Class A State Tournament: X-Factors
The Class A State Tournament starts up Thursday. A good chunk of the players that will be on all-state teams when postseason awards are announced are in attendance and on the biggest stage, those big-name players have a lot on…
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Continue ReadingThe Class A State Tournament starts up Thursday. A good chunk of the players that will be on all-state teams when postseason awards are announced are in attendance and on the biggest stage, those big-name players have a lot on their plate. But who are some lesser-known players who will play roles in potentially shifting the balance?
Here are some of the X-Factors:
Chloe Markovic, Bismarck Century
Markovic is maybe fifth or sixth in the pecking order offensively for the Patriots, but her ability to orchestrate the offense, make good decisions and make plays for her teammates allows her to be highly impactful. She’s reliable with the ball and has proven she can make shots when opportunities arise. With teams heavily scouting and likely trying to drum up ways to slow down the Patriots’ go-to players, Markovic could be a player who changes the game.
Ava Wild, Fargo Davies
Fargo Davies has a dominant duo in Ryleigh Wacha and Taylor Fey but Wild helps them form a monster frontcourt. The 6-foot sophomore center averaged about 10 points and eight rebounds while supplying excellent interior defense. The game is going to inevitably slow down at the state tournament, and defense is going to be at a premium. The teams that control the game in the paint and on the glass are usually the ones that do well.
Olivia Manuel, Fargo Shanley
The Deacons have plenty of ‘star power’ with Reile Payne, Moriku Hakim and Hadley Huber. But Manuel is someone who has shown the ability to bend a game in spurts with her shooting. She’s going to have opportunities to make plays this weekend because teams are going to do everything they can to limit those three high-enders.
Piper Harris, Mandan
Mandan leans heavily on Lakyn Darras and Sydney Gustavsson but a player who impacts the game in a lot of ways is sophomore guard Piper Harris. She’s a solid 3-point shooter, a capable facilitator and provides good energy on defense. The Braves are going to hope to get about 30 points from the complementary players and Harris is one who could benefit from extra room to work.
Alex Page, Grand Forks Red River
The Roughriders have excellent balance on the perimeter around Shelby Frank inside and the player who is capable of taking over stretches of a game is Page. The junior guard does a lot of things well. She can score from the perimeter, she can make plays and she’s a solid multi-position defender.