2023 State Tournament: Helping Their Teams To Victory

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603369"],"_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_tooltip player_id='603369' first='Jessie' last='Clemmons'] maybe the player that stepped up the most when things got the toughest this past week. Clemmons, a nice sized combo guard, shinned when the lights were the brightest for her Pleasant Valley Spartans teams. In their 5A battle for the title with the Johnston Dragon it was a game that was a back and forth contest, each team making shot after shot or stop after stop so when I say that Clemmons was the final u0022xu0022 factor in this one, I mean it as she was the deciding factor to as who was going to win this game. She hit big shot after big shot once her teammates were getting stopped on the offensive side of the floor. She played in control and made some tough baskets as the game continued on. In the distant future when you look back at the undefeated season for the Spartans and ending it with their schools first team title, you'll mention Clemmons and how well she played to help bring a title back home to Pleasant Valley.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["311377"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Heart. Determination. Competitive. All of these words can be used to describe how [player_tooltip player_id='311377' first='Mya' last='Crawford'] plays the game of basketball when she steps on the court and that was on full display this past week. Crawford and the Ankeny Centennial Jaguars had, what would have been, the toughest road to win the 5A state title. In round 1 they faced off and beat a loaded Waterloo West team, who was ranked by several media outlets as one of the best high school teams in the country at one point this season, behind the play of Crawford, Kennedy White, and [player_tooltip player_id='311360' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt']. In round two they fell just short to the Johnston Dragons after an intense battle on the floor, 42-35. Crawford's gameplay and style speaks for itself. She is a hard-working guard with a nice handle and good patients near the rim. When she gets close to the hoop she tends to plays off of two feet while giving a series of pass fakes or pump fakes before eventually scoring a layup over her defender. A move in which she pulled off a few times this past week leading to a positive result for herself. Crawford had some D1 interest coming into this season and that has only grown. She is a ranked guard in this state and for good reason. She will do what is asked of her at the next level while bringing a lot of heart, passion, and skill. As a coach there isn't much more you can ask for when recruiting someone into your system.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["246100"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='246100' first='Isabel' last='Balsley'] came off of the bench as the 6th man for the Johnston Dragons all season long. Her job was to come in with some positive energy, play some aggressive defense, knock down some shots when open, and have some fun out there, things that she did seamlessly all week long. The Dragons fought some constant foul trouble from their guards in all three of their games which led to Balsley coming in early and playing some significant minutes. During these minutes she showed a plethora of things, such as her ability to really defend the ball well, her ability to handle when needed, and her ability to shoot the ball from deep when open. Things that really benefited the Dragons throughout the tournament. Looking at next year I would think that she is going to start off her senior year by moving to the Dragons starting line-up as they will attempt to make it back to the well once again, a goal that is more then reachable for this group of stars.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["63023"],"_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='63023' first='Finley' last='Fitzgerald'] was a stand-out play maker for her DCG Mustangs team at the Well. She played with patients, pace, and a lot of smarts out on the floor while trying to will her team to victory. All season long this team has been highlighted by three players in [player_tooltip player_id='127617' first='Emma' last='Miner'], [player_tooltip player_id='246106' first='Vanessa' last='Bickford'], and Fitzgerald. The first two usually out-shined the last but not this week. I think this week Finley really showed that without her, this team doesn't get to the Well and doesn't win a state title. She was one of their top 3 players every game all season long and that didn't change for her last week on the floor for her high school career. She shot the ball well, did a good job of creating space and most importantly she had a really positive emotional impact out on the court for her team. In the end the Mustangs got to hold the trophy up and say they are state champs, a big reason being how Fitzgerald played game in and game out this past week.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-640618754bf72"} /-->