Best of Class A

<p><strong>MVP</strong>—Sydney Lodermeier, 6-0 Goodhue guard, scored 36 points in 3 games. Her teammate Maddy Miller scored 63. But, this is Sidney’s team. She is so big and strong relative to her skill set that she is an impossible matchup on both sides of the ball. Along with those 36 points, she had 33 boards, she defends the post, except when she is defending up at the top of the zone where, when you get trapped by Sydney Lodermeier, you have been trapped. She had 6 assists and 5 steals and a blocked shot. Makes Goodhue go.</p> <p>MIB coach Jeff Buffetta said the difference in today’s game was “aggression.” And, that is what Sydney Lodermeier brings to the party.</p> <p><strong>Best Play</strong>—2 plays. Up as much as 14-6, Goodhue suddenly trailed 22-21when senior guard Mackenzie Ryan scored consecutive coast-to-coast 2 + 1s, the 1st on a strip/steal, the 2nd on a defensive rebound. 2 layups, 2 fouls, 2 FT, Goodhue up 27-22 and they never trailed again.</p> <p><strong>Best 3-Point Offensive Performance</strong>—Bailey Gronner, Cromwell, 10-of-20 in 3 games. Unfortunately, like his teammates, she had that off day vs. Goodhue on Friday.</p> <p><strong>Best 2-Point Offensive Performance</strong>—Ho-hum. Another Goodhue guard, 5-5 junior Emily Benrud. Shot 6-of-10 yesterday vs. Cromwell from 2 point range. At 5-5, she also had 11 rebounds, 6 of them on the offensive board! Today 3-of-6 with 9 more boards. Has to be the best 5-5 rebounder ever.</p> <p><strong>Best 1-Point Offensive Performance</strong>—Chelsea Mason, MIB, 7-of-8 and then 7-of-8 then 5-of-5.</p> <p><strong>Best Defensive Performance</strong>—As a group, Goodhue’s of course. Coach named Emily Benrud, Sid Lodermeier, Haley Lexvold and Maddy Miller by name while MIB coach Jeff Buffetta said that Goodhue’s “aggression” was the difference. “It’s what we try to do but we just couldn’t match them at that level today.”</p> <p><strong>Best Player Off the Bench—</strong>Broken record. Obviously, somebody from Goodhue. And even more than Lexvold, that would mean Lexie Lodermeier, the 6-3 sophomore. She scored 6 and 0 and 4, but had 7 rebounds in each of her 1st 2 games, then 4 today. Goodhue already overpowers people, and then here comes an athletic 6-3 sub…. Arrgghh!</p> <p><strong>Best Intangibles—</strong>Is toughness intangible? Well, in the sense that there’s not a number in the box score. But, Goodhue has lots of it, and especially Sydney Lodermeier. She is the motor that makes Goodhue go.</p> <p><strong>Best Under-the-Radar Performance—</strong>Allie Negen saved MIB<strong>’s </strong>lunch on Friday with 14 1st half points on Friday on 6-of-8 shooting, plus 4 boards. This came while her teammates were shooting 9-of-26, yet MIB had a 10-point halftime lead thanks to her.</p> <p><strong>Best Rebounder</strong>—Goodhue guards Emily Benrud and Sydney Lodermeier with 28 and 33 boards each. Benrud with 16 offensive boards, is tops on the offensive side; Lodermeier 28 on defense, is tops on that side. Could not be more complementary.</p> <p><strong>Best Passer—</strong>Mya Buffetta, MIB, gets the ball to Chelsea Mason and the rest of the MIB sharpshooters.</p> <p><strong>Best Catch and Shoot Shooter—</strong>Seniors Bailey Gronner and Chelsea Swatek of Cromwell. Gronner shot 10-of-20 3s, 5-of-11 2s and 3-of-4 FT. Swatek shot 10-of-25 3s, 7-of-17 2s and 7-of-10 throws.</p> <p><strong>Best Fan Support—</strong>Goodhue. Short trip. High likelihood of success.</p> <p> </p>