Intriguing Prospects: ADM vs. Ballard

In a matchup full of talent, the ADM Tigers met the Ballard Bombers on a Thursday night in front of impending winter storm Harper. Ballard, the home team, ended up being too much for ADM as they improved their record to 13-2 after an 47-32 win. ADM fell to 10-6 on the season. There were a ton of prospects in this one, and I detail the best that I saw below.

ADM

Emma Jacobsen – 5’7 W – 2019
**3 points**
Jacobsen struggled in this one as she got into a little bit of foul trouble early and then just never got going in the game. Got a few good looks from deep but didn’t really get much to go down. She did hit a really nice step back at the top of the key. Moves well without the ball looking for it and gets into good spots for her shot. Committed to Des Moines Area CC.

Abbie Hlas – 5’6 PG – 2020
**8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals**
Hlas was good in this one as she was able to get into the lane and draw contact quite a bit. Really solid defender who can poke the ball away and get into the passing lanes. I liked her ability to get into the defense and then have the ability to pass the ball out. Good athlete who is a very good softball player as well.

Delaney Bertman – 5’9 W – 2020
**8 points**
Bertman was a solid wing to have in the game for ADM. She’s pretty athletic and can really get the ball moving on offense. Doesn’t shoot it much at all from the outside but I think that she could a little bit more. Liked her toughness and her ability to cause havoc on defense.

Grace Hardcastle – 5’9 W – 2021
**3 rebounds, 2 blocks**
Another wing in a never ending team of wings. Hardcastle is just a sophomore but she has the ability to get get the job done on both ends. She is able to play lock down defense and has a really nice frame. Fairly athletic which allows her to play a dew different positions and be very versatile on the defensive end.

Ballard

Maggie Larson – 5’9 W – 2020
**4 points, 7 steals, 2 bocks**
Larson was tremendous on defense in this one as she is a really long wing who does really well in the pressure defense system that Ballard runs. Reads the ball really well and can get into the passing lanes. Packs a little bit of scoring but I think she could easily increase it by working on the outside shot. Really solid do-it-all junior.

Molly Ihle – 5’5 PG – 2021
**8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals**
Ihle was outstanding in this game even though she didn’t score a ton. Very good ball handler and can change direction with the ball on a dime. Great vision and throws crisp passes. She really sets up the offense really well and I really think she’ll be a high level contributor for the rest of her career. Moves without the ball really well and keeps good spacing within the offense.

Cassidy Thompson – 6’2 F – 2021
**9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks**
Thompson is a thin 6’2 post who is pretty mobile and skilled around the basket. Needs to add strength and a little bit of weight so that she can have the ability to post up. She can step out and shoot it from the perimeter which makes her a bit threat. Extremely good shot blocker who reads the driver well. Rebounds well because of her height.

Meg Reitz – 5’10 W – 2022
**4 points**
While she didn’t play a huge role in this one, Reitz was pretty solid. She’s a well built wing who is mobile and rather versatile. A huge motor and works for everything when she is in the game. She hounds the boards pretty tough and will come down with a few offensive rebounds a game. Reitz is going to get a lot better over the next few years as she gets up to speed with the high school game.

Brooke Loewe – 5’7 G – 2022
**10 points, 4 steals**
Really like Loewe’s game in this one. She can do a little bit of everything and is already pretty advanced for a freshman. She’s a long guard who I think in the long run will stay on the ball. Can handle it well and the vision is really good. Really solid shooter from deep already and you should believe her jumper will get better with time. Really good on ball defender who can pressure you the entire length of the floor.