5 Takeaways from Girls Metro Holiday Tournament Final
After a week of competitive basketball at the Ralston Arena, the final two teams competing for the Metro Holiday Tournament championship were the 1 seed Millard South Patriots facing off against the 3 seed Omaha Westside Warriors. The teams were…
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Continue ReadingAfter a week of competitive basketball at the Ralston Arena, the final two teams competing for the Metro Holiday Tournament championship were the 1 seed Millard South Patriots facing off against the 3 seed Omaha Westside Warriors. The teams were tied up after the 1st, but Millard South’s 2nd quarter run was the difference in the game. The Patriots hit a barrage of threes and locked the Warriors up to go into halftime with a 37-20 lead. Westside fought hard in the 2nd half but wasn’t able to recover from the deficit. Millard South brought home the championship plaque with a 54-40 win. Here are the 5 takeaways from the Girls Metro Holiday Tournament Final.
Millard South is the Best Team in the Metro
Now, it will be their goal to prove they are the best team in the state. The Patriots are undefeated, finishing the Metro Holiday Tournament with an 11-0 record. In the semi-finals, Millard South narrowly avoided their first loss of the season with a 53-43 win against the defending state champion Millard North Mustangs. The Patriots have easily handled the rest of their competition throughout the early parts of the season. Between their talented senior duo and standout freshmen class, Megan Belt and Chloe Carr play important rolls for the Patriots. Megan Belt plays solid defense, dives on the floor for loose balls, and can hit timely three points shots. Chloe Carr works hard on the offensive and defensive glass and to get steals from her positions in the full court press. Even if you manage to slow down one or two of the Patriot’s best players, they can still hurt you from so many places.
Westside’s Dynamic Duo is as Good as Any in the State
Senior teammates Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor and Ella Wedergren put on impressive performances on their way to the Metro Holiday Tournament final, proving they are one of the best duos in the state. Rockhurst University Commit, Ella Wedergren, averaged 11 points and 4.75 assists through four games at the Holiday Tournament. Wedergren is a strong ball handler that can score from deep, attack the rim with a purpose, and find open teammates in positions to score. Illinois State Commit, Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor, almost averaged a double-double through the tournament with 13.75 points per game and 9.75 rebounds. McGinnis-Taylor is impossible to keep away from the hoop and off the glass. The seniors from Westside didn’t have their best performances in the finals and should be looking forward to their chance to get payback on February 14th.
Millard South’s Senior Duo is on a Mission
Millard South has an talented senior duo of their own, and after years of falling just short of their title hopes, Jayme Horan and Maddie Krull are determined to finish their high school careers’ with a bang. The future Creighton Bluejay, Jayme Horan, is physical and causes mismatches by being able to play on the inside or on the perimeter. Through 4 games, Horan averaged 10.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.75 steals. Her teammate and future South Dakota Coyote, Maddie Krull, averaged 13 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Maddie was also all over the court playing suffocating defense. With the Metro Holiday Tournament Championship secured, the next step for Horan and Krull will be to finish off the year with a State Title.
To Take the Next Step, Westside Needs More from Their Role Players
Lack of depth for the Warriors was a difference maker in the championship game. With Millard South’s ability to score from so many place, Westside needed a player like Abby Hellman or Brooklyn James to have a big game. Hellman went 0/1 from the floor in the final, but had good performances in the early rounds, scoring 7 points against Millard West and 9 points in the semi final against Papillion-LaVista. Brooklyn James scored 6 points and finished 2/3 from deep, but Westside needs her to be more aggressive looking for her shot. If these two seniors can step up and give McGinnis-Taylor and Wedergren consistent help, Westside will be tough for anyone to beat.
The Future is Bright for the Patriots
The Patriots are hoping for a state title and happy ending for their senior class, but that will not be the last you’ll hear from this team. Millard South is set for the coming years with a loaded freshman class, including Cora Olsen, Mya Babbit, and Khloe Lemon. Cora Olsen currently holds an offer from Division 1 Eastern Illinois University and will see more offers start to pour in soon. In the championship game, Olsen struggled with her footwork on the perimeter, but knocked down three point shots and played physical defense. Mya Babbit made an impact in the championship with her offensive versatility. She hit three point shots, scored in transition, and back-cut her defender for easy points. Cora and Mya both averaged 10 points through 4 tournament games. While Khloe Lemon didn’t stuff the stat sheet in the final, she was a big part of the Patriot’s tournament run. Lemon gives effort on both ends of the floor and shot well from three all week. Lemon averaged 8.25 points and shot 7/11 from three point range through the tournament. This is not the last time you will see these talented freshman competing for a Metro Holiday Tournament title.