Incline Beats Needles In The 2A State Title Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A State Title Game Recap</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Incline's shooting helped them build a lead in the first quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1321364' first='Tommy' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2357809' first='Jayden' last='Abbate'] both had the green light to let it go and they made some 3's that gave Incline a decent amount of momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The previously undefeated Needles Mustangs responded though. Junior point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2805995' first='Luke' last='Mills'], a few three's and from there it was somewhat close again. But right before halftime, [player_tooltip player_id='1321364' first='Tommy' last='Williams'] put in another 3, to make it 29-22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third quarter, Incline continued to splash in 3's and their lead grew to 41-31. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although it looked as though it could be over, Needles kept finding ways to score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They never did fully close the gap though, and Incline hit some late free throws to put the game away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final score was 55-50. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Needles finished their season with a very impressive 31-1 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Incline went 20-1 in their final 21 games of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1321364"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67be6984b69ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was my first time seeing [player_tooltip player_id='1321364' first='Tommy' last='Williams'] play and I was impressed by how he scored with ease. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and had some great drives to the basket as well. I was also a fan of how he facilitated open looks for his teammates. On the other side of the court, he was communicating and came up with 3 steals. Williams is committed to play football at the University of Nevada next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stats - 21 Points, 11 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 3 Steals </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2807279' first='Lucas' last='MacDonald'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Incline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67be6984b6b4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2807279' first='Lucas' last='MacDonald'] stepped up when he needed to and buried a couple of shots from beyond the arc for the Highlanders. He was also constantly hustling on defense and blocked a shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">MacDonald should also expect to see his name in the rankings when they are updated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats - 8 Points, 1 Rebound, 1 Assist, 1 Block </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2357809' first='Jayden' last='Abbate'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Incline","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67be6984b6c53"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2357809' first='Jayden' last='Abbate'] contributed to the Highlanders win by draining 3-pointers. The senior was spacing the floor and hit three triples. Abbate also got amongst the trees after missed shots, and gathered 5 rebounds. All in all, I liked what I saw from him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">9 Points, 5 Rebounds, 1 Assist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2805995' first='Luke' last='Mills'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Needles ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67be6984b6d56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2805995' first='Luke' last='Mills'] was feeling it early on. The defense gave him just enough space to line up his shots, and he connected on three 3-pointers in the first half. Then in the second half, Mills got to the cup and made a couple of free throws. He also attempted some 3's late in the game to try and get Needles close to tying, but he unfortunately missed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats - 13 Points </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2358865"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67be6984b6ddb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2358865' first='Luca' last='Walema'] leveraged his height and wingspan on offense to put up 13 points in the 2A State Title game. He got open in the paint on multiple occasions and from there he shot right over the top of his defenders, Walema also surprised me by stepping out to the perimeter and knocking down a 3. In addition to his scoring, he fought hard for rebounds and didn't take possessions off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats - 13 Points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->