Recap: Last-Second Basket Sends Team Sims Past Team Gray, 106-105

The win spoiled a career night for guard Allisha Gray, who earned MVP 1 distinction after scoring a career-high 38 points with 10 rebounds. Gray, who earned her 11th Game MVP award in the last 12 contests, made 13-of-21 shots from the floor, including a 3-for-5 effort from three-point range, while converting 9-of-11 free throws.

Guard Kelsey Mitchell secured MVP 2 accolades after setting an Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball record with eight made three-pointers, capping off a season-high 31-point performance. The former Ohio State standout was 8-of-14 from beyond the arc as part of her 11-for-22 shooting effort.

Guard Odyssey Sims paced Team Sims with a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists to receive MVP 3 recognition and 589 leaderboard points. Sims was one of five players on her squad to score in double figures, including a career-high 25 points from guard Air Hearn.

KEY MOMENT

After Team Gray took a 105-104 lead on a Mitchell three-pointer with 12.1 seconds to go, guard Kierstan Bell attempted a jumper that missed in the closing seconds. However, McCoughtry grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a lay-up with 1.3 seconds remaining to secure the one-point victory.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Gray remains in the top spot on the leaderboard with 4,270 points despite the loss on Thursday night, while Sims moved into third place with 3,411 points.

NOTES OF INTEREST

• Team Sims challenged a foul called against Sims with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter, which was successful … Team Gray initiated a captain’s challenge of a foul called against Gray with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter, which was unsuccessful … Teams are now 9-for-21 in captain’s challenges this season.

• Team Gray and Team Sims played in the fourth game in league history to be decided by a single point, including the second time this season … Team Gray edged Team Sims by an 87-86 count in the second game of last Thursday’s doubleheader.

• Team Gray and Team Sims combined to make 25 three-pointers in Thursday’s finale, marking the second-highest total in a game in league history … Team Cole and Team Sims set the standard with 28 made triples on February 24, 2023.

• Mitchell and Gray became the first pair of teammates to score 30 or more points in the same game in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball history … The duo combined to make 24-of-43 field goal attempts, including an 11-for-19 effort from three-point range, while sinking 10-of-12 free throws.

• Gray was named as the game’s MVP 1 selection, marking the eighth time in league history a player on the losing team has received the honor, including the second time this year … Guard Lexie Hull was named MVP 1 after Team Hull’s 92-88 setback against Team Sims on March 2.

• Gray has now scored 20 or more points in 10 consecutive games … In addition, she has furnished 25 or more points seven times in her last 12 outings dating back to last season.

• Gray also registered the fourth double-double of her Athletes Unlimited career, including her second double-double in a row … She closed Week Two with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Team Mitchell on Sunday.

• Mitchell registered the third 30-point game of her Athletes Unlimited career after her 31-point performance on Thursday night … It was her best scoring output since February 18, 2022, when she established her career high with 33 points against Team Cloud.

• Sims owns eight career double-double efforts after scoring 25 points with 10 assists … She also tallied 10 or more assists in a game for the seventh time in her Athletes Unlimited career, including the third time this season.

• Sims has now scored 20 or more points in 25 of her 37 career Athletes Unlimited appearances.

• Bell has scored 20 or more points four times, including the last three games in a row, following her 20-point effort in Thursday’s win for Team Sims.

• Hearn has scored 20 or more points three times in her last six games after not reaching that mark in her first 31 career Athletes Unlimited games.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Allisha Gray (Team Gray, +90)
• #2 – Kelsey Mitchell (Team Gray, +60)
• #3 – Odyssey Sims (Team Sims, +30)