Nike TOC Iowa Session III Day 2: Cal Stars 17U Red
KC Running Angels – W, 62 – 61 The Cal Stars played a barn burner with a tough and athletic KC Running Angels team that went into triple Overtime. This has not been the first time this summer this team has…
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Continue ReadingKC Running Angels – W, 62 – 61
The Cal Stars played a barn burner with a tough and athletic KC Running Angels team that went into triple Overtime. This has not been the first time this summer this team has been tested but it was their first in such a fashion. Early game, it was Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA handling the bulk load per usual while distributing the ball, as Makena Mastora got out to a good start with a quick three and two free throws. Marley Langi Marley Langi 6'0" | SF Archbishop Mitty | 2021 State CA had a nice three point play as Donovyn Hunter Donovyn Hunter 5'10" | PG South Medford | 2023 State #26 Nation OR got herself loose on a fastbreak, followed by a Lepolo bailout floater. Roden was the halftime leader with 8 in an array of drives and fastbreaks off steals.
The second half is where things got interesting as the two teams duked it out back and forth. For the KC Running Angels, their unsung hero was Evelyn Vazquez, who was making tough lay-ups and shots left and right for her club, keeping them in the game on her own terms. She finished the game with a ridiculous 21 points, 4 assists, and 6 steals. The Running Angels also had the talent of Jamya Powell-Smith – a guard who treads carefully but strikes when the moment is right. She finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Marley Langi Marley Langi 6'0" | SF Archbishop Mitty | 2021 State CA was the hero of regulation, as she made timely baskets and hit Roden who streaked for a lay-up – the final points for the Stars in regulation.
In the first overtime, Stokes hit an isolation bucket from the elbow and Vonleh put it off the backboard. In the second overtime, Langi hit both free throws as Roden nearly missed on a lay-up that would’ve won them the game. It was in the third overtime where the story of Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA was made when on their last possession she warded off three defenders and did a double back move that allowed her enough space to squeak onto the block and hit a go to jumper that banked off the glass for the 62-61 win. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, all of the Cal Stars jumped onto the court in jubilation and celebrated both their hero and their team win in a magnificent display.
Stats:
Donovyn Hunter Donovyn Hunter 5'10" | PG South Medford | 2023 State #26 Nation OR : 2 points, 2 rebounds
Marley Langi Marley Langi 6'0" | SF Archbishop Mitty | 2021 State CA : 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA : 6 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
Makena Mastora: 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Audrey Roden Audrey Roden 5'9" | SG West Linn | 2021 State OR : 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 steals
Jessica Peterson Jessica Peterson 6'3" | C Corona Centennial | 2021 State CA : 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Chaity Gallegos: 3 points, 1 rebound
Hunter Hernandez: 3 points, 1 rebound
Calli Stokes Calli Stokes 6'0" | SF Redondo Union HS | 2021 State CA : 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
WI Flight 11th UAA – W, 67 – 52
Their second game of the day came in the form of WI Flight, an Under Armour team based out of Wisconsin. This team from Wisconsin was a team who had some polished shooters as well as team players. Their team was anchored by Chloe Dallas – a defensive minded forward who rebounded all game long. The immediate cause for concern for the Stars was that Audrey Roden Audrey Roden 5'9" | SG West Linn | 2021 State OR did not start the game, as the leading scorer for the team played rotational minutes. The Stars played a balanced team in the first half, as Charity Gallegos was noticeably picking up the pace with the absence of Roden. She was rebounding well offensively and finding other teammates for easy scores all game long.
In addition to this, Lepolo was doing her usual facilitating, as she finished with a game high 8 assists. Marley Langi Marley Langi 6'0" | SF Archbishop Mitty | 2021 State CA was her usual consistent self, rebounding and playing defensive meanwhile finding ways to score herself. Vonleh was effective and early as she had 8 points by the half and had her best game in the tournament for a total of 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. During the later end of the second half, the Stars began their spurt as they were running on all cylinders. Gallegos and Lepolo took turns finding open teammates, including Langi, Stokes, and Vonleh. Calli Stokes Calli Stokes 6'0" | SF Redondo Union HS | 2021 State CA grabbed a game high 10 rebounds and Makena Mastora had a high of 11 points as Donovyn Hunter Donovyn Hunter 5'10" | PG South Medford | 2023 State #26 Nation OR had a tournament high of 6 points. Overall, it was a team win in the 67-52 dissemination of WI Flight.
Stats:
Donovyn Hunter Donovyn Hunter 5'10" | PG South Medford | 2023 State #26 Nation OR : 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Marley Langi Marley Langi 6'0" | SF Archbishop Mitty | 2021 State CA : 6 points, 7 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA : 6 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Makena Mastora:11 points, 1 rebound
Audrey Roden Audrey Roden 5'9" | SG West Linn | 2021 State OR : 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Jessica Peterson Jessica Peterson 6'3" | C Corona Centennial | 2021 State CA : 3 rebounds, 1 block
Calli Stokes Calli Stokes 6'0" | SF Redondo Union HS | 2021 State CA : 7 points, 10 rebounds
Aaronette Vonleh Aaronette Vonleh 6'3" | C West Linn | 2021 State #76 Nation OR : 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Hunter Hernandez: 5 points, 1 assist
Addison Wedin Addison Wedin 5'11" | PG La Salle | 2021 State OR : 2 rebounds
Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA : The Renaissance Guard
If you look at Lepolo’s stats, you will see that every game she averages around 4 or 5 rebounds to go with around 6 or 7 assists – sensational numbers for a guard. Her points per game aren’t eye-popping, but that is irrelevant when you realize that she can score at any given time, any possession. It is her selflessness that is such a big part of her game as she gets others going before going loose herself. This was apparent during the Stars’ last possession against KC Running Angels, as she took the ball herself and slipped away for the game winner.
Charity Gallegos: A Pleasant Surprise
Anyone who watches this team closely will appreciate Gallegos as a lightning quick guard who comes in and plays with an energy that is difficult to match. But perhaps her breakout game came against WI Flight when she played a two guard system alongside Talana Lepolo Talana Lepolo 5'7" | PG Saint Joseph Notre Dame HS | 2022 State CA and didn’t interfere with Lepolo’s efforts whatsoever. She is an underrated rebounder as she is quick to the ball and always in the area of the ball and she is a sensational passer as well. Gallegos was a bright spot of consistency and it was a sight to see.
Synergy and Team Play
This team, as mentioned previously – is a team affair as the talent is fluid from top to bottom. Calli Stokes Calli Stokes 6'0" | SF Redondo Union HS | 2021 State CA , Gonzaga commit, as complete of a player you will see, quietly does her job in the form of rebounding, playing defense, and scoring when she needs to. Makena Mastora is very effective as a perimeter shooter and as an on-ball defender who shines in these moments and doesn’t need many touches in order to be effective and do her job. Jessica Peterson Jessica Peterson 6'3" | C Corona Centennial | 2021 State CA gets out there and plays rugged, physical defense and rebounds and blocks shots – providing much needed interior defense for the Stars. Hunter Hernandez is another layer of toughness as she brings mental grit and can score in different ways. Donovyn Hunter Donovyn Hunter 5'10" | PG South Medford | 2023 State #26 Nation OR is another player who has found ways to contribute to the guard play and has gotten more comfortable with each game.