My next highlighted game of Day 1 of the UAA Session II was an intriguing matchup between
@MiddlesexMagic 17U and Arizona Select, and this one turned into a battle from start to finish. Middlesex came out with crisp ball movement, strong pace, and timely shot making that immediately set the tone. They controlled the flow early and jumped out to an 18-12 lead after one quarter of action.
Arizona Select kept fighting, though, and every time Middlesex looked ready to create separation, the desert squad answered with a run of their own. It became a back-and-forth battle filled with momentum swings, physical play, and buckets at key moments. Middlesex still held the edge at halftime, taking a hard-fought 32-27 lead at the half.
The second half is when the offenses really started cookin’. Middlesex flexed in the third quarter with a quick offensive burst that pushed the lead into double digits. The ball movement stayed sharp, shots were falling in rhythm, and the energy started building. But Arizona Select refused to go away, battling back once again to cut the deficit down to 51-45 after three quarters.
Middlesex opened another 10-point lead in the fourth, but Arizona Select kept clawing back every single time. The gap would close, Middlesex would answer with another quick spurt, and the battle just kept rolling possession after possession. In the end, Middlesex had too much balance offensively and enough answers down the stretch to take the 76-67 victory.
Middlesex was led by #13 @Dillioncallahan4 who finished with 16pts, 4rebs, 3ast, and 2stls. His energy was relentless all game long, especially in the second half when the offense started rolling. Dillon seemed to be in the center of everything, bringing pressure defensively, attacking downhill offensively, and making hustle plays that helped Middlesex maintain momentum.
Teammate #11
@DeclanGriff11 added 10pts and 5 rebounds while combining size with a smooth outside touch. He also showed flashes of athleticism and burst off the bounce that made him difficult to stay in front of. #3
@ColeBlackburn23 matched the 10pts while adding 6rebs, bringing toughness and activity that helped Middlesex control important possessions throughout the game.
Arizona Select was led by #2
@wwor_1, who led all scorers with 28pts, 5rebs, and 1blk in the tough loss. No matter how many runs Middlesex made, he kept answering. Tough shot-making, aggressive drives, and nonstop confidence kept Arizona within striking distance all game long as he put together one of the best scoring performances of the matchup.