PGH Great Lakes Region Finals: 17U Saturday Morning Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day One of the Great Lakes Region Finals featured a full slate of games. Every play counts when you're fighting for a chance to win a circuit championship. Teams emptied their tanks to win and advance in the brackets, with every 17U team opening the tournament with an opportunity to take home a Gold or Silver bracket Championship title. My coverage this weekend is all about the 17U prospects, and here are a few who started the morning strong on opening day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751133"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1864104,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a1ba0945e10e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bailey started the Great Lakes Region Finals tournament strong right from the opening tip. She was dialed in from the perimeter and found the bottom of the net on two no-doubter threes from straightaway and in the slot. Bailey knocked down free throws, dished out assists, finished at the rim, and secured rebounds with strength. She has guard instincts as a facilitator and handles the ball well in the open court. Bailey's size, length, poise, and versatility make her a consistent leader on the court for KBA 17U.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751131"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1864109,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a1ba0945e169"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ashlyn has been a beast in the back court for KBA 17U on the PGH Circuit, and that continued Saturday morning at the Great Lakes Region Finals. She used a quick rip move to beat her defender with a burst down the baseline and dropped in a pizza pie floater over the help. Her scrappy defensive pressure created steals and she frequently hit the deck to secure loose balls. Ashlyn went back to the well for a rip drive floater high off the glass, and her dribble penetration gave the team an edge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1820837"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1864113,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a1ba0945e1ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bri started the PGH Great Lakes Region Finals with a standout performance for 5 Star Basketball 17U and continued to excel throughout the day. She threw a pinpoint lob pass through a small window to a teammate in front of the rim and pressured guards on the perimeter with an all-out effort. Bri used excellent technique to deny an entry pass to a cutter, leading to a deflection and a steal. She expects every open shot to go in and has a competitive edge on the court. Bri drained a smooth corner three and knocked down another one with a hand in her face. She snatched an offensive rebound and attacked off the dribble to score a contested layup off two feet. Bri took the ball hard to the rim into contact, caused a foul, and buried both free throws with confidence. Pesky defender and crafty court general who can slash, shoot, and facilitate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1823112"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1864118,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a1ba0945e1e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kalin attacked hard downhill with her left, got the defender on her hip, then scored with a nice stretch finish. She demonstrated great awareness and defensive positioning in the gap, seeing ball and man. Kalin's pressure and quick hands created key steals. She penetrated with her dribble, collapsed the defense, then kicked the ball out to open teammates for assists. Her performance helped Park Ridge Elite 17U secure a hard-fought victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["897619"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1864111,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a1ba0945e220"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Phoebe was clutch for Park Ridge Elite 17U in their first game, and her determined effort on both ends of the floor helped the team advance in the bracket. She was a defensive stopper and tone setter in the back court. Phoebe was active in the passing lanes, causing deflections on the perimeter. She shuffled quickly to cut off drives, closed out hard to cause misses, blocked shots, contested shots well without fouling, and worked hard to secure multiple offensive rebounds. Phoebe deflected a pass up top, scooped up the steal, and motored to the basket for a transition bucket. She eluded pressure with a combination of inside-out, behind-the-back crossover combinations and attacked gaps hard off the dribble to earn trips to the free-throw line. Phoebe drained a smooth pull-up jumper in the corner off a shot-fake and shot the ball confidently from three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->