7 standouts at the Rochester Hoops Challenge

Grant McGinnis January 11, 2022 @ 11:33 AM

Big names tend to come through in big games don’t they? That was certainly the case on Saturday at the Breakdown USA Rochester Hoops Challenge. The event featured six games at three venues – Rochester Mayo, Byron and Kasson-Mantorville. Since teleporting is only a fantasy, and the Hyperloop is a couple of billion dollars away from reality, the logistics dictated that we could only see three games in two locations. What incredible games they were!

We watched Como Park knock off the #1-ranked Austin in a nailbiter. Then it was a one-point win for Caledonia over Lake City. A quick dash back from Bryon to Kasson and we arrived in time to see St. Peter top Stewartville on a three-pointer in the waning seconds of a terrific battle. Honestly, these three encounters could not have been more entertaining. Not surprisingly it was the big dogs who delivered. These are Saturday’s Top 7 Standouts.

Ronnie Porter Ronnie Porter 5'2" | CG Como Park | 2022 State MN – 2022 guard, Como Park

At #16, Ronnie is the only unsigned player in the top 35 of the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022 rankings. We all know why, but the tiny guard simply defies physics. Bigger isn’t always better! On Saturday Porter took over the game down the stretch to lead her team to victory. Ronnie had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Twenty of those points came in the second half and included making 8 of 9 free throws in the final few minutes. Porter gets the nod as Player of the Day.

Alexis Schroeder Alexis Schroeder 5'5" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Caledonia

Smooth-as-silk guard Ava Privet Ava Privet 5'10" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN draws most of the headlines in Caledonia. All Alexis does is deliver the goods game after game. On Saturday the 5’5 junior was everywhere, utilizing her speed and skill and moxie to evade very active defenders from a very strong Lake City squad. Schroeder is a terrific shooter and ball-handler, loves to play fast, and is tough as nails. She finished with 14 points in a 47-46 win.

Rhyan Holmgren Rhyan Holmgren 5'9" | SG St. Peter | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, St. Peter

Rhyan was the highest-ranked prospect we watched on the weekend, and the #11-rated sophomore played like it. Upon seeing Holmgren for the first time as an 8th grader it was her athleticism that captured our attention, but her skills needed a ton of work. After two years of self-investment the results are stellar. On Saturday the 5’9 guard scored 25 points and went 12-for-15 at the free throw line.

Annika Southworth Annika Southworth 5'8" | PG St. Peter | 2025 State MN – 2025 guard, St. Peter

We told you all about Annika’s freshman season and St. Peter’s team success last week. On Saturday the 9th grade point guard delivered again. After making a single three-point basket in the first half, Southworth caught fire in the second nailing four more triples including the game’s most crucial basket with 18 seconds left. She followed that with two free throws at the 6-second mark to seal a 66-63 victory.

Hope Dudycha Hope Dudycha 5'6" | CG Austin | 2022 State MN – 2022 guard, Austin

We were suitably impressed with Austin’s Olivia Walsh Olivia Walsh 5'10" | CG Austin | 2023 State MN on Saturday (more on that tomorrow) but in the end it always seems to be Hope who drives the Packers’ bus. She is an elite distributor with nice court vision and sense of timing. She’s calm under fire and isn’t afraid of the big moment. She is also a high-end shooter who made four triples against Como Park, scoring 26 points in all. It’s not difficult to see why the Packers entered the weekend undefeated.

Natalie Bremer Natalie Bremer 5'11" | CG Lake City | 2022 State MN – 2022 guard, Lake City (MSU-Mankato)

Lake City got off to a really slow start on Saturday, falling behind by 10 in the first three minutes of their encounter with Caledonia. After a quick timeout to get reset, Natalie did what Natalie does, scoring three or four baskets in a row to put her team right back in the hunt. After that it was a dog fight. Bremer is such a handful for opponents to guard. The 6-footer is everywhere, and the effort level is top drawer.

Kaylynn Asberry Kaylynn Asberry 5'5" | PG Como Park | 2022 State MN – 2022 guard, Como Park (Saint Peter’s)

While Porter is the high-flying circus performer who draws most of the attention, KK is the cerebral backbone of the Como Park attack. She’s just subtle. And efficient. And smart. And highly skilled. That’s why she has a Division 1 roster spot next season at Saint Peters University in New Jersey. Asberry executed a ton of big plays for the Cougars on Saturday and made her post players look really, really good. Isn’t that what point guards are supposed to do?