10 Best: Pioneer vs Blue River Valley
Both teams came into this one riding heavy momentum. Pioneer coming off a regional blowout win against Monroe Central and Blue River Valley coming with two very close regional wins. Pioneer got off to a quick start getting up 5-0…
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Continue ReadingBoth teams came into this one riding heavy momentum. Pioneer coming off a regional blowout win against Monroe Central and Blue River Valley coming with two very close regional wins. Pioneer got off to a quick start getting up 5-0 early led by freshman standout Ashlynn Brooke. Blue River quickly came back and tied the game at 5-5, led by stellar defensive play from sophomore post Ally Madden. The first quarter ended with a score of 5-5. It didn’t take long for Pioneer to blow open the game with the help of several big shots from elite freshman guard Ashlynn Brooke. The Panthers outscored Blue River 17-5 in the second quarter to take a 22-10 lead into the half.
Pioneer continued to dominate right out of the gate as the third quarter began. Sophomore guard Haley Cripe hit a big three to keep the momentum going as Pioneer maintained their lead to be up 33-15 after three quarters. Blue River’s shooting struggles didn’t get any better and Pioneer continued to capitalize. Pioneer would go on to win 56-30. They will take on Loogootee next Saturday morning in the 1A State Championship Game.
Below I give my 10 best takeaways from a different aspects of the game.
MVP: Haley Cripe (Pioneer)
Cripe has been a force for Pioneer all season. She finished with 20 points and 5 assist on the offensive end. Her ability to get her shot off quickly made her a matchup problem for Blue River. Defensively Cripe was a force coming up with 3 steals and forcing the offensive into several bad passes.. Cripe is only a sophomore and has major potential if she continues to improve her skills.
Best Scorer: Ashlynn Brooke
Brooke has made a name for herself as one of the states top young players and she lived up the hype Saturday night. She finished with 20 points and managed to score from all three levels. Her ability to pull up from the mid range makes her a nightmare for opposing players.
Best Underclassman: Ashlynn Brooke (Pioneer)
Brooke’s freshman debut was delayed by a major leg injury over the summer and she is still seeing a minutes restriction. Her biggest moment came on a steal at the end of the first half which she followed by hitting from half court to end the half. The shot was waved off by the officials. Pioneer is going to need another big performance from Brooke next week to take home the programs first ever state championship.
Best Defender: Mackenzie Walker (Pioneer)
Walker’s performance may not get that much attention amongst the media but she is a very important piece for the young Pioneer team. She dominated the top of the Pioneer zone coming up with 6 steals and forcing a ton of turnovers. Walker will be a crucial part of the Pioneer defensive effort against a solid Loogootee squad.
Best Rim Protector: Ally Madden (Blue River Valley)
Madden was a big reason Blue River was able to stay in the game in the first half. Her ability to protect the rim as a sophomore really stood out to me. Madden finished the game with 5 blocks and disrupted a ton of other Pioneer shot attempts.
Best Shooter: Ashlynn Brooke (Pioneer)
Brook’s ability to hit from beyond the arch is unbelievable for her age. My biggest takeaway from her shot is how quickly she can get it off. Brooke’s ability to use her ball handling skills to get herself space for her shot sets her far apart from her peers.
Best Upperclassman: Abby Thornburgh (Blue River Valley)
Thornburgh did all she could to try and keep her team in the game as Pioneer started to go up big. She finished with 13 points shooting five of ten from the field. If Thornburgh continues to improve her skills she has the potential to lead her team on another deep run next season.
Best Moment: Ashlynn Brooke‘s Halfcourt Shot
As the first half was winding down Brooke took advantage of a bad Blue River pass and stole the ball. She then quickly shot it and put it right in the net. The officials waived it off due to insignificant evidence of Brooke getting the shot off in time. Regardless it was still huge play from the young freshman standout.
Best Under the Radar Performance: Olivia Brooke (Pioneer)
Brooke battled foul trouble for a majority of the game but that didn’t stop her from making an impact. She finished with game with 4 points and 7 rebounds. Her presence in the post helps draw defenders and create opportunities for her teammates. Brooke’s performance next week will be a huge factor for the Panthers.
Best Coaches Decision: Pioneer Playing Zone
Pioneer dominated Blue River valley on the defensive end early and a lot of that has to do with their zone defense. They executed with great rotation and quick hands to force a ton of turnovers. Early in the game Pioneer made it almost impossible for Blue River to get a clean look. it will be interesting to see if the Panthers use a similar strategy in next weeks state championship game.