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The lights from ESPN were shining bright on Saturday evening as the 2024 MCW Stars and 2024 Mac Irvin Fire collided in the Aqua division, platinum championship at the Run 4 Roses Classic!
The lights illuminated none more intensely than they did the Michael Carter Williams backcourt duo of Orlagy Gormley (2024) and Ahnay Adams (2024). The dynamic duo combined for 17 of the Starz points as they got out to a 32-20 first-half lead.
Gormley, who came into the game with a lone Power 5 offer, got the Starz off to a great start with eleven points and six boards in the first half. “We’ve been starting slow a few games, so for me, I just had to get my team into it.”, comments Gormley. A pair of triples and a pair of dimes had the 5’6” PG looking a little like Virginia Tech star Georgia Amoore!
Mac Irvin cut the deficit to 20-14 but the 4-minute timeout, but MCW kept the athleticism of Mac Irvin in check by drawing multiple momentum-changing charges to keep them from making bigger runs.
The athleticism of Mac Irvin’s Trinity Jones (2026) was on full display. The 6’2’ top prospect plays so high off the floor and finishes with incredible balance and acrobat-like contortion. She finished the game with 12 points and 7 rebounds, along with a few old-fashioned three-point plays.
Alyana West (2024) did plenty to keep Mac Fire in the game with a 7-point, 5-rebound half, including an electric spin finish late in the half that helped the squad from Chicago grab some momentum.
The Fire kept that momentum with a 5-0 run to start the half and cut the MCW lead to 37-32 by the 12-minute TV timeout. The early 2nd half push was pushed by Aaliyah Guyton (2024), who had a few quick buckets on her way to a 13-point 2nd half performance.
Some foul trouble for Fire’s big Tahj-Monet Bloom (2024), and the emergence of Ahnay Adams (2024), extended the lead back to 9 for MCW with 7 minutes to play.
“I didn’t want Orlagh to have to carry us the whole time,” says Adams. “She was hyping me up and telling me to just go, so that’s what I did.” Adams finished with a game-high 24 points, 16 of which came in the 2nd half.
Mac Irvin put another run together and cut it to single digits once more with 6 minutes to play, but a big three from Jasmyn Cooper (2025) and a constant dose of Adams kept the Fire at a distance. Then Adams put them away with 7 late free throws.
The Starz held on despite a late frenzied effort from the Fire for a 56-49 victory.
Perimeter defense was a big factor in the MCW win. “Last time we played them, they hit 14 threes,” MCW coach Keith Derba remembers, “So I’m kind of grateful they were off tonight.”
Combating the athletes of Mac Irvin was a factor as well. They struggled to hit jump shots so keeping them from getting downhill was of utmost importance. Keeping a comfortable lead made it a little easier for MCW to force Mac Irvin into more long jump shots than they probably would have preferred.
Cooper showed up huge for the Starz with 16 points, 5 boards, and some much needed interior defense on some talented Fire bigs.
The backcourt of Adams and Gormley was undeniable for the Starz. The duo combined for 36 points and 14 rebounds, while Gormley added 4 assists. “Nay was hot in the second half,” Gormley added, "so I just got her the ball and let her go.”
The feeling is certainly mutual from the future Hurricane. “She’s like my best friend; we work off each other,” Adams added, “We haven’t won since 8th grade, and me and Orlagh just started crying. It’s a really big statement win.
The Starz knocked off the Northwest Blazers GUAA, always 100 3SSB, Bay State Jaguars GUAA, and Wisconsin Lakers S40 to make the finals. “It’s surreal. We always say be present in the moment and don’t worry about what’s behind you” Says Coach Derba, "Every game we were present, every game we were focused. They’re tired. They have a long week ahead of them, but they’re gamers. Winners win.”
Keith Derba on playing on ESPN: “I didn’t have to prep them, this is team basketball, and we are the example of team basketball. They show up every time. We did.t even talk about it; we didn’t talk about the cameras. We went back to the hotel, the kids relaxed, and we came here and took care of business like we always do.”
The Power 5’s may not have been sold on Orlagh Gormley before this game, but I’d be willing to bet by the time you’re reading this, that has changed. And that’s just the way her running mate Ahnay Adams would want it.
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