Strictly Skills 16u Wins FAAST Spring Classic
OVERVIEW The Strictly Skills 16u squad is proving to be a team to watch for the rest of the spring. They played in the FAAST Spring Classic last weekend. Strictly Skills was in the 16u bracket, even with a roster…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOVERVIEW
The Strictly Skills 16u squad is proving to be a team to watch for the rest of the spring. They played in the FAAST Spring Classic last weekend. Strictly Skills was in the 16u bracket, even with a roster that has a mix of 16u and 15u players.
Strictly Skills 16u advanced to the championship of the FAAST Spring Classic 16u, drawing a rematch with Great Lakes Potential. When the 2 squads matched up in pool play, Strictly Skills won by a 10 point margin. Having only 6 players for all 3 games on the day began to take its toll on the team. In the title game, Great Lakes Potential raced to a quick 9-0 lead. Strictly Skills was forced to play from behind the entire game.
This is where their young athletes showed grit and determination. Strictly Skills 16u battled back and chipped away at the Great Lakes Potential lead. At the end of regulation, with Strictly Skills down a bucket, Rylie Kelly scored at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. The first overtime session didn’t decide a winner so the game went to a second OT period. Strictly Skills faced a 5 point deficit with 1:14 to play. Abby Hicks hit a clutch triple. Then Rylie Kelly buried a three pointer with 14 seconds left in the second overtime. With 1 second left and the game tied, Abby Hicks drew a foul and went to the free throw line. She hit 1 of 2 to secure the championship victory for the Strictly Skills 16u team.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Abby Hicks (2021, BC Harper Creek High School) – 14 points in championship game
Marlene Bussler (2021, BC Harper Creek High School) – 13 points in championship game
Rylie Kelly (2021, Three Rivers High School) – 12 points in championship game
Allie Walther (2022, Schoolcraft High School)
– Rising freshman star
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Strictly Skills 16u will be in Mt. Pleasant next weekend.