The unbeaten Team Trae Young 17U Girls 3SSB squad faced their toughest test of the season at the annual Run 4 Roses Classic in Louisville. But they persevered, overcoming an extreme halftime deficit in the semis to advance to the Finals. There, they pulled off a nationally televised win to claim another title in what is becoming the most dominant season in the history of the program.
Champs ๐ #Undefeated
Came back from a 20 point deficit in semis then crawled their way to another big win very shortly afterโผ๏ธ
These girls are relentless ๐ – Great job Team Trae Young @Coach_Mathurin @MelodyStewart30 https://t.co/xDLbMjVK8x
— Team Trae Young WBB ๐ (@TeamTraeYoungWB) July 15, 2024
My @TeamTraeYoungWB 17โs Toooooo Good!!! Great Win Ladies๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐ซก๐
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) July 13, 2024
Amazing run this spring/summerโฆ..1st year with the girls on @adidasHoops 3SSB circuit. Still feel a little underrated though. A legit 2 @McDAAG candidates this year! Great all around team. @TeamTraeYoungWB https://t.co/4L7irEGyNm
— Ray Young (@rayfordyoung) July 13, 2024
Team Trae cruised through two pool play games with an average margin of victory of 28 points (66-40 over Wood Elite and 58-28 over True Texas Hoops) and won their first tournament game by double digits as well, 65-52 over All-In 3SSB.
@TFNsRun4Roses hosted a big matchup this morning- Two female led programs on the same court
Team Trae Young 3SSB / / /
Amber Mathurin @Coach_MathurinTrue Texas Hoops Select 40@lummus25 @Coach_CrystalD @MrsBoyd32 Ro Vasquez
This is unprecedented, sadly – itโs a rare sightโฆ pic.twitter.com/XF2FxAwrSp
— True Texas Hoops | Select 40 Circuit (@TrueTexasHoops) July 13, 2024
There are kids you NEED AT ๐ฏ and @mathurin2025 is one of THEMโผ๏ธ
Letโs go show the world what we HAVE BEEN about one last time ๐ซถ๐ผ๐ pic.twitter.com/wrqGJO1MtK
— Amber Mathurin ๐ฆ (@Coach_Mathurin) July 13, 2024
But the TTY Girls faced an uphill battle in a semifinal matchup against Team B Wright Black E40. However, they chipped away at a 20-point halftime deficit and went on to win 57-55 to advance to a nationally televised championship game against SMAC Future E40.
Random Clips: Nice ball movement & Team defense by @TeamTraeYoungWB 17U, to get the W in the @TFNsRun4Roses semi-finals#NoLookMedia#NoLook@Coach_Mathurin pic.twitter.com/VMkdopJGwZ
— No-Look Media (@NoLookMedia1) July 17, 2024
WE ARE LIVE ON @ESPNU ๐ฅ@SMACBasketball vs @TeamTraeYoungWB
#Roses24 ๐น๐ pic.twitter.com/l6oBABNjr5— TFN's Run 4 Roses (@TFNsRun4Roses) July 13, 2024
๐ 1,250+ College Coaches in attendance in one day…..๐ฅ #Run4RosesClassic #Roses24 pic.twitter.com/c7dJd18ZHX
— TFN's Run 4 Roses (@TFNsRun4Roses) July 12, 2024
Once again, and despite the best efforts of players like McKenzie Mathurin, Maddi Stewart and Rieyan DeSouze, TTY trailed for much of the game. But they overcame a seven-point deficit with three minutes to go in the first half to take a two-point halftime lead.
AND-1!! 2026 Maddi Stewart with the TOUGH finish ๐ค@MaddiStewart10 | @TeamTraeYoungWB | @NikeGirlsEYBL pic.twitter.com/wiuk45CY7b
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
FILTHY move from 2026 4 โญ๏ธ Rieyan Desouze@NikeGirlsEYBL @rieyandesouze @TeamTraeYoungWB pic.twitter.com/sIfpcneieD
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
๐ Run 4 The Roses Classic Championship@rieyandesouze is very crafty with the ball in her hands. Sees the floor well and does a nice job of getting to her spot for @TeamTraeYoungWB. @TFNsRun4Roses
— Jr. All-Star Girls Basketball (@JrAllStarBB) July 13, 2024
Tough passes on both ends of the floor ๐ฎโ๐จ@TFNsRun4Roses | @NikeGirlsEYBL pic.twitter.com/71EFcKGwIS
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
However, SMAC came out hot and though they tied the score several times, Team Trae had trouble pulling ahead. But in the final moments clutch players stepped up to seal the deal. After DeSouze hit a three to tie at 53 with under two minutes to go, the TTY Girls got a crucial rebound and got out in transition.
On the other end, Stewart went inside-out to Mathurin, who buried a three to give Team Trae the lead with under 90 seconds to play.
