Breakdown Girls Tip Off: Top Point Guards

Back in the day, point guards were consider pass-first players, not always looking to score but looking to get their teammates opportunities. Nowadays, the point guard is typically the highest scorer, with the ball being in their hands the majority of the time. The second section of this Breakdown Tip Off recap is all about the point guards. Most consider this position as the leader of the team, and an extension of the coach on the floor. They have the hard task of doing the majority of the ball-handling and facilitating the team on offense. Good point guards increase team efficiency, have a high IQ and can see plays happening before they occur. These girls are the definition of what a great point guard entails. <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="57914" first="Ronnie" last="Porter"] - Como Park, 2022</span></strong></p> The unsigned senior was phenomenal on Saturday, playing in her first Breakdown tournament. The 5'2 point guard leads by example both on and off the court, doing just that against DeLaSalle. After starting off the season slow, she was ready to make a statement and find her rhythm. Porter used her speed to get to the hoop and also shot the ball well with confidence. She scored 14 points in the first half and again in the second, ending the game with 28 points. With the game on the line, P<span style="font-size: 1rem;">orter put the team on her back and scored in four </span>straight<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> </span>possessions<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> to give her team the win. It is most likely we will see Como Park and DeLaSalle in the section tournament, so it was nice to see an early preview.</span> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="108299" first="Tessa" last="Johnson"] - St. Michael Albertville, 2023</b></span></p> Johnson proved why she is the top prospect in the class of 2023 when she played Stillwater on Saturday. She showed this by making big play after big play to keep her team afloat in the game. The 5'11 point guard is long and athletic and showed in many ways she can score the ball. While down, Johnson scored seven straight points and then took a charge to change the pace of the game. Even though her team came up short she put up a hard-fought 29 points. <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="57928" first="Amber" last="Scalia"] - Stillwater, 2022</span></strong></p> Scalia was the definition of clutch on Saturday, like her older sister who we've seen hit some big time shots for the University of Minnesota this year. In a tough game against STMA, the point guard put her team on her back and and helped clinch the win. As the two teams went back and forth, the 5'9 point guard hit big shot after big shot. Twice STMA came with in three and twice Scalia hit a three pointer to extend the lead to six. Maybe one of the most important games for her as she scored her 1,000th point on a three-point dagger, hitting 7 total in the game and finishing with 31 points and a huge win. <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="12727" first="Kiani" last="Lockett"] - Minnetonka, 2022</span></strong></p> The 5'9 senior point guard plays a smooth game. Now in her second year at Minnetonka, she looks very comfortable and poised leading the team. At the Breakdown tournament Lockett showed all her moves, whether she was hitting from beyond the arc, attacking the hoop one one-on-one or dropping a dime to one of her teammates, putting up a total of 32 points in the two games. She is the type of player that makes it look so effortless, but that comes from putting in a lot of extra work in the gym. In a short period of time the point guard has gotten really good at her change of speed and direction when the ball is in her hands. She is one of the best read-and-react guards in the state. <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="109126" first="Dorothy" last="Stotts"] - Edina, 2022</span></strong></p> Stotts has always been a top prospect, who just gets the game of basketball. This year being her last, the senior point guard is looking to be the go-to person on the team, and put up big numbers. At 5'8 and a nice frame, Stotts used her body and strength to get to the hoop and score against Centennial. Struggling in the first half, the point guard was able to change her mindset and score all of her 17 points in the second half, to help her team come back and win the game.