Class A Area 2 Regional Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Bracket A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the tougher district finals matchups was <strong>Alex</strong> winning by 3 over <strong>Hydro.</strong> The 18th ranked Longhorns were one of the very few ranked teams in the state to have to play on Friday night, as <strong>Fletcher</strong> chose to play Alex, rather than deal with Hydro-Eakly's homecourt advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 <strong>Caddo</strong> has been untested thus far in the playoffs, winning their three games by an average of 39 points. Caddo handled Alex easily in the Regional Championship game, and will matchup with a very impressive <strong>Amber-Pocasset</strong> team in the Area Finals in Cache on Friday. I will look at some Caddo athletes in the Area Rundowns, as I haven't seen them since the Bertha Teague Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Consolation Bracket B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After losing a close district championship game with Alex, Hydro-Eakly was able to upset <strong>Healdton</strong> before eventually dropping an elimination game with <strong>Navajo.</strong> The bottom half of the bracket was closely contested as well, as <strong>Hollis</strong> beat <strong>Rock Creek</strong> before losing to <strong>Sterling.</strong> Both games were decided by one basket. Sterling would then take down Navajo in a three point game to advance to the Area Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Bracket C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#19 <strong>Turner</strong> and #13 <strong>Empire</strong> had a matchup between District Champions on Friday which ended up seeing Empire win by 6. Amber-Pocasset would then beat <strong>Thomas-Fay-Custer</strong> in the other district champion matchup. High powered Am-Po team was then able to make relatively easy work of a very good Empire team in the finals at Union City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Consolation Bracket D</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas beat out <strong>Binger-Oney</strong> in the second round of Regionals after their Am-Po loss, playing their Consolation Championship game against Turner. Turner knocked out <strong>Union City </strong>after their loss to Empire. Turner ended up with a 12 point win to send themselves to Area, I will be sure to feature some Turner girls in the Area Rundowns, as I have been thus-far unable to see them play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773878"],"_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-67b69a3d4e6a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tough out for Lara, as the Healdton had a pretty stacked deck to start the playoffs. I've seldom heard a coach talk as glowingly about a player as veteran coach Mike Phillips does about Lara. Was excited to see her in action again at the Rush Springs Black Diamond Tournament, which was unfortunately cancelled due to weather. They were likely heading towards a second meeting with another Area II contender in Empire. Terrific prep career for a multi-talented forward. Did a great job creating offense against Hydro in a close loss. Headed to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the fall.</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":1204275,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='801996' first='Ainslee' last='McComas']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Amber-Pocasset","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-67bc88f9df93f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hard to find a better bench/crowd situation that the one at Am-Po. Panther fans always travel well, but in nearby Union City the place was packed with dark green. The biggest moment to get everyone on their feet was Friday night when Ainslee hit a huge three at the first quarter buzzer against Thomas. Whole team has exemplary guard play, but Ainslee's playmaking and deep shot ability make her a huge problem for anyone in Class A. </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":1204271,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kiera Pineda","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Empire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-67be16102f664"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">My team had the pleasure/misfortune of playing against Pineda for a District Title, and she was far too much for us to handle. Told my squad at halftime that she had made 4-5 shots where you just had to shake your head and say "good shot". Dynamic scorer, hit four threes in one quarter in one of the early matchups. Ran into a buzzsaw playing Am-Po, but I look for Empire to rebound and still have a nice shot at bouncing back and making it to the Big House. </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":1204279,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1204424' first='Gracen' last='Hicks']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Amber-Pocasset","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-67be16102f6ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While Am-Po's guard play sticks out, I was very impressed with the post play of Hicks. Very athletic shot blocker, super active defender. Always vocal, really lets Am-Po's guards be aggressive in half court defense knowing that they have Hicks as an anchor behind them. Made some powerful finishes at the basket.</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":1204317,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1051809' first='Jorgen' last='Stewart']","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Thomas-Fay-Custer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-67be16102f732"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jorgen was an All-Conference selection for Coach Petree this year, and really does it all for the Lady Terriers. Fantastic from the high post as both a shooter and a creator, also can space the floor and hit the 3. Scored 24 points against Am-Po. Thomas girls were underclassmen heavy this year, expectations should be high for next years edition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->