Spirit Holds Off United Run

When I arrived at the IAD on day one of the Prime Time Nationals Championship, I saw a group of young ladies playing and that particular court was packed with fans. I looked up top and several college coaches were focused on that particular game and although I knew nothing about the teams playing, I always tell people there is a science to this, it just isn’t rocket science and it usually doesn’t take me long. About a minute later, I saw exactly why as Lauren Cox had just gone back in the game. Cox is between 6’3 and 6’5, and she can play, she can definitely play and her team, NT United has several other players which is one of the reasons they finished fifth in AAU Nationals this year but more on Cox and her teammates later

NT United blew out everyone through pool play and the first two rounds of bracket play with a margin of victory way 30 points but when they reached the semifinals against Oklahoma Team Spirit, you could tell this game would be different. Team Spirit jumped all over NT United right off the top and put the young ladies somewhere they have rarely seen throughout the summer and that’s behind early in the ball game. With scoring coming from everywhere, Team Spirit looked like they were on the verge of blowing the 2016 group out and had it not been for Maddie Brown’s eight points, this included back to back threes, this game could have gotten ugly.

LAUREN COX NT UNITED

After being down by six at the half, with 8:40 left in the game, the lead was now nine and NT United made a run as Cox scored a couple of buckets and then Anna Pierce nailed a three to cut the lead to four with about seven minutes left.

Team Spirits’ Janae Arnold, Marcia Reed , Ashlyn Mead and Sharala Brown all had moments in the game in which they some impressive things and all are 2015 players with the exception of Arnold who is a 2014. Arnold can score and from just about everywhere on the floor and score she did as it seems like every time they needed a bucket, she came through by either scoring or assisting on a basket

JANAE ARNOLD #9 TEAM SPIRIT

The teams traded buckets going into the stretch and when Cox hit two free throws to cut the lead to two, 46-44, it appeared NT United might pull it off. Team Spirit wasn’t having it as their two stars played huge down the stretch. Reed hit a huge bucket, then Arnold with a steal as she danced with the basketball for almost a minute before being fouled. After missing the free throw, Reed grabs the offensive rebound and converted an and one to seal the victory. A three from Cox at the buzzer, yes a three, made the final score 52-49

Team Spirit went on to win the Championship Bracket 9/10 division over the Houston lady Ballers while NT United took third against the Dallas Stars. Check out the blog for a story on Lady Ballers’ A’lachanon King who was another dominant guard in the event coming later today