Players and Takeaways of Valley Heights at Minneapolis

A short couple of days ago the undefeated Mustangs of Valley Heights, despite leading start to finish, could not quite put away the two win Minneapolis Lions in a 37-27 victory.  While they committed 21 turnovers of their own, Minneapolis forced 22 turnovers including by 17 steals.  There were several players who made an argument for being on the radar. <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2021s</span></h2> [player_tooltip player_id="256444" first="Courtney" last="Forte"], 5’9", 2021, SF, Minneapolis - Forte e<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:’Verdana’;font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">levates well on rebounds and takes care of the ball in the back court. Good interior looks on offense. Is long enough to deny inside and has solid transition speed. Did not shoot well from the line and turned the ball over a half dozen times but had 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. </span> Madysen Lang, 5’8", 2021, SF, Minneapolis - Lang has good hands and transition speed.  She also has a solid build.  She worked well out of the short corner and moved well to open spots.  She picked up <span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:’Verdana’;font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">4 pts and 2 steals. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="256723" first="Paeton" last="Smith"], 5’5", 2021, SG, Minneapolis - Smith showed quick hands and feet as well as the ability to beat defenders off the dribble.  She had 7 points and 4 steals. [player_tooltip player_id="123490" first="Emma" last="Toerber"], 5’10", PF, Valley Heights - The University of St. Mary (ND) volleyball commit showed a lot of ability on the hard woods as well.  While she had difficulty keeping Minneapolis’ quick guards in front of her in transition she showed the ability to score out of her back-to-basket game and from beyond the arc. While she had several turnovers she showed shot blocking and quality passing abilities. Toerber knocked down a three on the way to scoring 11 points but had 4 turnovers. <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2022s</span></h2> [player_tooltip player_id="260018" first="Cameron" last="Cleveland"], 5’5", 2022, PG, Minneapolis - While having 7 turnovers typically indicates not having a good game Cleveland actually did.  She showed s<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:’Verdana’;font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">olid handles including consistently good use of a behind-the-back dribble.  But repeatedly pushing off with her off hand caused her drawing three charging calls against her.  She has quick hands, athleticism, and transition speed but had difficulty defending Cat Toerber’s work off the dribble.  Cleveland made a three, dished out a couple assists, and picked up 3 steals.  Would like to see her get to the rim more after beating a defender off the bounce. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="94008" first="Catherine" last="Toerber"], 5’6", PG, Valley Heights - Toerber showed some good handles with the ability to get the ball up the floor off with the pass.  A quarterback style in the half court.  Good length and hand speed, showed ability rebounding on the defensive end.  Late in fourth quarter had success playing in the high post with Vermetten running the point. Toerber finished with 10 points including 2 three point baskets, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals but had 8 turnovers. [player_tooltip player_id="124986" first="Maddy" last="Vermetten"], 5’10", PF, Valley Heights - Vermetten has good size, length, and athleticism that were put to do use off the bounce.  She showed good handles against full court pressure when moved to the point in the latter half of the fourth quarter.  Makes quick, catchable passes.  Effective scorer around the rim and within 15’.  Vermetten ended with 10 points as well. [player_tooltip player_id="93995" first="Emma" last="Yungeberg"], 6’0", PF/C, Valley Heights - Yungeberg has good size for her height and showed speed and athleticism.  She did a solid job of clearing the ball off of rebounds to get the ball down the floor.  Has solid transition speed and passing ability to hit moving teammates and gathered 4 assists.  Yungeberg had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals as well. <h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2023s</span></h3> Alayna Cosaart, 5’7", 2023, PG, Minneapolis - Cosaart showed herself to be one of top ball handlers for the Lions.  She showed 20’ three point range, quick hands and feet, and good free throw shooting ability.  She gathered 3 steals and an assist. <h4><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2024s</span></h4> Delana Murk, 5’8", W, 2024, Valley Heights - Murk has a solid build and showed strength in gathering a half dozen rebounds as well as quick hands.  She also ran well in transition and has solid handles. Maggie Shupe, 5’8", 2024, SF/PF, Minneapolis - Shupe had a strong performance battling the Mustang bigs.  She defended solidly and fundamentally and showed the ability to go <span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:’Verdana’;font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">go end-to-end off the rebound.  Scoring 2 points with 4 turnovers she also had 4 steals, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. </span> Maggie Toerber, 5’9", CG, 2024, Valley Heights - Toerber showed energy, quickness, and transition speed.  She showed flashes of handles with speed and half court control to back up her sister at point guard.