Memorial Day Championships: 17U Standout Guards

Vancouver, Wash.— Oregon class of 2027 top-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='832050' first='Payton' last='Starwalt'] led the FBC Oregon Tropics (Corvallis, Ore.) in a 74-71 down-to-the-wire hold-on victory over [program_tooltip program_id='715286' first='Sagebrush' last='Hoops'] (Pasco, Wash.) on Monday to win the 17U bracket at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. It was the best win in Tropics program history, according to the team. The Tropics dropped their first game and only loss of the tournament 54-40 to Sagebrush two days prior.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/05/FBC-Oregon-Tropics.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1251725" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FBC Oregon Tropics at the Memorial Day Championships on May 26, 2025</figcaption></figure>   The last time I saw the deep-three sharpshooter play in person was under the bright lights of Linfield University at the Oregon 5A state tournament in March. On Saturday night, Starwalt and the Tropics could be found playing in the dark, cramped upper gym of Evergreen High School. They were in a top pool matchup against the hard-working Oregon Overtime (Portland). The bright orange team from Corvallis overcame an early double-digit deficit to defeat Overtime 68-61 after falling to Sagebrush a few hours before.   The Tropics went on to win their remaining tournament games to earn the title and the t-shirt. They ended their spring session victorious with a 27-2 record, including six championships and one second-place finish. The Tropics will take a club break for the June high school session. More than half of the team plays at West Albany High School.   Here are five guards from the 17U bracket who caught my eye over the weekend:    FBC Oregon Tropics 5-foot-7 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='832050' first='Payton' last='Starwalt'] put on a top-ranked performance and displayed high IQ game management to win when it mattered at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The West Albany sophomore (2027) averaged 22 points, 10 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 steals at the tournament and willed her team to win the 17U title (she averaged 23.2 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals during her spring club season). Starwalt was picked up full-court and face-guarded. Under fatigue and high-pressure defense, Starwalt maintained mental and physical toughness, took care of the ball, and was a playmaker on both ends of the court. She hit her signature deep threes, finished downhill through contact and the foul, and hit a nice turnaround fadeaway middy. She facilitated the offense, driving and dishing, whipping crosscourt passes to perimeter shooters, and getting the ball inside to the big in a variety of ways. She played tough defense, tipped passes, and boxed out to win defensive rebounds. She went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line late in the championship game to maintain a single-possession lead until the final whistle. Starwalt took a lot of contact, persevered, and got the job done. If she can accomplish what she does now with her small frame, imagine what she can do when she gets stronger. Starwalt has multiple D1 offers, with a recent one from Colorado State.     [program_tooltip program_id='715286' first='Sagebrush' last='Hoops'] (Pasco, Wash.) 5-foot-6 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='579812' first='Baylee' last='Maldonado'] has great handles and vision. She scored efficiently from all three levels at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Chiawana junior (2026) is a creative two-way playmaker with a pull-up middy in her bag. She consistently got downhill with the skip-step inside-out one-handed crossover. She can dish or finish at the rim through contact and the foul. She has the focus and ability to knock down needed threes with tired legs. Maldonado has a motor and plays tough on-ball defense. She forced a turnover with a close-guarding 5-second call. Maldonado is a competitor with D1 and D2 offers.     [program_tooltip program_id='715286' first='Sagebrush' last='Hoops'] 5-foot-8 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='928857' first='Elise' last='Kingston'] was a consistent competitor and top defender who got to the basket and scored in transition at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Selah sophomore (2027) played relentless pressure defense, was efficient around the rim, and stepped up and drained the three-ball when her team needed it most. She was a tough on-ball defender with quick hands and feet to get steals and force turnovers. She beat her player to the spot and consistently contested or blocked attempted layups. On the other end, Kingston got downhill and finished at the rim. She cleaned up the offensive glass and got putbacks. She moved well off the ball and made a nice backdoor cut for the easy two. She had a nice spin move and pulled up with a soft touch in the paint. She beat her defender, leaned in, and hung for the layup. She finished the scoop, and 1.     Oregon Overtime 5'0 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1229051' first='Livie' last='Carns'] drained the pull-up and catch-and-shoot three, dished and finished in the paint, and played tenacious defense at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Oregon City sophomore (2027) navigated the fullcourt pressure defense to get her team into its offense. She can kock down the three against the grain of momentum. She has an effective hesitation move and quick step to get downhill. She dishes and kicks for the assist. She's crafty in the lane to get the bucket. Carns made a big block on a driver taller than her. She hustled on help defense to tie up the ball handler to force the jump ball. She works hard start to finish.     FBC Oregon 5-foot-7 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1179231' first='Natalie' last='Tidwell'] shot the lights out all weekend at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The West Albany sophomore (2027) hit multiple catch-and-shoot threes in multiple games at a high rate. She got the Tropics going from behind the arc early and often in the final. It felt like she could not miss. Tidwell got open on the perimeter and beat the closeout with a quick release and clean stroke. She moved the ball quickly to create shots for others and stretched the floor to open lanes for cutters.

Vancouver, Wash.— Oregon class of 2027 top-ranked Payton Starwalt Payton Starwalt 5'7" | PG West Albany | 2027 State OR led the FBC Oregon Tropics (Corvallis, Ore.) in a 74-71 down-to-the-wire hold-on victory over Sagebrush Hoops (Pasco, Wash.) on Monday to win the 17U bracket at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. It was the best win in Tropics program history, according to the team. The Tropics dropped their first game and only loss of the tournament 54-40 to Sagebrush two days prior.