Breakdown Tip Off: 10 MVPs of note

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every year at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, there are Player of the Game awards handed out after each of the 22 contests. We play a role in that selection process. Sometimes it's an easy choice, more often it's not. That's because so many players brought their A games to the court over the weekend at Hopkins High School. Of the 22 MVP selections, these are some we thought deserved a little more of your attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10 OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562005,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Tori-Schlagel-crop-3226x2118-1670386555.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562005" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] – I don't care where we're playing, who we're playing against or exactly what is at stake, if I'm coaching I want the sophomore guard from Eden Prairie on my team. After watching her for a couple of years now it appears as though there's nothing she cannot do. She's just gritty. And skilled. And super-competitive. Schlagel went 9-for-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three, to score 25 points in a 78-65 win over East Ridge. She was the best player on the floor by every measure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562007,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Cierra-Kortan-crop-3226x2118-1670386620.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562007" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='396423' first='Cierra' last='Kortan'] – Sauk Centre has a long history of producing skilled, savvy point guards who know how to run the show. That's one of the primary reasons why the Mainstreeters seem to make the trek to Minneapolis most springs to compete for state championships. Count Kortan in that group. The 2025 Top 50 prospect offers plenty of sandpaper to go along with great ball-handling skills, nice court vision and a great feel for the game. She led Sauk Centre to an impressive 55-49 win over Pine City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562009,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Sage-Ganyo-crop-3528x2317-1670386686.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562009" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='352774' first='Sage' last='Ganyo'] – The 2023 point guard from Mountain Iron-Buhl has been around for what seems like forever but we never grow tired of watching her bring it game after game. Ganyo is a warrior. She's got skill, speed and the ability to score. More importantly, though, she's got heart. Ganyo was huge against Hayfield, a state contender that was positively muzzled by the Rangers in a 79-33 defeat. Sage had 19 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562019,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Jessika-Lofstrom-crop-3690x2423-1670386860.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562019" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='302296' first='Jessika' last='Lofstrom'] – Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='108316' first='Taryn' last='Hamling'] draws most of the accolades at Grand Rapids and rightly so given that the North Dakota State commit is one of Minnesota's best. One player who cannot be overlooked, however, is Loftstrom. The 2024 wing is long and fluid and impactful at both ends of the floor. She scored 18 points in a 56-43 win over St. Peter at the Tip Off, the type of performance the scholarship-level prospect will need to provide consistently if the Thunderhawks are to excel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562021,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Brynn-Senden-crop-2384x1566-1670386914.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562021" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='108345' first='Brynn' last='Senden'] – Much is expected from Wayzata's senior point guard following the graduation of the incomparable <strong>Mara Braun</strong>, who is currently lighting up the sky at the University of Minnesota. The ball belongs to Brynn now and she is delivering in spades. Senden was impossibly good in the Trojans 69-56 win over a strong Bismarck Century squad. Her skill, speed, quickness and on-court savvy are special which is why she, too, will play for the Gophers one year from now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562023,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Alyssa-Sand-crop-3226x2118-1670386975.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562023" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='302297' first='Alyssa' last='Sand'] – We have really high expectations for the 2024 forward from Albany and she just keeps on meeting or exceeding all of them. No wonder we get messages and calls every week from Division 1 coaches asking our opinion of Sand's potential. I had two more today. She scored 18 points to lead the 2021 Class 2A state champions to a dominant win over Crosby-Ironton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562033,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Elise-Groppoli-crop-3454x2268-1670387052.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562033" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='396436' first='Elise' last='Groppoli'] – The sophomore point guard from Hill-Murray brings a ton of game to the table. She's quick and athletic and very, very crafty. We love her consistent intensity and the way she gets around the floor with pace and passion.  Yes, she's only about 5'3 but she plays a lot bigger. Elise gets to the rim consistently, can handle all the contact you want to bring, and finishes anyway. She led the Pioneers to a 64-35 win over Bloomington Kennedy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562035,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Bree-Bowman-crop-3432x2254-1670387108.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562035" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='296513' first='Bree' last='Bowman'] – The lengthy sophomore wing from Prior Lake is an elite prospect who is ranked in the Top 10 of the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025. Against Park Center at the Tip Off she looked very much like the Division 1 prospect that she is. Bowman scored 19 points to pace the Lakers to a 66-30 victory. She's long and smooth and skilled. We suspect this will be her breakout season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562045,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Ella-Kletti-crop-3550x2331-1670387186.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562045" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='304927' first='Ella' last='Kletti'] – The junior guard from Mahtomedi scored 20 points for the Zephyrs in their 59-55 win over Eastview and her team needed every one of them. Kletti does so much for Mahtomedi on both sides of the ball. She is one of the most tenacious players in the state – the Energizer Bunny personified – and the effort level pays off. Through three games Ella is averaging nearly 18 ppg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":562047,"width":400,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Jessica-Oberlander-crop-3226x2118-1670387250.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-562047" width="400" height="263" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='337626' first='Jessica' last='Oberlander'] – Things are starting to come together for the 2023 forward from Wayzata. At about 6'3 she's going to get every opportunity there is to prove she can play at the next level. We suspect she'll turn out to be a classic late bloomer. On Saturday against White Bear Lake, Oberlander went 7-for-9 from the field for 15 points. She's shot 69% from the field through Wayzata's first three games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->