Players to Watch: Missouri River
In the 2021-22 season, Bishop Heelan won the Missouri River conference with a 13-1 record in conference play. However, Sargeant Bluff-Luton was 12-3 and won 20 games last season. With plenty of talented kids returning this season, there should be…
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Continue ReadingIn the 2021-22 season, Bishop Heelan won the Missouri River conference with a 13-1 record in conference play. However, Sargeant Bluff-Luton was 12-3 and won 20 games last season. With plenty of talented kids returning this season, there should be competition at the top of the conference throughout the season.
Payton Hardy
The 5-foot-11 rising senior led the conference in points per game this season. Hardy is a matchup nightmare for teams due to her skill and length. It can be a guard or forward. Hardy finds ways to get to the rim and score at will. The pressure she puts on defenses is real. The wing also rebounds her position well, grabbing over eight rebounds per game last season. She’s an excellent athlete that affects the game in multiple fashions when she’s on the court.
Brooklyn Stanley Brooklyn Stanley 5'8" | PG Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA
The then-sophomore led the conference-champion Crusaders with 14 points per game last season. Stanley scored the ball at a high level and created a lot of turnovers defensively. The Crusader shot 45/43/68 as a sophomore and showed she’s a game-changer on that end of the floor. Anybody who shoots 43% from the 3-point line can break a game open in a few possessions. Stanley also displayed her high-end defense last season. Her nearly four steals per contest create transition opportunities for her team and deny a shot for her opposition.
Kennedy Meis
The rising senior played a leading role on last season’s conference championship team. Meis finished the season as the fifth-leading scorer in the Missouri River Conference, scoring 12 points per game. Meis was part of the elite 4A duo with Brooklyn Stanley Brooklyn Stanley 5'8" | PG Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA that made it to the 4A State Title game last season at the Wells Fargo Center. Meis is a do-it-all 5-foot-9 wing who excels on both ends of the floor. She scored consistently on the offensive end and defended at a high level on the perimeter. I would not be surprised to see the Crusaders back at state next season.
Alex Flattery
The left-handed wing from Sioux City East is a player who thrives in a system that maximizes her athleticism. She creates live ball turnovers and uses her quickness to score in the half-court and transition. Although the sophomore wasn’t on one of the top two teams in the conference, she showed she was one of the best players in the Missouri River Conference. Her ability to play up-tempo will come in handy in multiple games this season.