Russell, Team Concept win End of the Trail title.....Dream fall to Sky

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE PRESENTS:

-Oregon's Mercedes Russell having a big summer

-Dream lose lead, fall to Chicago 81-69.

-Odds and ends

The Mercedes Russell led Team Concept took the 128 team End of the Trail title at Oregon City High School Saturday...defeating Spokane based Northwest Blazer in the final game 62-40. Russell had 22 in the championship game and drew the praise of several of the coaches there.

The 6'5" center from Springfield, Oregon takes her
skills to Chicago next for the Nike Showcase Shootout.

"Their post player is the real deal. Best prospect I've seen in 30 years." Northwest Blazer head coach Stephen Klees commented after the game, referring to Russell. "It's probably the best team that has ever come out of Oregon. I've been doing this 33 years and they're the best I've ever seen." 

Ahead for TEAM CONCEPT is the highly competitive NIKE Summer Showcase is Chicago. Russell and teammates start play in the Windy City beginning Tuesday. The Oregon team has three of the best 2013 prospects in the nation in Russell, 6'4" forward Kallee Johnson and guard Jordan Reynolds. The upcoming showcase will be the toughest test of the summer schedule...facing some of the powerhouse teams from the east.

288 teams will battle in Chicago and about as many college coaches will watch.
The action starts Tuesday and we'll keep you up-to-date on Ms. Russell and her teammates progress.

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Atlanta (3-8) can't seem to catch a break this year in the WNBA. Up by 13 at the half, the Dream fall to the Chicago Sky (6-6) by 12 last night in the Windy City.

Angel McCoughtry led the Dream with 17 and had this to say following the defeat:

Angel with 17, but the Dream lose...

"They came out the second half more aggressive than we were. I think we weren't as focused and they adjusted and I think that's when they made their move."

Atlanta led 63-62 with 5:06 remaining after two McCoughtry free throws but the Sky sprinted off on a 9-0 run after that to put it in the "W" column for them.Erika DeSouza added 14 for the Dream, Iziana Castro Marques finished with 12 and Armintie Price tallied 10. For Chicago, ex-Rutgers star Epiphanny Prince popped in 24 and rookie Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga) contributed 16. Chicago made ten straight free throws in the final minute and a half - eight from Prince - to seal the victory.  

Atlanta forward Sancho Lyttle is back on the team after playing in the Euroleague championships but did not play because of a strained back. Looks like Courtney Paris is still around, too...she played in last night's game.

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ODDS AND ENDS

-At this point in time, chatter from several reliable sources that one of the Lady Cards will not be going on the trip to Canada because she is enrolled in classes during the trip schedule.

-Rumors afloat that Jude Schimmel looked very impressive, especially on the defensive end, in the Lady Cards June scrimmages. Even slowed up with a bum ankle.
It'll be interesting to see how the coaches mix her in during the Canada trip.

-We are saddened that after five years, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS...the excellent television show about high school football and life in Texas...will aire it's final episode next week. Someone needs to get to work on a spin-off.

-Japan defeated Germany in the World's Cup women's soccer? That has to be one of the top five upsets of 2011. The Germans had won the last two titles. Congrats to the USA, too...knocking off Brazil despite being a player short for about an hour, it seemed.
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