Standouts from the Sterling Invitational Day 1
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The 8th Annual Sterling Invitational kicked off yesterday with two games. Here’s a look at standouts from the four teams.
Kingman
Hannah Pearce, 5’10″, W/SF, Kingman, 2021 – Pearce was the focus of the Smoky Valley defense and still scored 16 points. She shot 3/6 from three and gathered 4 rebounds and 2 steals. She also defended well on, especially on the interior. Pearce is a solidly built player with good length, quick hands, solid speed with the ball in transition, and the ability to score at all three levels.
Alex Schreiner, 5’7″, PG, Kingman, 2022 – Shreiner stood out with her energy on both ends of the floor and her vision in transition. She is also disruptive with her quick hands, can create off the bounce, and finish around the rim with both hands. Despite 4 turnovers she scored 5 points, was 1/1 from three, and collected 4 steals and 4 assists
Scott City
Cheyenne Cramer, 5’7″, SF, Scott City, 2024 – In limited play Cramer stood out with her transition speed, defensive quickness, and good ability to deny passes on the interior. She also hit both of her free throw attempts.
Ella Rumford, 6’0″, PF, Scott City, 2022 – Despite shooting less than 25% Rumford finished with 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. While she struggled finishing around the basket she showed perimeter shooting range, good hands, athleticism and speed to get down the floor for transition opportunities. Rumford jumps to and elevates well on rebounds.
Smoky Valley
Ellie Brumbaugh Ellie Brumbaugh 5'3" | PG Smoky Valley | 2021 State KS , 5’3″, PG/SG, Smoky Valley, 2021 – Despite 4 turnovers and shooting less than 20% from the field Brumbaugh’s quickness, hand speed, and vision were strong. With 2 steals and 2 assists, had hockey style assists be tallied she would have been a bushel full as she was the outlet off rebounds who made the first pass to get the ball down the floor. She scored 7 points with a three and 2/2 from the line.
Adrian Hazelwood Adrian Hazelwood 5'8" | PG Smoky Valley | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, PG/SG, Smoky Valley, 2024 – Hazelwood had a huge night scoring 20 points on a tick below 50% from the field, 2 threes, and 4/6 from the line. She also finished with 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, 2 blocked shots, and only a single turnover. She showed the ability to create and score from all three levels, handle the ball at speed against full-court pressure, elevate on rebounds, and defend on the wing.
Breanna Priddy Breanna Priddy 5'9" | SF Smoky Valley | 2022 State KS , 5’9″, SF, Smoky Valley, 2022 – Persistent would be the word I would use to describe Priddy’s quick and athletic play on both ends of the floor. Whether it was off her own missed or blocked shot or going after a teammate’s miss she was all over the offensive glass with 6 of her 8 rebounds coming on that end. She did have 4 turnovers but she finished with 10 points, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots.
Abby Rose, 6’0″, PF, Smoky Valley, 2022 – What Rose did well is not well quantified in box scores save in steal, rebounding, and blocked shot categories. Limited to 1 minute of play in the first half due to foul trouble, Rose racked up a dozen minutes in the second half and spent it defending Kingman’s Hannah Pearce. Pearce would only score 4 points in the second half due to that match up and the Vikings would turn a two point half-time deficit into a 14 point victory. Rose’s athleticism, length, and speed were impactful to say the least.
Sterling
Sadie Beagley Sadie Beagley 5'8" | PF Sterling | 2022 State KS , 5’8″, PF, Sterling, 2022 – While undersized yet strong and solidly built Beagley is highly experienced and skilled at attacking and scoring over bigger defenders. She continued to score (11 points on 50% shooting) and rebound (5), and her free throw shooting (5/5) completed three point plays. In transition she showed good downhill speed.
Kali Briar Kali Briar 5'7" | PG Sterling | 2022 State KS , 5’6″, PG/SG, Sterling, 2021 – Briar shot 40% from the floor, including 2/8 from three, had 3 steals, and gathered more assists (7) than Scott City had as a team. A dangerous perimeter shooter and tempo-pusher, she consistently created off the dribble and in transition. She is also quick defensively and has good instincts to jump passing lanes.
Bennie Horsch Bennie Horsch 5'10" | SF Sterling | 2022 State KS , 5’10″, SF, Sterling, 2021 – Horsh’s inside game seems to get better with every game and her play inside on both ends was consistently strong. Long and fast, she elevates quickly around the rim scoring, rebounding, and challenging shots. She lead the Black Bears in rebounding with 7, scored 12 points, had 3 steals and 2 assists, and had the team’s lone blocked shot.
Makenna Linden Makenna Linden 5'4" | SG Sterling | 2022 State KS , 5’4″, SG/PG, Sterling, 2022 – Linden lead all scorers with 14 points while gathering three steals and 2 assists. She knocked down a three, shot nearly 50% from the field, and was 7/8 from the line. A scoring threat at all three levels she attacked defenders and the rim with speed. Defensively quick, she consistently challenged the ball.