2A: Final-4 & Final Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Thursday, Februay 27th I watched the #1 <strong>Phoenix Country Day</strong> play versus #4 <strong>Rancho Solano Prep</strong> in the Final-4 and then checked out the Final with #5<strong> Fountain Hills</strong> taking on #4 <strong>Rancho Solano Prep </strong>on Saturday, March 1st . </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rancho obviously beat PCD in a wild back and forth contest. PCD led 25-20 at halftime and 35-33 heading into the 4th. But Rancho took over in the 4th with [player_tooltip player_id='1432044' first='Ethan' last='Stokes'] scoring, [player_tooltip player_id='1768204' first='Luke' last='Larrabee'] hitting two CLUTCH 3's and [player_tooltip player_id='2533645' first='Wyatt' last='Fulton']'s defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1490238' first='JD' last='Jones'] kept the game close with 26 but Rancho won it <strong>47-45</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then <strong>Rancho Solano Prep</strong> played <strong>Fountain Hills </strong>for the 2A CHIP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rancho went coast to coast with a <strong>53-44 </strong>win. FH fought hard in the 4th quarter but RSP were too good with a very balanced attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='1432044' first='Ethan' last='Stokes'], [player_tooltip player_id='2326931' first='Matt' last='Quinlan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1768204' first='Luke' last='Larrabee'], [player_tooltip player_id='1580843' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2533645' first='Wyatt' last='Fulton'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the 2A Standouts</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1432044' first='Ethan' last='Stokes'] Rancho Solano Prep </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic wing forward scored 24 points versus PCD and 12 points versus Fountain Hills with 13 rebounds in the Chip. He will score a variety of ways with rip thrus, euro steps with long strides, fade away jumpers, offensive rebound put backs, catch threes, ball fake into a nice kiss off the glass and he rebounds really well in his area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2326931' first='Matt' last='Quinlan'] Rancho Solano Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough scoring lead guard who plays on or off the ball often. He will make plays and thread the needle and score with blow by layups and jumpers. He can step back off of his defenders and hit the three but is best off the catch. He will euro step in the lane and scored 15 points in the Chip.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1768204' first='Luke' last='Larrabee'] Rancho Solano Prep </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard with decent size. He will score and his defense has stepped up a notch. He will collect a steal and lay it in on the other end. He has a polished floater game with a nice dribble drive burst.&nbsp;That being said, it is his shooting that you fear. He can get hot in a blink of an eye and he actually hit two clutch threes in the deciding 4th quarter vs PCD. He scored 8 points versus them and then 10 points in the Chip. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580843' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] Rancho Solano Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high motored power forward will collect steals, block shots and scores with offensive rebound put backs. He will also slash to the basket but it is his high level rebounding that keeps him on the floor and his interior presence with his top-notch motor and some springs. He scored 9 points with 8 rebounds and 1 block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373522' first='Andrew' last='Willis'] Rancho Solano Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger scoring guard seems to come thru every game with his shooting. He is a true corner specialist from the three point line. He plays a cerebral brand of ball and will only take quality shots. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2533646' first='Ryder' last='Brainis'] Rancho Solano Prep </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring point guard takes the reigns when he comes in off the bench. He has a strong and stocky frame and has speed with the ball to handle pressure. He will hit the catch three with range and confidence plus will make a play. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2533645' first='Wyatt' last='Fulton'] Rancho Solano Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another freshman guard came up big. He scored it with back door cuts and drives but it was his tenacious defense that turned the game into their favor. He&nbsp;took charges and was tough with his on-ball defense to make it difficult for his opponents to score on him. He also had a couple nice passes that led to assists. He is not afraid to mix it up inside to rebound and fights thru the contact. He will hit the three off the catch and cut off the ball. He sees the court well and scored 7 points with 4 assists and 2 steals in the Chip with a breakout performance. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796228' first='Sam' last='Barnard'] Fountain Hills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The region defensive POY played like it. He is like a running back getting downhill with his thicker body to score or get trips to the free throw line. He directs a lot of the team's plays and handles the ball pressure. He can take his man to the post, hit the three and layups in transition. He will rebound, block shots and collect steals. He scored 16 points with 3 steals and 3 assists in the Chip. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796229' first='Matthew' last='Heaney'] Fountain Hills&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wing forward is highly skilled. He will dribble drive and then use the floater game or ball fakes into layups. He can step out and hit the three and then post up and go to work or fall away from his defender. He will also rebound and make a play for a teammate. He scored 12 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796227' first='Ahren' last='Lloyd'] Fountain Hills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A power forward with advanced post footwork to score and he will find a teammate when he gets double teamed. He plays a physical but cerebral brand of basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796230' first='Lucas' last='Doka'] Fountain Hills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough power forward with quicker hands to collect steals. He is also a very good passer and plays the game from the neck up with some physicality.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1490238' first='JD' last='Jones'] Phoenix Country Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big time performance from JD. He scored it every way he could with patient post footwork with his left or right hand and dribble drives. He also hit a couple of threes, he moved without the ball to score and got to the FT line. He rebounds well, takes charges and will block shots. He scored 26 points while filling up the stat sheet.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2337138' first='Jadd' last='Agha'] Phoenix Country Day&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long and lean wing forward has great size and skill. He will rattle in threes off the catch with a super quick release and uses his long wingspan to play the passing lanes to collect steals and rebound. He scored 6 points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1986855' first='Deven' last='Chhabra'] Phoenix Country Day&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long wing forward can rebound inside and score. He will create a little of his own offense with a decent handle and get into the teeth of the defense and jump stop and rise up to score. He will also hit the three with an easy stroke. He scored 5 points.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1490887' first='Blake' last='Sosnowitz'] Phoenix Country Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A cerebral scoring point guard with skill and a good feel. He smartly changes speeds and can pull-up on a dime from mid-range to score it. He is scrappy on defense to collect steals and lay it in on other end. He scored 6 points.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->