Big School Open Division Final Four Preview

On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Open Division's Final Four takes place. The #1 seed Perry Pumas will host the #4 Sandra Day O'Connor Eagles in one contest. The other will be the #11 Canyon View Jaguars hosting the #1 Millennium Tigers. There will be lots of talent on the floor between these two games.    Novelle, a Cal Baptist signee, is a major catalyst for the Pumas. What makes her so tough to scheme for is her versatility. She can score it at all three levels, but she's just as comfortable facilitating and making the right read. You can run offense through her, off her, or let her go create late in the clock. If the Pumas are cutting down nets, it will be because McQuiston dictated tempo and made winning plays in big moments.     The sophomore point guard has a steadiness and calmness to her game that rubs off on her teammates. In pressure situations, that matters. She gets Perry organized, keeps them spaced correctly, and makes sure they're getting quality shots instead of quick ones. She's not always the loudest presence on the floor, but she's the stabilizer. And in the Open Division, having a sophomore with that kind of poise is a luxury.     Every contender needs a floor general who understands the moment. Carranza, the senior point guard for the Jaguars, steadies the ship. She makes sure everything is set — offensively and defensively. She communicates, and she gets the team into action. She knows when to slow it down and when to push. You don't always see her impact in the box score, but you feel it in the flow of the game.     Flowers brings something you can't teach — edge. The senior forward plays with tenacity and energy, and she's been through big-time games before. That experience shows up in physical matchups, in rebounding battles, and in those loose-ball situations that flip momentum. She's not backing down from anybody. If this game gets physical — and it usually does at this level — Flowers will be right in the middle of it.     Risi is a major cog in the machine that the Eagles have built. The junior point guard is a tough defender first. She takes pride in guarding the ball and disrupting rhythm. Offensively, she's a distributor who understands spacing and timing. She keeps the ball moving and makes sure the right players are getting touches in the right spots.     The rising sophomore is versatile and skilled — she can handle it, shoot it, and make reads. Against the Pumas, her ability to stretch the floor and attack closeouts could be a major swing factor. She's capable of being a difference maker, not just a contributor. And in this field, that's what separates teams.     The junior point guard has been the steadying force for the Tigers all season. She sacrifices her own offense for the team's betterment. When she needs to get a bucket, she has no problem doing so from any of the three levels. Dashia is clutch and will need to keep playing that way if Millennium is to repeat as Open Division champs.     Hunt just comes out and goes to work. She is a low-maintenance forward who just seems to have a nose for the ball. She is a very good rebounder on both ends of the court. Jayda plays a big role in Millennium's success, and it doesn't always show up on the stat sheet.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Open Division's Final Four takes place. The #1 seed Perry Pumas will host the #4 Sandra Day O'Connor Eagles in one contest. The other will be the #11 Canyon View Jaguars hosting the #1 Millennium Tigers. There will be lots of talent on the floor between these two games.