This battle of 2023s came down to the final seconds, where a Paige Lambe interior score in the closing seconds sealed a 56-55 win for Let It Rain 2023 Black.

     The game was tight throughout the 1st half. A Caden Krohn straight-away three gave Let It Rain an early 5-2 edge. Krohn is a scholarship level talent with good size and the ability to stretch the floor.

     Just as quickly Cadence Xiong, who would finish with a game-high 22 points connected on the first of her five three pointers, from the top of the key as well to knot it at 5-5.

     A pair of transition drives from MaKenzie Drout, a Division I level talent, gave Let It Rain the lead back at 9-7 after her first score had tied it at 7-7.

     An interior score from Kailey Wozniak tied it at 9 for Chapman, before the first run of the game, a 5-0 burst from Let It Rain, gave them the lead at 14-9, a lead they would carry through the half. A screen and roll from Drout to Tara Wellnitz was followed by a strong in-bounds and 1 finish from Taylor Wojcinski.

     The next four would go to Chapman, but they were unable to take the lead. A Rhiannon Ashley drive and a transition score from Alicia Burgos brought Chapman to within 14-13 but was countered by a Let It Rain floater from Olivia Peterson.

     Chapman was able to knot the game again at 16 when Melanie Meinert hit from the left wing three point line.

     Let It Rain would proceed to go on a 12-0 run late in the first half to build a 28-16 edge, the largest they would have in the game. Taylor Jacobson started the run with 2 free throws, followed by 2 more freebies from Peterson a successful screen and roll where Drout connected with Krohn, a Wellnitz drive, a Drout drive and ending with Drout finding Wellnitz in transition.

     Xiong would lead a 7-0 run for Chapman Academy that brought them back to within 28-23. She had 6 of the 7, starting with a free throw, then a transition drive and capped by a three off the left wing.

     Let It Rain would get a pair of free throws from Drout to close the half with a 30-23 lead. At the half Drout led Let It Rain with 8, and Xiong had 9 to pace Chapman Academy.

     Let It Rain would gradually build their lead back to double digits at 43-32. Peterson scored on a drive to make it 32-23 before a pair of much needed Chapman hoops from Xiong in transition and Burgos off the left block cut it to 32-27.

     A 9-2 Let It Rain burst including a Drout free throw, a left wing three from Drout as well and a Wojcinski drive and score. The run was capped off by a three in transition from Krohn, making it 41-29.

     Chapman ended the run with a much-needed three from Wozniak from straight-on. Threes from Xiong, a triple and drive from McNabb and another three from Xiong brought Chapman with 52-43. As they chipped away Grace King scored inside, Krohn tacked on three from the left wing and Drout finished a nice spin and offensive rebound scores from Lambe and Peterson kept Let It Rain in the lead as they seemed to counter each punch Chapman Academy would throw.

     As they began their final push, the big bucket to start a closing run for Chapman came from Ashley, whose left wing three made it 52-46. To Let It Rain's credit, Drout went to work once again and got to the line for 2 making it 54-46.

     When it looked like Let It Rain was back in command, Chapman had a monster 9-0 run to take the lead at 55-54 in the waning seconds. Xiong connected for three off the left wing, Burgos tagged a free throw, Xiong connected with Murphy in transition and the unlikely comeback was capped by a left corner three off the hands of McNabb.

     Rattled, but not worried, Let It Rain called timeout to set up their final set. A high screen and roll between Lambe and Drout ended with Drout dropping it off to Lambe who finished inside in the closing seconds as Let It Rain pulled out a great game, 56-55.

1. MaKenzie Drout, Let It Rain

     -Physical wing who has had to shift to play more from the 1 this AAU season then her traditional 2 Guard spot. Played extremely well as the ball handler in screen/roll play throughout.

2. Caden Krohn, Let It Rain

     -Has the ability to play at the collegiate level as a stretch 4. She has excellent touch with range, good size to be utilized in either pick and roll or pick and pop play.

3. Cadence Xiong, Chapman Basketball Academy

     -Yes, she is a little undersized, but no, that doesn't define her game. She is quick in space and has a dangerous three point stroke. Has a scorers mentality from the one spot.

4. Paige Lambe, Let It Rain

     -Not a huge output offensively, but she has improved as much as any young post over the last 12 calendar months. She's a lock to end up as a scholarship player, just a matter of what level.

5. Gracie McNabb, Chapman Basketball Academy

     -See her as a nice fit at the D3, NAIA level. She's a good shooter, with enough size to work as a Small Forward or 3 Guard at the next level. Delivered big shot when Chapman needed one.

Let It Rain 2023 Black: Krohn 3,Drout 1

Chapman Basketball Academy 2023: Xiong 5, McNabb 2, Wozniak 1, Ashley 1, Meinert 1