WaMaC-East Showdown — leaders down the stretch

A recent, gritty matchup between Center Point Urbana and Independence featured back-and-forth scoring, clutch plays, and plenty of drama. As coaches made adjustments down the stretch I was impressed with the maturity and reliability from a few standout players. When you check into the game, one of the biggest attributes you can bring to the floor is staying unflappable — don't let the moment get too big for you. Remain calm, read what the defense is giving you, and adapt as you go. These players personified that quality leadership in their WaMaC-East showdown.    [player_tooltip player_id='886240' first='Kiersten' last='TeBockhorst'] did not let her youth show against a veteran opponent in CPU. She's a speedy player who frazzled their ball handlers and forced over 5 turnovers on the night. Offensively I thought Kiersten showed maturity and poise while attacking downhill. She knows how to assess the floor at a high level and responds with a flurry of different moves at the rim, including a silky pro hop. She is also more than capable firing off the dribble, where she sunk a pretty behind the back + step back early in the first quarter. I also really like how she sprints to cut you off and uses her body to chest blow on defense. TeBockhorst did not let a tight game get the best of her and finished with a solid stat line — 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.     [player_tooltip player_id='766450' first='Deni' last='Katcher'] has been a steady, reliable presence throughout her career at CPU, and in CPU's matchup vs. Independence it was more of the same. Despite her shot not falling Katcher made an impact throughout the game and showed leadership late in the fourth. She's is a long guard who makes nice reads defensively — she knows when to shoot the passing lane, step across the lane in help side, and stay disciplined on wall-ups in the paint. On offense Katcher drew two defenders on drives for drop down passes and kick outs on multiple occasions, finishing the night with 6 dimes. She also navigated pick and rolls well as the primary ball-handler. One of my highlights from Katcher was her transition skip pass for a game-tying three late in the fourth.     [player_tooltip player_id='896425' first='Grace' last='Estling'] was one of my favorite late-game sparks, finishing with a flurry of buckets and free throws to get the Stormin' Pointers over the line. Estling is an excellent cutter who doesn't need to be the primary ball handler to make a big impact. On face cuts, curls, and running the floor in transition, Estling showed her ability to score with either hand off of two feet and with speed. She also reads closeouts well and will drive past you for a smooth pull up if the lane is occupied. Showing confidence at the line and ability to step up in the big moments, [player_tooltip player_id='896425' first='Grace' last='Estling']'s leadership and clutch factor was fun to watch.     Maci Kindsci started and ended her game with a bang vs. Independence. She showed her range early with a quick kick-out three and also looked comfortable pulling up in the lane off the dribble. Kindschi gets set quickly and has a fundamental jumper — her release looks nice and she hit both of her attempts on the night. Off the dribble, I like how she kept her head up coming off of ball screens and was always ready to dish. She'll also stay with you defensively while keeping high hands, so scoring against her was not an easy task for the Independence offense. Kindschi brought the fireworks late with a big and-one in transition and then another transition three to tie the game up. I really enjoyed watching Kindschi's hustle and ability to step up when her team needed it.     Stien is another player who performs much more mature than her age — as just a sophomore the small forward shows poise, consistency and quiet leadership night in and night out. Stien was instrumental in CPU's surge of momentum during their comback. Switching to a trap on ball screens, Stien was mobile and active while forcing a handful of turnovers. On the offensive end Stien does her dirty work in the paint. She's an excellent sealer and positions her body well to shield defenders from affecting her shot. She will finish on either side of the rim and doesn't get sped up while working in the post. Stien's athletic efforts on the trap combined with her efficiency and composure on offense made her a leader and a winner vs the Mustangs.

A recent, gritty matchup between Center Point Urbana and Independence featured back-and-forth scoring, clutch plays, and plenty of drama. As coaches made adjustments down the stretch I was impressed with the maturity and reliability from a few standout players. When you check into the game, one of the biggest attributes you can bring to the floor is staying unflappable — don't let the moment get too big for you. Remain calm, read what the defense is giving you, and adapt as you go. These players personified that quality leadership in their WaMaC-East showdown.