A Kansas Class 3A Day 1 All-State Tournament Team

After enjoyed Thursday’s opening round games I present my Class 3A Day 1 All-Tournament Team.  Players are listed in the order of the games watched. <strong>MaKenzie McDaniel</strong>, 6’0", C, Silver Lake, 2024 - McDaniel had a near class 3A record breaking game with 34 points, 16 field goals, and pulled down 16 rebounds.  McDaniel’s size and ability to put together post moves are good. She also has good length and transitioned well. <strong>Jenny Bunyard</strong>, 5’6", CG, Cherryvale, 2023 - The solidly built Bunyard showed headiness in transition, the ability to finish through contact, and used her frame and quickness well defending. <strong>Haley Biermann</strong>, 5’5", PG, Goodland, 2024 - Biermann played the most minutes on the team in their first round game. Her tremendous lateral quickness and defensive anticipation consistently found her closing out with speed and balance on shooters on ball swings around the perimeter. She was a stabilizing force running the point and nailed a pair of three point shots on six attempts and went 2/2 from the line. Her consistently quick, soft entry passes fed the late post game that powered the Cowgirls late. [player_tooltip player_id="124981" first="Karsyn" last="Schlesener"], 5’7", PG/SG, Southeast of Saline, 2022 - While the Trojans succummed to a big Goodland fourth quarter rally, a late steal gave her team a chance with just seconds remaining.  She led all scorers in the game with 18 points on 60% shooting including 3/7 from beyond the arc.  She also generated 3 assists and that big steal while only turning the ball over twice.  Her leadership, scoring ability, speed, and quickness were evident throughout. [player_tooltip player_id="124975" first="Kieryn" last="Ontjes"], 5’4", PG, Nickerson, 2022 - Despite four turnovers Ontjes’s poise handling the ball amongst constant pressure, especially against a furious Frontenac rally, was a difference maker in the outcome. Very fast with the ball also generated a couple steals.  Her impact on the outcome does not show up in game statistics. [player_tooltip player_id="94960" first="Ava" last="Jones"], 6’2", C, Nickerson, 2023 - Very little came easy for Jones thanks to the defense of Frontenac guard [player_tooltip player_id="191489" first="Hattie" last="Pyle"].  Jones finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out with just over 2 minutes to go in the game but what stood out was how little she forced things, playing within the offense and especially Nickerson zone schemes.  Those schemes fed into her ability to clean up the defensive glass despite the Raiders registering 21 offensive rebounds on less than 24% shooting for the game.  Her unselfishness also registered in her picking up 4 assists. [player_tooltip player_id="191489" first="Hattie" last="Pyle"], CG, Frontenac, 2023 - Pyle’s play would make a case for MVP if I was awarding it. She not only drew the assignment of defending Nickerson center [player_tooltip player_id="94960" first="Ava" last="Jones"] but she did an impressive job impeding Jones’s movement and not giving much up easily.  Her ability to anticipate where the ball was going to go before it got there repeatedly enabled her to gain defensive position a pass before Jones would get an entry pass look.  She also snuck up on her on a sideline out-of-bounds play to draw Jones’ final foul that poured fuel on the Raider rally fire.  She finished with 14 points, 10 boards, 5 steals, 3 assists, and 5 turnovers.  In general she was all over the floor and played with great energy. [player_tooltip player_id="94974" first="Gianna" last="Vos"], 5’9", SG, Hugoton, 2023 - Playing all 32 minutes, Vos loosed up the Charger defense with her perimeter shooting, which then enabled her to blow the doors off defenders who came out to defend, getting to the hole with ease and often getting fouled.  She shot just over 50% from the field and canned 7/8 free throws, getting several three point plays.  She also defended well, helping to limit Charger shots. [player_tooltip player_id="127287" first="Summya" last="Adigun"], 5’9", SF/PF, Hugoton, 2023 - Adigun was huge on the glass, pulling down 5 offensive boards of her total of 14.  Most were among a group vying for the rebound but her strength, elevation, and positioning gave her the edge. <strong>Braegan Buessing</strong>, 5’3", PG, Santa Fe Trail, 2024 - Playing all 32 minutes Buessing had a good scoring game in shooting 66% from the field, including 1/2 from three, a perfect 4/4 from the line, for a team high 13 points.  She also gathered a steal while only giving up a single turnover.  She elevated well off the drive and showed good speed in transition. <em>Featured image: Goodland 2024 Haley Biermann. Photo: Robert Kelly.</em> &nbsp;