five rebounds and five assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220752"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ecf0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brooke gave Fowler a gigantic boost on the scoreboard with her accuracy from three-point range. She knocked down a game-high four triples and finished a transition layup for the Eagles. Brooke poured in 14 points to help Fowler advance to the state finals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158089"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e06172ecf4d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paige will be a forward for college coaches to keep their eyes on heading into her senior season at Fowler. She's very strong and physical inside with good footwork. Paige secured an offensive rebound and scored the putback. She used a drop-step move to score off two feet and converted multiple layups off the glass. Paige created second-chance scoring opportunities by outworking defenders for offensive rebounds--she added two free throws. Paige scored 11 points with seven rebounds for Fowler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->