The Rural Finals Instant Breakdown

Williston captured its first ever State title with a 66 to 49 win over Jay. Williston brought a steady blend of playmaking, interior strength, and defensive presence that allowed them to dictate the flow of the game for  key stretches of the game. On the other side, Jay continued to battle behind their 3 point shooting and a gutsy performance in the middle from their Sophomore center who was forced to play more due to her sister's injury.  Jay made several runs and even took the lead behind their gutsy team effort. Throughout the night, the game unfolded as a battle between two good teams and Williston just had more balanced contribution in the end.  In this article we look at the contribution made the key players from both teams.     [player_tooltip player_id='1782668' first='Kierce' last='Solomon'] was the game's most explosive scorer, finishing with 25 points and knocking down 7 threes on 9 attempts. Her ability to stretch the defense with consistent three-point shooting opened up the floor and allowed Young to operate in the paint. Solomon also was key on the defensive end with pressure defense, including 2 steals. Solomon was impressive in all areas, but her three ball set the tone and in the fourth quarter she was money in crunch time - a recipe for a State Championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='656075' first='Ashlyn' last='Young'] controlled the pace and flow of the game with 15 points and 5 assists. Young came off of a 2-14 shooting performance in the semi finals and was poised to play her game in the finals. She was the most polished player on the court and it showed up in her ball handling, her composure, her control of the team and her play making abilities. She literally ran the offense like an option quarterback - drawing the defense and dishing to her teammates for the buckets - inside and out. In addition to creating opportunities for her teammates, Young got downhill and scored in the heart of the defense. Young was special and was the catalyst on a special night for Williston.     [player_tooltip player_id='1786393' first='Tiona' last='Wilkinson'] anchored the interior with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Her presence was felt everywhere - on the glass (4 offensive rebounds) and in the paint. Wilkinson was also a plus 23 in the point differential column. Wilkinson anchored the team on both ends of the floor and was a candidate for the game's MVP when factoring offense and defensive contributions.       [player_tooltip player_id='1778665' first='Aubreigh' last='Nelson'] led Jay with 18 points and served as their primary offensive creator. She consistently attacked the defense and helped keep Jay within striking distance throughout the contest. Nelson is a crafty player and did a good job of taking it to the opponent and drawing fouls for free throw attempt. Nelson finished with 18 points (7 points from the charity stripe). She changed momentum throughout the game until Williston made their final 4th quarter run.     [player_tooltip player_id='1786659' first='Kaylee' last='Gilbreath'] contributed 13 points and provided perimeter scoring that helped Jay respond to Williston's runs. Gilbreath really played well and provided an offensive spark that kept her team in the game. Her outside shooting was an important part of Jay's offense. She shifted momentum several times with her timely three point shooting. Her composure was also evident in pressure moments of the game.     [player_tooltip player_id='1781228' first='Presley' last='Hawthorne'] added 10 points along with contributions across the stat sheet. Her all-around effort, including rebounding and play-making, helped Jay maintain competitiveness on both ends of the floor. Hawthorne connected on one of the most memorable step through mid-range shots of the game, and provided a spark throughout the game. Hawthorne is skilled and is a composed point guard who can score, dish, and can rebound from the guard position.     [player_tooltip player_id='1781241' first='Lucy' last='Locklin'] contributed 5 points and played an important role inside with her physical presence. Beyond scoring, she impacted the game with defensive activity and effort plays that helped Jay compete in the paint against Williston's interior strength. She also filled in admirably for her sister who went down with a first half injury. Locklin impacted the game on both ends of the court and her paint presence was undeniable with her length and size.    [    [player_tooltip player_id='1764364' first='Janiyah' last='Span'] provided valuable complementary scoring with 7 points, using her ability to attack off the bounce to put pressure on Jay's defense. Span also connected om a three pointer from behind the arc. Her slashing ability also added balance to Williston's perimeter-heavy attack and helped keep the defense honest. Span brought the energy as usual and had less rebounds with her team shooting the way they did. The future is bright for this Freshman and she will likely be back in a few more final fours before its all said and done.

Williston captured its first ever State title with a 66 to 49 win over Jay. Williston brought a steady blend of playmaking, interior strength, and defensive presence that allowed them to dictate the flow of the game for key stretches of the game. On the other side, Jay continued to battle behind their 3 point shooting and a gutsy performance in the middle from their Sophomore center who was forced to play more due to her sister's injury. Jay made several runs and even took the lead behind their gutsy team effort. Throughout the night, the game unfolded as a battle between two good teams and Williston just had more balanced contribution in the end. In this article we look at the contribution made the key players from both teams.