PGH Byron’s: Top Stories Of The Week! (11/22-11/27)

The second week of girls basketball is all wrapped up! Tournaments were started and completed, Turkeys were cooked and calories were burnt! 

The Willowbrook Invitational was full of teams with elite scorers. Out of those scorers, Mia Moore Mia Moore 5'6" | PG Oswego | 2023 State IL out of East Aurora was ahead of the pack. In their third game of the 4-day tournament, The Ladycats defeated Plainfield East, 62-43. Moore went off for a heavy effort-based triple-double. 43 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 steals. Moore showed her ability to facilitate, rebound, defend and score in every game. She finished off the tournament averaging 26 points.

The senior guard from Lake Park showed out at the Hoffman Estate's tournament over the past week. Before taking home the title and an All-Tournament selection with a beatdown win over Wheeling (76-32)... Sara Balli Sara Balli 5'9" | CG Lake Park | 2022 State IL had herself a night as she broke the school’s single-game assists record.. with 15! She also added 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 steals. Her junior running mate Gabrielle Burgess Gabrielle Burgess 5'7" | PG Lake Park | 2023 State IL capped off her championship night with an outstanding stat line as well... 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. The duo guards have always been known to fill the stat line... they have the skillset to score and defend at a high level no matter the competition.

Brooke Carlson Brooke Carlson 5'8" | PG Batavia | 2024 State IL is a high-level combo guard who excels at playmaking, defending, and facilitating for her Batavia ball club, but when needed... Carlson can put the ball in the bucket and this past week she did just that. On Day 2 of the Thanksgiving Tournament, Carlson had another 30+ point game for the season, as she left the floor with an exceptional stat line. 31 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks with a win over East St Louis. The sophomore standout also added an All-Tournament selection to a list of accolades that will continue to grow.

The day before Thanksgiving was something to remember for Lauren Miller Lauren Miller 5'10" | SF Trinity | 2024 State IL . The forward from Trinity went to work from the floor and in the paint. Lauren ended the night with 25 points and 15 boards! A double-double that just screams EFFORT. Since the beginning of their season, Lauren has had multiple games with doubles-doubles or games where she just wipes the board with rebounds. . A coach of Lauren’s explained her game in a couple of words... "Rugged, grinder & a dirty worker, She’s just a grinder who is tough." After 4 games, Lauren is averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds. The sophomore is separating herself by the day.

Jayla Dixon Jayla Dixon 6'0" | PF Crete-Monee | 2022 State IL is a problem in the post. The stretch post out of Crete Monee notched her 3rd double-double of the season and first win this past weekend against Oswego. Capping the night off with 17 Points, 16 rebounds and 3 steals to go with it. Jayla’s rebounding technique is immaculate. She gets great position as the ball goes up. Quick turn, body bump and she’s crashing the board. She’s disciplined enough to not ball watch, and just immediately find a body. Offensively, under and around the rim is money for her. She gets to her spot and just simply goes to work. Dixon’s strong play on Saturday led to a blowout 32 point win, this type of momentum is sure to turn things around, as the Warriors charge into week three, 1-4.