7th Grade Blue

Both 7th grade teams played a higher level of competition this week, with the blue team entering 8th grade D2/D3 and the white team playing 7th grade D1. Each team went 2-1. White took 2nd place, and blue earned 3rd place.

The blue team lost a nail-biter in their first game, falling 47-46 against Del Oro Jr. Eagles Gold. It was a close, hard-fought battle throughout with neither team able to seize the advantage. Gavin Smith hit two clutch free throws late in the game to give YBA a one-point lead, but Del Oro went inside to their big man who came through with the game-winning basket with 5 seconds to play. Mike Beachley led the way with 15 points. Connor Milnes and Jackson Sterling chipped in with 6 points each, while Max O’Rourke added 5 including a key shot late that kept the Dawgs close. Nicholas Clough frequently penetrated the Eagle defense for 5 assists.

The second game was all YBA in a 56-27 victory over Davis Wildcats White. Our ball pressure ruled the day, with Nick once again harassing the opposing point guards into many mistakes and picking them clean for 6 steals. Garrett Kauppila also applied a lot of pressure on the point. A hot-shooting Grady Collins keyed the offensive outburst with 17 points, aided by Gavin with 11 and Mike and Nick with 9 apiece. Mitchell Holt gathered 9 rebounds and altered several shots.

YBA kept up the defense in the 3rd place game, beating Xtreme Hoops 54-19. Xtreme’s guards were subjected to the feared 1-3-1 Bull defense driven once again by Nick and Jackson, who combined for 7 steals and forced many errant passes. The whole team is really coming together in this area by playing with a lot of intensity and aggression and helping each other better. Jackson dominated the boards with 11 caroms. Grady stayed hot with 15 points, while Nick went for 13 points and 9 assists and Gavin added 10 points.

The team continues to move the ball very well in the open court and does a great job of finding the open man. If not for a lot of missed short shots in the first game, we would have played for the championship. Coach Shaw told the team it was a good weekend!

Defensive MVP: The entire team
Offensive co-MVPs: Grady (35 points), Mike (29 points), and Nick (26 points, 18 assists)