10 Best: Dike-New Hartford vs. Van Meter
Dike-New Hartford came into the game 18-2 this season and Van Meter stood at 18-4, so we knew this was going to be a battle. The story of the game early on was the press of Dike-New Hartford as they…
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Continue ReadingDike-New Hartford came into the game 18-2 this season and Van Meter stood at 18-4, so we knew this was going to be a battle. The story of the game early on was the press of Dike-New Hartford as they forced 13 first half turnovers while only having two of their own in the first half. Van Meter couldn’t get shots to fall and they were barely even hitting rim on most. My 10 Best from the Class 2A, Region 7 semi-final is below.
MVP: Morgan Weber (Dike-New Hartford)
Weber was all over the place in this game. While she didn’t score a ton of points, she was so effective. Weber had 11 points in the game but also pulled down 15 rebounds. She is such a smart player and really helped Dike-New Hartford set the tone. High basketball IQ allowed her to do a lot of different things as well as pass the ball well and get her hands on it.
Best Offensive Player: Ellie Foster (Dike-New Hartford)
Foster really put the game away in the second half. She drained a couple 3-pointers in a row, one of which was on a nasty step back. She scored 22 points in the game and was really the player that won it on the offensive end for Dike-New Hartford. Clutch shooter who made baskets when they needed them.
Best Defensive Player: Taylor Kvale (Dike-New Hartford)
I really never thought that I would put a 5’3 freshman guard down as the best defender, and Kvale looked more like 5′, but she earned it. Coming off the bench, she grabbed a ton of steals. Kvale is a hustler and goes all out on every single play. She got her hands on the ball multiple times and that led to five steals. A tremendous hustle player, she was great on defense.
Best Passer: Natalie Barth (Van Meter)
Barth is a 5’11 post who is pretty thin but when she is in the mid-post, she is really good going to the basket. Her passing ability sets her apart because it seems like she can find the open man in the corner all day long. She dished out three assists, but if her teammates were hitting shots it could have been much more.
Best Rebounder: Morgan Weber (Dike-New Hartford)
Like I said earlier, Weber set the tone on the boards. She was tough all night long and even had a few offensive rebounds that extended possessions and led to second chance points. She’s a strong post presence with the ability to rack up rebounds all night long. Great frame with her skillset.
Best Shooter: Ellie Foster (Dike-New Hartford)
Foster really put the game away for Dike-New Hartford. She made a string of 3-pointers in the second half which really put Dike-New Hartford up and out of reach for the most part. She is a really good shooter from the outside and was feeling it. Hit four 3-pointers in the game.
Best Under-the-Radar Player: Clair Lauterbach (Van Meter)
Lauterbach kept Van Meter in it while she made four 3-pointers of her own. She has a really nice shot from the outside and hit her shots at the key times in the game. A thin guard, I think that her game and shooting will translate to the next level because of her quick release. She also had a few steals in the game.
Best College Prospect: Natalie Barth (Van Meter)
Barth is a thin post, but is fairly skilled with good vision. She can put it on the floor and get to the basket. Not a good shooter, but can make it inside of 10 feet. Those 15-footers are shots that she’s going to have to start making if she wants to get to the next level, which I think she can.
Best Underclassman: Sophia Hoffman (Dike-New Hartford)
Hoffman was a freshman that came off the bench and really impressed me. She didn’t do a ton in the game but looked solid when she was in. Scored four points and added an assist and steal. Really solid wing and should add skill as she gets older.