Prospect Spotlight: Sasha Koenig (2021)

<span style="font-weight: 400">After winning 17 games a season ago, West Branch will head into this season without graduated star guard Tatum Koenig. But little sister <strong>Sasha Koenig</strong> is there to take the reins.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Sasha, a sophomore, is poised to take huge strides this season for the Bears, and it’s her ability  to score and make her teammates better that will have West Branch in the win column again more often than not. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I’d say my strengths are I can create a shot for myself as well as my teammates. I’m also a diverse player, I love to drive but have been working on my pull-up so that I can score from all three levels,” said Koenig. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I also love defense, and the energy it creates, which rubs off on my teammates. I also have good awareness and can make the right reads.” </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Sasha, Iowa's 17th-ranked 2021, spent her spring and summer playing with one of Iowa’s premier club programs, Martin Brothers 15U. She says it was one of her best seasons of grassroots ball</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I’d say definitely my ball-handling has improved as well as being able to handle pressure. My overall physical strength has also improved, which is helpful with my shot-consistency and being able to create a shot,” said Sasha, who also mentioned on-ball defense and leadership improved this winter. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Although Tatum -- who averaged 21.2 points per game last season -- is gone, Sasha will now take the reins. And will model her game after her older sister, who is also her best friend.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“She is truly an amazing player and taught me so much about the game, including how to make myself and the others around me better,” said Sasha.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">And it’s making her teammates better that will be an emphasis for Sasha this winter. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“My role as the point guard is going to be to make all my teammates better. This means that not only do I have to do my part in scoring the ball, but also need to get the ball to where it needs to be. We have weapons at the post and guard spots,” said Sasha. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“One of my goals is to lead West Branch to a top finish in our conference and build off last year’s season. And I’d like to continue and improve everyday.”</span>