Recap: Mitchell Guides Team Cloud to 89-78 Victory Over Team Sims

Mitchell, who earned MVP 1 honors for the third time this season, knocked down 10-of-16 field goal attempts, including a 4-for-6 effort from three-point range, en route to a season-high 685 leaderboard points. She was one of four Team Cloud players to score in double figures in the victory.

Forward Danni McCray, the game’s MVP 2 selection, came off the bench to score eight points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in addition to grabbing two rebounds to earn the second Game MVP recognition of her Athletes Unlimited career.

Guard and team captain Natasha Cloud rounded out the MVP trio with an MVP 3 performance, contributing 12 points with five assists and four rebounds. She made 5-of-9 field goal attempts, including a 2-for-3 performance from long range, and finished with 524 leaderboard points.

Team Sims was led by captain Odyssey Sims’ 25 points and eight assists, while guard Air Hearn added 21 points with seven rebounds and three steals.

KEY MOMENT

Team Cloud, which never trailed in the game, pulled away in the first quarter by outsourcing Team Sims by a 16-4 run over the final 4:49 of the period. Mitchell and center Kalani Brown combined for eight of the team’s 16 points during the spurt.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Cloud and Sims swapped spots on the leaderboard after Team Cloud’s victory. Meanwhile, Brown and Mitchell rose two spots on the leaderboard into fourth and fifth places, respectively, pending the result of Wednesday’s second game between Team Gray and Team Bell.

NOTES OF INTEREST

• Teams are now 11-for-31 in captain’s challenges this season through 19 games … Team Cloud initiated a captain’s challenge on a foul called against Cloud with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter, which was unsuccessful … In addition, Team Sims asked for a captain’s challenge on a foul against Sims with 8:26 left in the third quarter, which was successful.

• Wednesday’s first game between Team Cloud and Team Sims marked the 400th all-time regular season contest across Athletes Unlimited’s four sports, including the 79th contest in the three-year history of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.

• Cloud and Sims met as opposing captains for the fifth time in their Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball careers … Cloud now owns a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series.

• Cloud also improved to 11-11 all-time as a captain after earning her fifth win in the last six games.

• Cloud earned the 16th Game MVP honor of her Athletes Unlimited career, moving into a tie for third place on the league’s all-time list with forward Isabelle Harrison.

• Sims has reached double figures in scoring in 38 of her 40 career Athletes Unlimited games, including all 10 outings this season … She has also tallied seven assists in all 10 contests this season.

• Mitchell secured her ninth consecutive game with 20 or more points.

• Brown notched her fifth straight double-digit scoring output after finishing with 13 points … The former Baylor standout narrowly missed a double-double after registering eight rebounds.

• Guard/forward Ty Young has posted 10 or more rebounds in four of her last six games after setting a new career high with 14 caroms against Team Cloud on Wednesday night.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Tiffany Mitchell (Team Cloud, +90)
• #2 – Danni McCray (Team Cloud, +60)
• #3 – Natasha Cloud (Team Cloud, +30)