4 โญ๏ธ McKenzie Mathurin is a BUCKET @mathurin2025 | @TeamTraeYoungWB pic.twitter.com/pugm3r5Hai
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
Moments later, after SMAC had trimmed the lead to one, Seleh Harmon got the ball in to Stewart, who got the bucket and the whistle, and her three-point play gave TTY a two-possession lead with 40 seconds remaining and Team Trae held on from there for a 61-58 win.
Stewart finished with a double-double and Mathurin poured in 24 points to claim MVP honors.
2024 Run 4 Roses Classic '25 Aqua Platinum Championship – @SMACBasketball Future vs @TeamTraeYoungWB #Roses24 ๐น๐ pic.twitter.com/GBd4XfiU1p
— TFN's Run 4 Roses (@TFNsRun4Roses) July 14, 2024
Team Trae Young takes home the win over SMAC 61-58 and are crowned 2024 Run 4 Roses Champions in the 2025 Aqua Division! ๐น๐@TeamTraeYoungWB | @TFNsRun4Roses pic.twitter.com/LCS1rvhwZV
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
Stock continues to ๐๐ for โ26 G @MaddiStewart10.
Double digit boards in the championship for @TeamTraeYoungWB at Run 4 Roses Classic on National TV to go w/ 20 pts.
Also @Coach_Mathurin with a shoutout on the broadcast from independent โก๏ธ 3SSB. Great work from all involved! https://t.co/81QwkvQeo4
— Ian Mumm (@FiveOnFiveHoops) July 13, 2024
McKenzie Mathurin was named Player of the Game after scoring 24 points and grabbing 8 rebounds ๐ @mathurin2025 | @TeamTraeYoungWB pic.twitter.com/QfhRrVREeJ
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 13, 2024
What a win for @TeamTraeYoungWB at the Run for the Roses, 61-58!@mathurin2025 continued to prove her bonafides as an ELITE scorer with clutch buckets to pull her team ahead.@MaddiStewart10 also showed that he strength and tenacity translate to the national level
— Prep Girls Hoops Oklahoma (@PGHOklahoma) July 13, 2024
Very proud of our 17U girls.. First Year program winning the BIGGEST tournament on National TV!! Congratulations to not only my friend but an amazing coach @Coach_Mathurin on winning the championship on ESPN!! Your girl does it again, Kenzie is such a star.
Team Trae Young Aquaโฆ pic.twitter.com/sHuHLWVQEl
— Jaylen Thompson (@CoachJThompson0) July 13, 2024
17U Aqua Final: @TeamTraeYoungWB outlasts @SMACBasketball live on @espn! @Ohio_Basketball @TFNsRun4Roses @Coach_Mathurin pic.twitter.com/wvBzaQjIcO
— NE2KHoops (@NE2KHoops) July 14, 2024
I KNOW @Coach_Mathurin and @TeamTraeYoungWB WANTED THAT ONE BAAADD!! I remember watching that double OT game last year and the way it ended ๐ THIS ONE WAS PERSONAL!!
— Coach Ty (@TyrieThomas22) July 13, 2024
What @Coach_Mathurin has done with @TeamTraeYoungWB is nothing short of incredible; genuine, authentic and outstanding work ethic! The flowers are blooming now but the seeds were planted many years ago #respect
— Coach Straker (@coachstraker) July 14, 2024
Other big-time contributors to the cause included Harmon and Maya Thompson.
@SelehHarmon came off the bench for@TFNsRun4Roses Champions @TeamTraeYoungWB
17U #3SSB contributing7.4 ppg (38.4% 3s | 52.6% 2s)
2.0 rpg
1.8 apg
1.0 spg#NoLookMedia#NoLook@Coach_Mathurin pic.twitter.com/xvBY2D5gc8— No-Look Media (@NoLookMedia1) July 14, 2024
@Maya_Thompson2 uses length & speed to defend, run
the floor, clean O glass & slash past defenders to the
goal for @TeamTraeYoungWB 17U #3SSB She also
knocks down 3s at a high %@TFNsRun4Roses @Coach_Mathurin #NoLookMedia#NoLook pic.twitter.com/6sXDc8eqHS— No-Look Media (@NoLookMedia1) July 14, 2024
Check out full highlights from the ESPNU television broadcast below:
The Team Trae 3SSB 17s now move onto the adidas 3SSB Championships at Palmetto Road in South Carolina next weekend, where they will put their undefeated season on the line one last time.
Run 4 The Roses Classic ๐ @TFNsRun4Roses #ladiesexposurefirst
Expect Team Trae Young (@TeamTraeYoungWB) to make some noise at the 3SSB Championshipsโผ๏ธ๐ pic.twitter.com/Mdth75eXqM
— Twin ViZuals (@TwinViZuals) July 18, 2024