8 Outstanding Players: Notre Dame vs Highlands
Photo Credit: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com The Highlands Bluebirds defeated the Notre Dame Pandas 44-43 in an overtime thriller. Offense was tough to come by for most of the game until Notre Dame went on a good run, jumping out to…
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Continue ReadingPhoto Credit: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com
The Highlands Bluebirds defeated the Notre Dame Pandas 44-43 in an overtime thriller. Offense was tough to come by for most of the game until Notre Dame went on a good run, jumping out to a double-digit lead by the 4th quarter until Highlands countered with a furious comeback to actually take the lead before the Pandas knocked down a three in the final seconds to send the game into overtime. Things were tight throughout OT, but the Bluebirds were able to create offense and knock down their free throws to eek out the victory. Here are the best players from the MLK Day action.
Maggie Hinegardner, Highlands- It seemed early on that Hinegardner had trouble finding her shooting stroke, but it turned out she was just saving the best for last. The senior guard made all of her 3 pointers down the stretch in the 4th quarter and overtime as part of Highlands’ comeback, including the go-ahead shot to put the Bluebirds ahead before Notre Dame tied it up in the final seconds of the 4th. She also made some nice passes on the offensive end to lead the way for Highlands’ best offensive stretch.
Lacey Bradshaw, Notre Dame- Perhaps the game’s best player overall, Bradshaw made plays all over the place for the Pandas. The sophomore guard was able to create offense better than anyone else, getting to the rim and finishing extremely well, and also making some nice passes. She also played solid defense and was the clear standout, for most of the game.
Kelsey Listerman, Highlands- When Highlands was having trouble getting their offense going through the first 3 quarters, Listerman provided their most consistent source of scoring. The junior forward did a good job getting to the basket, and an even better job finishing, especially through contact. She also shot well from the line, completing several 3-point plays, taking full advantage of all her opportunities.
Brynn Thelen, Notre Dame- In a game where playmaking and scoring were at a premium, Thelen’s contributions were especially valuable for the Pandas. The sophomore guard created several turnovers that she instantly turned into points. She also ran the offense during Notre Dame’s most successful stretch where it appeared they had put the game away before Highlands’ comeback.
Piper Macke, Highlands- While Hinegardner had more overall contributions for Highlands down the stretch, it was Macke’s outside shooting that got the ball rolling. The senior guard knocked down several 3 pointers to start the Bluebirds’ comeback, breaking the poor shooting streak that had plagued them up until that point. She also made several nice plays on defense to create opportunities for Highlands.
Macie Feldman, Notre Dame- There was nobody on the court who did their job better Monday than Feldman. The sophomore guard was a deadeye sharpshooter who knocked down just about every shot she took from beyond the arc. Although Highlands made a concerted effort not to let her get any open shots after she made several early on, she still got open after a scramble in the final minutes to knock down the game-tying 3. The confidence in the gym that her shot would go in as soon as it left her hands demonstrated as well as anything how great a shooter Feldman is.
Alyssa Harris, Highlands- Perhaps the Bluebirds’ most consistent player, Harris did well in all aspects of the game throughout. The freshman guard played strong defense, rebounded well, and showed a nice scoring touch inside a few times despite not being the focus of her team’s offense. While not the flashiest player on the court, Harris nonetheless contributed to her team’s success by doing the little thing.
Drue Disken, Notre Dame- It was hard to single in on a standout player inside, as everybody played well but nobody hugely stood out. Drisken had the best performance though, playing strong defense, pulling down plenty of rebounds, and scoring a few nice baskets. While the sophomore forward wasn’t necessarily the star of the game, her strong play inside nonetheless showed her importance and ability.