Memorial Day Championships: 17U Standout Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vancouver, Wash.—</strong> FBC Oregon Tropics (Corvallis, Ore.) held on to defeat Sagebrush Hoops (Pasco, Wash.) 74-71 in the 17U bracket final to win the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships on Monday. The Tropics lost their first game of the tournament to Sagebrush 54-40 on Saturday. Both teams were tested physically and mentally down to the wire. It was the most competitive HoopSource girls grassroots tournament matchup I've watched this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tropics had the edge inside against the other squads, rotating four capable bigs ranging in height from 5'11 to 6'3. Each put in good minutes for their development team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oregon Overtime (Portland) had the toughest schedule in the 17U bracket and played hard every game. Overtime lost a double-digit lead and fell to the Tropics 68-61 on Saturday. The local team defeated the younger Sagebrush Hoops "Orange" squad 53-47 on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five bigs from the 17U bracket who caught my eye over the weekend:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["832069"],"_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-6837a182836fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">FBC Tropics 5-foot-11 forward/center [player_tooltip player_id='832069' first='Hazel' last='Pepperling'] was a strong presence inside at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Lebanon sophomore (2027) consistently ran the floor, scored in transition, and powered her way to the cup in the half-court. Pepperling has a strong frame and went to work in the paint, posting up and flashing. When no one picked her up on the perimeter, she attacked the lane on the bounce and beat everyone to the rim. She's an efficient scorer around the basket and doesn't miss bunnies. When she missed a contested shot, she stuck with it, got her own rebound, and finished the second-chance turnaround fadeaway through contact and the foul. She makes crisp passes out to perimeter shooters. She can step out and knock down the catch-and-shoot three herself. Pepperling protects the paint and the rim with her length. She blocks shots and deflects passes inside and out. She can defend 1-5, contain the guard on the perimeter, and shut down the big on the inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1255629' first='Lucy' last='Teegarden']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hermiston","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Sagebrush Hoops","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6837a182837b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sagebrush Hoops 5-foot-11 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1255629' first='Lucy' last='Teegarden'] was a strong two-way player who ran the court, consistently rebounded on both ends, and finished tough takes to the basket at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Hermiston junior (2026) is a competitor with a strong frame and plays with a next-level physicality. She's a good shooter who can hit from midrange and three-point range. She can sell the shot fake on the perimeter, get to the rim fast, and finish strong. She won tip-offs, loose balls, and offensive rebounds. She had several putbacks. Teegarden defended 1-5. She had excellent off-ball defense, stayed in front of the cutter, and denied entry passes. She used her length to block shots and deflect passes. She never stopped working hard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1179226"],"_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":1252169,"_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-6837a1828380f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">FBC Oregon Tropics 6-foot-3 center [player_tooltip player_id='1179226' first='Lily' last='Hamblin'] was a force on the boards and a big presence inside at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The West Albany freshman (2028) is strong with the ball, finishes around the rim, and cleans up the glass. Hamblin worked hard and didn't give up on the play. She recovered the ball after getting blocked and went straight back to the cup to finish tough through contact. Hamblin battled with the bigs inside and used her length to protect the paint. She's also a competitive volleyball player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1252170,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1263197' first='Payton' last='Warner']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West Albany","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FBC Oregon Tropics","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6837a1828388f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">FBC Oregon Tropics 6-foot-1 center/forward [player_tooltip player_id='1263197' first='Payton' last='Warner'] protected the rim, rebounded strong on both ends, and made quick outlet passes at the Memorial Day Championships. The West Albany freshman (2029) didn't see the court much in her first high school season, but she's been putting in good minutes in competitive games to develop her skills this spring. Warner will be a strong option for the Bulldogs to rotate inside with Lola Chamberlain and [player_tooltip player_id='1179226' first='Lily' last='Hamblin'] in her sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1255596' first='Lily' last='Petrie']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ida B. Wells","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oregon Overtime","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6837a18283907"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oregon Overtime forward [player_tooltip player_id='1255596' first='Lily' last='Petrie'] was a hustle defender, strong rebounder, and tough finisher at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Ida B. Wells junior (2026) consistently got back to make big defensive stops, boxed out for defensive rebounds, and won 50/50s. Petrie beat her defender one-on-one, attacked the rim, and finished fast and strong at the cup. She had a tough take and hung to finish through contact and the foul. She got to her spot and hit the catch-and-shoot middy on the set out-of-bounds play. She crashed the offensive board and made putbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->