Division 1 Gold Championship Wowed Me: MTXI2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through the magic of<strong> Livestream</strong>, I was able to catch some magical games from the event, including the finals of the<strong> D1 Gold</strong> with <strong>Brennan</strong> defeating <strong>Dawson 60-58</strong>. Keep in mind, <strong>Dawson</strong> was without sharpshooter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='896294' first='[program_tooltip program_id='712580' first='Journey' last='']' last='Lovett'],</strong> so here's my<strong> Super 6 </strong>from the championship game. Please note that I actually caught both teams <strong>LIVE</strong> on opening day, and I'll recap that</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510462"],"_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-6923124c1f0d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Flemings had me use the search bar to see exactly when I dropped my<strong> #D1Lock</strong> on her<strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/6a-region-4-early-favorites/"> see evaluation here</a>,</em></strong> and her hard work and<strong> DESIRE </strong>have continued to take her to other levels. Watching her drop<strong> 47 as a sophomore</strong>, <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/heroics-and-big-time-plays-send-teams-to-state/">see evaluation here</a></em></strong> during the playoffs, showed she could put her team on her back. She did the same in the championship by getting clutch baskets, nailing free throws down the stretch, as well as rebounding and making the right decisions</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510476"],"_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-6923124c1f15a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walls was explosive as usual off the dribble and knocked down some big shots throughout the game. Her defense was equally important, as was her court vision, especially down the stretch. She has been known to create some problems for defenders throughout her career, but her poise under pressure impressed me the first time I saw her </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1417078"],"_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-6923124c1f1a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perez controlled the tempo throughout the event, and when you can handle the heat that Dawson was bringing, that speaks volumes. Yes, she understands how to control the tempo, and her court vision across the board looked good, but she also<strong> MADE PLAYS</strong> down the stretch, which helped change the momentum </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["740969"],"_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-6923124c1f1ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ford missed the opening game of the event as she was under the weather, but she was doing what she does the rest of the way to help her team reach the finals and come up just shy of the victory. Watching her do what she does at her size is <strong>#THROWBACK</strong> because she not only rebounds and scores against taller players, she's overpowering around the basket. She scored off the dribble, hit the pull-up, and played solid defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["764247"],"_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-6923124c1f231"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Etienne has been solid every time I've caught her, starting at the <strong>TABC Showcase</strong>, yet seeing her <strong>SHOWCASE </strong>her skills this season has been a treat for me. She's been knocking down shots from everywhere in the games I have caught her, but seeing her not only want the ball but delivering down the stretch speaks volumes about her elevating her game and understanding she can take over offensively </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1054155"],"_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-6923124c1f279"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Howard also missed the opening game of the tournament, yet she battled that bug like she battles everything, and seeing her set defenders up to score off the dribble, using body control to finish acrobatically, included, just keeps getting better. She handled the ball and saw the floor well, but when she hit the go-ahead bucket late in the game, I had to drop this <strong><em><a href="https://x.com/girlzprepreport/status/1992360980500947107">TWEET</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->