2023 State Tournament: My All-Tournament Team
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Aaliyah Riley IA #4 PG #2 HEIGHT 5'7" POS PG CLASS 2024 View Profile Aaliyah Riley Twitter State: Iowa School: Johnston Club: CY Select Aaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5’7″ | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA stepped up in a…
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Continue ReadingAaliyah Riley Aaliyah Riley 5’7″ | PG Johnston | 2024 State IA stepped up in a big way for the Johnston Dragons in every game that they played in this past week at Wells Fargo. Riley competed on both ends of the floor and was the real difference maker when things got close in whatever contest they were in. She showed off a deadly handle, an impressive ability to finish through a bigger defender, and a consistent jump shot. I’d have to say that her most impressive performance was in the 5A championship. Between Aili Tanke Aili Tanke 6’0″ | SG Johnston | 2024 State IA and Riley, they combined for 46 of Johnston’s 53 points, each scoring 23. The more impressive thing being not how many she scored but how she was doing it. The Spartans run an extended 2-3 zone with a lot of length but that didn’t impact Riley too much. She got to the rim with a nice dribble move, would move to the middle position against their zone where she knocked down a shot or three, or even knock down some free throws after being fouled. Looking back at her entire tournament, it’s hard to say that there was another guard out there who had a better overall week. Something she should be proud of.
Halle Vice Halle Vice 5’11” | SG Pleasant Valley | 2023 State IA is going to take her talents to the University of Marquette next year with the hopes of making an instant impact her freshman year on the team, a goal that is going to be tough but is more then do-able due to her size and skill set. During this state run and more-so the entire season Vice did a little bit of everything for her Spartans. She used her length advantage in every possible moment she could with the ability to step back and hit a jumper from deep. This was on full display on the way to their schools first state title in history. She was fantastic in basketball skill while being a great leader for the girls around her. In big games it’s easy for people to get rattled but Vice did a great job of pulling things together when the moments became really big. Without Vice and her play this group doesn’t have a year like they did and doesn’t win this championship, she wasn’t the only reason they won by any means but they definitely needed her to bring this thing home.
Aili Tanke Aili Tanke 6’0″ | SG Johnston | 2024 State IA was the best overall player throughout the entire tournament when you account for her skill-set, size, athleticism, IQ, and ceiling moving forward. Tanke left it all on the floor for her Johnston Dragons throughout their three games at the Well. In each game she was the most consistent player on her team from all three offensive levels on the floor while rebounding the ball at a high rate. In their championship game Tanke scored 23 points, including going 5-6 from three in the first half, giving her 16 points going into halftime. To end the game when the Dragons were down a couple baskets with under 2 minutes left she went 2/2 from behind the arc to give her team one last chance before the game was over but they fell just short. Tanke will return for one more season and I’m sure she is going to give her best season yet as she tries to lock up Miss Iowa Basketball, an award she will be the front-runner for from the tip of the season and on.
Whenever Audi Crooks Audi Crooks 6’3″ | C Bishop Garrigan | 2023 State #42 Nation IA has stepped on the court since a young age you can imagine that she has been the best offensive weapon for her teams. Her size, hand-eye coordination, touch on the basketball, and ability to pass have always spoken for themselves and they did just that this past week, leading her Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears to one more state championship with Crooks on the roster. In every game Crooks was unstoppable. She played her role, rebounded the ball really well and it ended in success for her team. In the championship game she scored a game high 49 points, showing her complete offensive arsenal in the post. During this run she also set the all time scoring record during the state tournament, an accomplishment that is going to be really hard to try to break for anyone moving forward. Crooks will join up with the cyclones next season, showing not just the state of Iowa but the entire BIG 12 conference that she is going to be a dominate force near the basket over the next few seasons.
Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5’10” | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA was/is the inner presence for the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines this season, leading them to an overall 25-1 record and state championship. Petersen, a University of Louisville volleyball commit, just doesn’t quit on the inside. She rebounds, finishes, and just overpowers most of her opponents in the paint. If she has anyone line up across from her on defense that is her same size/height then its going to be a long game for them as she is a lot stronger and craftier then most think. Throughout this past week both the Petersen sisters made a lasting impact in each game, leading to several victories and eventual state championship. All season long you hear about these two sisters and this dominate program but until you see it up close and personal, it’s tough to imagine. Their length, speed, and size accompanied be their game strategy gives them just an unfair advantage against most other programs in the state. Something they will hope to repeat again next season as they will attempt to defend their 2A state title in 23-24′.