Talia Sanders hit a buzzer beater against one of the state’s top teams and a balanced scoring attack led the Madison365 12U girls basketball team to the championship of the Wisconsin Elite Spring Shootout last weekend in Milwaukee. They now set their sights on the Downpour Invitational this weekend closer to home at Madison LaFollete High School.
The group draw put the 365 girls up against one of the state’s best teams, the Wisconsin Lakers. Kennedi Castillo scored nearly half of the team’s 25 points, but it was Talia Sanders’ two with three seconds to play and the score tied at 23 that started the weekend off on a winning note.
Later Saturday, the Purple Aces gave the Madison365 team all they could handle in the first half, going into the break down 10-9. But the Madison365 girls poured it on in the second to win 41-16. Five players scored five or more, with Paige Nelson contributing five, Maliyah Thompson, Arianna Eddins and Castillo all scoring six, and Alyze Winzer leading the scoring with 10. Aaliyah Crum snagged seven rebounds.
The girls kept it rolling Sunday with a 42-30 win over Let It Rain to win their group. Molly Murphy paced the scoring with 13 as Sanders and Winzer added eight each. Thompson grabbed seven rebounds and Castillo got another six.
Topping the group set up the championship game with Rockford Wildcats. The scoring was spread across the team again, as Winzer led the way with nine, Sanders added eight and Castillo and Murphy scored seven each. Crum grabbed seven rebounds.
“This weekend the team met the challenge. We are no longer sneaking up on teams,” said head coach Henry Sanders. “Teams know who we are now. We played one of the premiere teams in the state, the Wisconsin Lakers. They are tall, physical and extremely well coached. The game could have gone either way. I really enjoy watching our team come together.”
All are welcome to attend The Downpour Invitational at Madison LaFollette tomorrow. The Madison365 team will play The Armory at 1:30 Saturday, followed by a rematch with the Lakers at 3:20.
All player stats are available at Madison365.org/365Basketball.
