3A State Championship Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw some exciting games over the past few days via<strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"> LIVESTREAM</mark></strong> and Holliday, led by <strong>Iowa State </strong>signee, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='204179' first='Jalynn' last='Bristow']</strong> started off my <strong>Championship Saturday</strong> viewing with a <strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">58-47</mark></strong> victory over<strong> Fairfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/03/3a-state-championship-semifinals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here's my Tip Sheet from the SIMMIES </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holliday started off the game on fire, dropping 3 from deep and leading 19-7 after 1 yet Fairfield wouldn't quit and made some dramatic comebacks to keep it interesting throughout the last quarter, here are the Top Performers </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOLLIDAY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='204179' first='Jalynn' last='Bristow']-6'3 F [2023] Iowa State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bristow kept it going from the semifinals and once again was "hard to handle" closing out her high school career with not only a double-double, <strong>21/11</strong> as well as 3 blocks, but a State Championship, and when I emphasize being "long and athletic" is the base, her intangibles speak volumes as she elevates over defenders to drop the jumper, as well as score around the basket yet her defense both in and outside the paint, along with her playing the passing lane is special. Well, so is her rebounding and handling the ball the length of the court</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katy Jo Piper-5'11 G [2023]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piper was under the weather, I heard the announcers mentioning that a couple of times yet she scored 11 and grabbed 7 rebounds yet her ability to attack the basket from the wing, well attack from wherever but she's also in that "long and athletic" category. She saw the floor as well as finished strongly and she can face the basket and score. Her timing is also a plus as she blocked a couple of shots, hit the boards, on both ends, and did a good job defensively </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenna Wood-5'10 G [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wood not only handled the ball under pressure but she created her shot under pressure as well. She knocked down shots and her 15 points came in a variety of ways including a couple of three pointers as well as hitting 5/6 from the line, on her way to 15 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FAIRFIELD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267345' first='Shadasia' last='Brackens']-5'11 G [2023]</strong> <strong>North Texas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brackens and her acrobatic finishes had me smiling yet I had no idea about her accomplishments in track, thanks to the announcers, and that explains a lot. She elevates to score over defenders, using nice body control and she dropped 20, including a couple from deep. Her defense was smothering, she plays the passing lane and she's also long and athletic which I probably should have opened with</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='158699' first='McKinna' last='Brackens']-6'0 F [2023]</strong> <strong>UNLV</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brackens was yet another "long and athletic" player in this game, that could play and play she did. Her turnaround jumper halfway through the final quarter pulled them within 1, yet she did the same thing again, to give them a 44-43 lead, back to back, which her team was on the verge of after winning it all last season. She finished with a double-double, 22/10 yet added 3 steals as well as 3 rebounds but her hitting pressure shots throughout the game <strong>JUST DID IT</strong> for me. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blayke Brackens-5'9 F [2026]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brackens gets the S/O because I see a very bright future for the twin's cousin and her poise under pressure, this was definitely pressure, and her intensity on both ends of the court, including "on the ball defense" spoke volumes </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->