Nike TOC Iowa Session III Day 2: Cal Stars 16U Red
MN Stars Nilsen 10th – W, 42 – 40 The Cal Stars 16U Red took on the Minnesota Stars, who were led by the talents of Ally Schultz, a tall athletic guard who can score from all areas of the…
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Continue ReadingMN Stars Nilsen 10th – W, 42 – 40
The Cal Stars 16U Red took on the Minnesota Stars, who were led by the talents of Ally Schultz, a tall athletic guard who can score from all areas of the floor. Ally led the MN Stars with 17 points and 4 rebounds as her scoring abilities came in handy, especially during the second half of the game. For the Cal Stars, it was Natalie Pasco who led them in their scoring efforts with 13 points and 5 rebounds. Amanda is a tall guard who has good range as well as inside scoring capabilities. She has a solid frame and plays well off the ball and defensively is solid as well. The Stars’ forward, Maya Hernandez has been making her presence known – with the absence of Amanda Muse Amanda Muse 6'4" | C Heritage HS | 2023 State CA , Maya has been filling in rebounding and scoring inside. This game Maya had 7 points and 7 rebounds and she paced the Cal Stars throughout the game. Randi Harding had 8 points and 3 rebounds as her smooth game facilitated their scoring during the second half. The unsung hero of the game was Nya Epps, as the guard had 5 points and 3 rebounds, but 2 of her points came in a huge way. In their last possession, Nya hit a to-go jumper that simply handedly won them the game 42-40.
KC Running Angels 16U – W, 51 – 36
The Stars’ next game came against KC Running Angels, as it was a close affair until the second half of the game. The Stars’ efforts came in the form of the forwards, led by Maya Hernandez as she had a game high 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Maya was active on the boards and had active hands defensively as she was a stable point all game long. Natalie Pasco had another good scoring output as she provided 8 points and 2 steals for the Stars in the form of jump shots and post points. Faith Shelton was another bright spot as she had 6 points and 6 rebounds, as she hustled and provided more inside options for the Stars. Ella Wedin Ella Wedin 6'0" | SG La Salle | 2023 State OR came off the bench to provide 2 points and 3 rebounds, showcasing the utility game that she has been praised for during their run in Iowa. The Stars ran away with this game in the second half as the Running Angels ran out of gas.
Natalie Pasco: The Definition of Consistency
The guard isn’t the flashy type, but she doesn’t need to be in order to provide a solid scoring option for the Stars. She is a tall, athletic guard who has a solid frame and scores when the Stars need an extra leg. Her height allows her to be a good shooter from the perimeter as she is able to get her shot off and inside she is just as solid. She is also low maintenance as she doesn’t need the ball too much but gets it done when it is in her hands.
Maya Hernandez: An Anchor Down Low
Maya is a formidable force in the paint as she plays hard every possession, collecting rebounds and getting points in the paint while doing the dirty work. She cleans up for the Stars and gets them a second chance opportunity, which is a huge plus for a guard heavy club. She also has displayed an outside shot, as she has the skills to spread the floor which is another positive aspect of her game.
Anyone Can Step Up
The first game’s hero was Nya Epps, whose late game heroics were unexpected but also not surprising at the same time. Epps is a guard who thrives in isolation as her ball handling skills and swiftness enable her to get off any shot she wants. So it did come too surprising when she hit the game winning jumper for the Stars. The second game, Faith Shelton provided additional padding at the forward spot in her rebounding efforts. This Stars club is a deep team in which any individual can step up and provide additional efforts on any given night.