Excellent Guard Play leads Marist to AAAA Final Four

North Oconee clearly made adjustments to the game plan for their rematch in the Elite Eight against Marist. Earlier in the season when the two teams met [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring'], the newly selected McDonald's All American, dominated the game scoring 38 points in a fairly convincing win. North Oconee head coach Eric Willis was not going to let that happen again and from the beginning of the game that was clear. The Lady Titans sent multiple defenders at Harpring all night long before and as soon as she touched the ball. Harpring finished the game with 23 points, but this game was about her elite passing as much as it was her scoring. Harpring saw the floor well and used all the defensive pressure put on her to find the holes in the defense by looking over the smaller guards of North Oconee and hitting her teammates with pinpoint accuracy. [player_tooltip player_id='1110872' first='Katie' last='Elder'] finished with 22 points and MJ Johnson also scored multiple times for Marist and showed the remaining teams in the field that they must be accounted for as well. Laura Francis Willis had a great high school career and leaves the program in great hands with talented returners Leah Pollock, Mackenzie Satchel, and [player_tooltip player_id='1314819' first='Kallie' last='Mashburn']. All four kids gave a valiant effort and played well, but the high school career of [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring'] rolls on where she and Marist will meet Cartersville in the Final Four in Athens on Friday.    North Oconee did a great job for a large part of the game making someone other than Kate beat them scoring the ball for Marist. When they did, Harpring showed excellent vision, anticipation, and skill, throwing laser-like passes to her teammates all over the court. Most were found themselves open due to the attention she was drawing. When North Oconee had to account for other players who were having big games, Harpring took advantage of holes that were not in the defense before. She scored in transition, from three, and hit her several midrange jumpers, which might be the best weapon in her expansive offensive arsenal. According to Basketball Bob Corwin, Kate is 44 points from passing Jill Razor (Athens Academy) climbing one place higher on the Georgia all time career scoring list. Something she could definitely get done if her team is to win and advance to the AAAA state championship game. Harpring, however, is more than capable of putting up that many points in the Final Four versus Cartersville and no one would be surprised if she does.     Elder may be one of the most underrated players in Georgia. She has been as steady and consistent as sidekick as [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring'] could have asked for in her senior year. Elder is an elite athlete (also a very good volleyball player) who has explosive speed and leaping ability which was on full display in the game as she sprinted up and down the court, laying the ball in several times. Elder used her athleticism very well in this game slashing to the basket in the halfcouft on offense as well as applying serious ball pressure with her wingspan and quick feet on defense. Elder is not just an athlete, but also shoots the ball at a very high level from the midrange and three point line. She has been reliable and steady all season long for Marist and is a kid that will have a decision about which sport to play in college because she is that good at both.     MJ is another dual sport athlete who excels in both basketball and softball for Marist. She brings that toughness over from the diamond and strength on the ball- running the offense for her team efficiently, limiting turnovers and putting the ball on the money for scorers like Harpring and Elder. Johnson is a capable scorer herself, especially shooting the ball from the perimeter. She was left open throughout the game as North Oconee put multiple defenders on or around Harpring. she made them pay knocking down those open looks. Johnson is also good pushing the ball on the break with quickness either finding her teammates for an easy basket or finishing at the rim herself. Defensively, she is a key player in Marist's defense applying on ball pressure and trapping the ball out front while getting deflections and stealing passes off the ball.     Laura, like Harpring, was surrounded by defenders all night forcing her into more a facilitator-type role early in the game. Willis created for her teammates and herself off the dribble. She made several very impressive passes resulting in easy scores for her team. Like Harpring, when her teammates stepped up and started scoring some of the defensive pressure was released and Willis was giving a little more space to operate. She knocked a shot from three, scored on a finger role under the defender with her left hand, and hit a tough shot on the baseline falling away. Willis can score and that should translate well on the the next level where she will attend and continue to play at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.     Mack is a player that stood out to me earlier in the season and one I have been keeping track of since. She plays with a lot of maturity with the basketball in her hands for a sophomore and the big stage did not shake her confidence against Marist. Satchel impacted the game as soon as she stepped on the floor grabbing rebounds and helping with the effort to contain Harpring. She has good length and moves well and did a really good job anticipating where the ball is going on defense. She is an elite passer who finds the smallest openings to deliver the ball and when she does it has something on it. Mack has excellent form and shoots the ball very well from the perimeter and free throw line where she ends up often attacking the basket off the dribble. She is a skillful, crafty player who will be moving up the rankings in her class in Georgia.     Mashburn is another sophomore for North Oconee who played a very good game in the Elite Eight and will be a huge part of the program again next year. She is physically imposing on the court and plays with strength and toughness. This game she showed the agility and quickness that makes her a star on the flag football field. Mashburn showed great footwork in tight spaces while being surrounded by defenders. She has great hands, like you would expect from a wide receiver and the leaping ability which she showed exploded off the ground for rebounds. Mashburn has the touch and ability to come back as a true scoring threat in the post next year. She and Setchel should be a very productive duo the next two seasons for North Oconee.

North Oconee clearly made adjustments to the game plan for their rematch in the Elite Eight against Marist. Earlier in the season when the two teams met Kate Harpring Kate Harpring 5'10" | CG Marist | 2026 State #3 Nation GA , the newly selected McDonald's All American, dominated the game scoring 38 points in a fairly convincing win. North Oconee head coach Eric Willis was not going to let that happen again and from the beginning of the game that was clear. The Lady Titans sent multiple defenders at Harpring all night long before and as soon as she touched the ball. Harpring finished the game with 23 points, but this game was about her elite passing as much as it was her scoring. Harpring saw the floor well and used all the defensive pressure put on her to find the holes in the defense by looking over the smaller guards of North Oconee and hitting her teammates with pinpoint accuracy. Katie Elder Katie Elder 5'10" | PF Marist | 2027 State GA finished with 22 points and MJ Johnson also scored multiple times for Marist and showed the remaining teams in the field that they must be accounted for as well. Laura Francis Willis had a great high school career and leaves the program in great hands with talented returners Leah Pollock, Mackenzie Satchel, and Kallie Mashburn Kallie Mashburn 5'11" | PF North Oconee | 2028 State GA . All four kids gave a valiant effort and played well, but the high school career of Kate Harpring Kate Harpring 5'10" | CG Marist | 2026 State #3 Nation GA rolls on where she and Marist will meet Cartersville in the Final Four in Athens on Friday.