Players Who Could Swing a Postseason Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loads of teams who believe they have a chance to make a run in the postseason. There are teams with talented kids in every corner of the state. I want to talk about some more x-factors who could swing a game in the postseason in their team's favor and stay alive to play another game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374228' first='JJ' last='Barnes']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["374228"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more physically dominant guard in the region. I liked how well Barnes controlled the tempo and didn't force anything when she could have. Barnes does an excellent job of balancing her duties as an initiator and scorer, which is impressive for someone as talented as she is in D4. Last season, The Prairie School lost in sectionals to a team they'd already beaten twice, so if they advance further, expect a jump from Barnes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338951' first='Natalie' last='Mueller']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["338951"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't think Mueller has ever missed a shot right or left, and that's only sort of hyperbole. Last year, Homestead was extremley young, and they still are. However, all the 2025s now have some experience going through a season and got through some of the struggles. This 2025 group has changed the program already, winning an outright North Shore conference title for the first time in a long time. Mueller, on most teams, would be a leading scorer, handling the ball every time down the floor and all that jazz. However, that's not what she does as a Highlander, and that's ok. Teams will zone them up because not many groups have five kids who guard them straight up. When that happens, don't be surprised if Mueller has a ridiculous eight to eleven three-pointer game at some point because she's that good of a shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209609' first='Mya' last='Nicholson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["209609"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of elite shooters, Nicholson had a standout summer in her first summer playing for Purple Aces. Her shooting was the difference for her team in a few games I saw her play over the summer. Last season, she started slow, shooting the ball below her standards, but eventually figured it out. When good shooters get into a slump, they keep shooting, and everything panned out for her. This season if the Cougars are to advance deeper into the postseason, they'll likely have to beat defending D1 champs Kettle Moraine, and Nicholson's explosive nature on offense could be the key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448247' first='Megan' last='Johnson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["448247"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Johnson for the first time in Minnesota this summer, and there's a lot to like about the West Salem wing/forward. For one, having a forward who can confidently shoot from anywhere on the floor and scrap like crazy for every rebound makes a coaches life much easier. She's not someone who'll demand the ball, but she can do different things when the ball gets to her. Johnson isn't a kid most in Wisconsin will see much over the high school season, but she's a talented 2025 who'll have an improved sophomore year at West Salem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->