Recently Seen Class 2A & 3A Upperclassmen

Thanks to streaming video I had the opportunity to watch several games. Two involved teams in the 2A and 3A classifications.  Enjoy this look at a bunch of upperclassmen I watched.  Expect one to follow reporting on class of 2023 and 2024 players. <span style="font-size: 14pt;">2021</span> [caption id="attachment_239622" align="alignleft" width="155"]<img class=" wp-image-239622" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Haven-2021-Carlee-Arnold-v-SE-Saline-March-2020-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="155" height="155" /> Haven 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="121778" first="Carlee" last="Arnold"] on the finish during a March 2020 playoff game against SE of Saline. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="121778" first="Carlee" last="Arnold"]<strong>, 5’4", PG, Haven</strong> - The solidly built Arnold sets great screens and makes quick, catchable entry passes with a talent for laying in the bounce pass to back cutting teammates and hitting her posts on the opposite block.  She has solid three point range, jump shooting capability, and good controlled handles. <strong>Brooke Brawner, 5’7", CG, Haven</strong> - Brawner is lanky, boxes well, and is arguable the Wildcats' best three point shooter.  I would like to see her improve her passing versus half court pressure. [player_tooltip player_id="160925" first="Porsche" last="Cooper"]<strong>, 6’0", C, Beloi</strong>t - Honorable mention all-league a year ago, the strong and lengthy Cooper has the potential to win first-team selection.  She drop steps well, can score in the mid-range, and her five blocks against Ellsworth highlight her ability in that department to go with the double-double she had opening night (12 points, 10 rebounds). I would like to see her elevate more at all times, diversify her post game repertoire, and improve her calling-for-the-ball where she wants the ball so that the younger and inexperienced players she is surrounded by can improve their entry pass targeting. <strong>Reagan Eilert, 5’5", PG, Beloit</strong> - Eilert dribbles with pace in transition well and has three point range.  It was game one of the season, a loss to winless Ellsworth that already had four games under its belt, but once she gets her feet under her expect her off-the-bounce game to improve and her perimeter accuracy to increase. [caption id="attachment_239617" align="alignleft" width="151"]<img class=" wp-image-239617" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/MaGuire-Estill-Haven-2021-v-Southeast-of-Saline-at-Halstead-Mr-2020-280x300.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="162" /> Haven 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123484" first="Maguire" last="Estill"] shoots a jumper against Southeast of Saline, March 2020. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="123484" first="Maguire" last="Estill"]<strong>, 6’0", C, Haven</strong> - Should Estill decide playing college softball at University of Arkansas Monticello is not for her there should be plenty of basketball teams that would be happy to have her.  An absolute house, Estill’s size; athleticism; and length would be a nightmare all season long for opponents even if she was not a good passer, mid-range shooter, and scorer.  But she can  do those things as well as work well in the high-low game. [player_tooltip player_id="125004" first="Reese" last="Roper"]<strong>, 5’6", PG, Haven</strong> - Roper is athletic on the catch and reverse lay-in, can score in transition, and hit a 40 foot three to end the third quarter against Sterling. Quick of hand, she also picked Sterling’s [player_tooltip player_id="125008" first="Makenna" last="Linden"] one-on-one in the mid-court and then went at her to score using the glass on the left side of the rim. <strong>Sierra Shamberg, 5’4", PG, Beloit</strong> - Hands down the team’s best shooter who takes good shots on the perimeter and in the mid-range. Would like her to improve her hops on her shot and in the rebounding department. <span style="font-size: 14pt;">2022</span> [caption id="attachment_239604" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-239604" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Sterling-players-Sadie-Beagley-2022-and-Kayla-Morris-2021-275x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="164" /> Sterling 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="158592" first="Sadie" last="Beagley"], left, and 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123503" first="Kayla" last="Morris"], right, await play to resume in this shot from December 2019. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="158592" first="Sadie" last="Beagley"]<strong>, 5’8", PF, Sterling</strong> - Beagley is a solidly built, strong power forward who knows how to play the position.  I have been watching her for the better part of three seasons plus summers and she is one of the most capable power forwards you will see due to that understanding.  She can score over bigger defenders but lacks quickness to defend quicker posts in the mid-range who can put the ball on the floor.  A lot to handle, opponents better count their blessings that she is not 2-3 inches taller because it would be hard for her not to average 15 and 10 night-in, night-out. [caption id="attachment_239612" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-239612" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Kali-Briar-2022-Sterling-261x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="172" /> Sterling 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="124974" first="Kali" last="Briar"] from December 2019. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="124974" first="Kali" last="Briar"]<strong>, 5’6", PG, Sterling</strong> - Briar runs well and has as strong a defensive presence as she does offensive.  A run-the-show type of point guard, she spaces well, has strong handles, passes well, and can light up from three.  Not enough?  Briar has catch and shoot ability from the mid-range and perimeter.  She recently had six assists in a win over a good Haven squad. <strong>Lacey Farney, 5’1", PG/SG, Sterling</strong> - A aggressive full court defender, Farney commonly can be found drawing her opponent’s point guard.  She also creates well, using a good head back to blow by defenders. [caption id="attachment_239613" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-239613" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Bennie-Horsch-2022-Sterling-Ginna-Vos-2023-Hugoton-300x274.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="137" /> Sterling 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="125016" first="Bennie" last="Horsch"], #14, anticipates a rebound in this December 2019 match up with Hugoton. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="125016" first="Bennie" last="Horsch"]<strong>, 5’10", SF, Sterling</strong> - Needs to play stronger and more physical around the rim including when using a power dribble to set herself up.  Needs to elevate better inside. Is very long and athletic.  Helps well on defenders and back cuts and recovers.  Good rebounder, especially on the offensive end.  Good free throw shooter. Needs to improve as a perimeter shooting threat. [player_tooltip player_id="125008" first="Makenna" last="Linden"]<strong>, 5’4", PG/SG, Sterling</strong> - Linden creates well off the dribble, hustles and handles well in transition, uses the bounce to drop dimes to perimeter shooters, and passes well to wing cutters.  She also has three point range. <strong>Natalie Rolfs, 5’4", PG, Ellsworth</strong> - Rolfs is savvy enough to dribble out of trouble on the block and will challenge the ball on the perimeter by being nearly in her opponents shoes.  Rolfs has solid handles and quick hands.  She is a three point threat and a good free throw shooter.  Clearly a team leader even if she was not one of only four non-freshmen playing for Ellsworth this season that also does not have a senior suiting up. <strong>Tatem Tietjens-Peters, 5’6", CG, Beloit</strong> - Tieges-Peters is a good mid-range shooter who should improve her three point accuracy as the season moves along. She has quick hands and solid rebounding ability. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;