Senior Standouts: Five Seniors Poised for Big Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2022-23 season in full swing, we dive into a few seniors who have already made their mark on girls' basketball in northeast Nebraska and across the state. Some familiar faces with a lot of experience, expect big things from these five seniors this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318749"],"_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":"Kingsbury is a lengthy and versatile wing who really understands the game of basketball. The six-foot forward has the ability to score the ball in an abundance of ways and has averaged double figures in each season for Ponca. One of the most skilled players in the 2023 class, she has all the big game experience being a part of three different state tournament teams. Kingsbury is a threat to knock down a three from anywhere, but really thrives going to the basket and displaying her length and athleticism. Kingsbury averages 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and over 2 steals per game in her career. Her averages may not pop off the page playing for a loaded Ponca team, but her playmaking ability, size and athletics, and basketball IQ make her a top recruit in the 2023 class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["318750"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":288324,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A tough, athletic big, [player_tooltip player_id='318750' first='Sam' last='Ehlers'] can be a matchup nightmare for opponents. Ehlers, who recently committed to Morningside, has been one of the most dominant post players in the state over the course of her career. Offensively, Ehlers is most comfortable in the mid-range with a knockdown jump shot. Her athleticism and length provide the ability to get easy buckets running the floor in transition and to go by defenders who must come out to defend her jump shot. As you can imagine her length and athletics pay dividends on defense, too, locking down post players with abilities to guard any of the five spots on the floor. Ehlers tenacity and strong motor, coupled with her developed skillset will make her a fun player to watch in her final year at Ponca and in future seasons at Morningside.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["276513"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another one of the premier post players in the state resides down the road in Wayne. 6'3 senior [player_tooltip player_id='276513' first='Brooklyn' last='Kruse'] has put together quite the career for the Lady Blue Devils. Scoring her 1,000th point last week against Wahoo, Kruse has averaged double figures in each of her first three seasons with career averages of 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. With her size and athleticism, Kruse has continued to draw more attention with frequent double teams. She has shown the ability to find open teammates and score through multiple defenders while stepping out and knocking down jump shots. As one of the lengthiest recruits in the class, parlayed with her skill, athleticism, and experience, Kruse has developed as one of the top uncommitted players in the class of 2023.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["298513"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='298513' first='Sadie' last='Nelson'] really saw her stock rise after last year's state tournament. As a junior, the 5'9 combo guard put up 19, 23, and 17 points in Oakland-Craig's three state tournament games. A prolific scorer over the course of her career, Nelson is a knockdown shooter with range from almost anywhere on the court. In her senior campaign, Nelson got things going last week with 17 points in a win over Clarkson-Leigh and 19 points in a win over Howells-Dodge. Nelson can do a lot of things for the star-studded Oakland-Craig team, but she thrives as a scorer. After averaging nearly 16 points per game in her sophomore and junior seasons, look for Nelson to have another big year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["278791"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='278791' first='Laney' last='Kathol'] is one of the all-around best athletes in the state. One of the top basketball prospects of the 2023 class, who also had Division I offers in track and field, committed to continuing her volleyball career at Wayne State. Kathol and the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans are fresh off a volleyball state championship and are hoping some of that success continues onto the hardwood this winter. Kathol's length gives opposing offenses fits, as she can be a lockdown defender against any position. On the offensive side, running the floor and getting easy buckets in transition is where Kathol thrives. Hartington Cedar Catholic and [player_tooltip player_id='278791' first='Laney' last='Kathol'] should be poised for another successful season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-639cd42bb1296"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->