Defender of the Year: Emma Millerbernd

Whenever a middle schooler makes her way into a significant role at the varsity level, the coach in question really needs to temper their expectations. After all, 7th and 8th graders are going to make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. And while many can be counted on to put up a few points and contribute to the cause in an important way, precious few know anything about defense and fewer still are able to excel at it. Of course, [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] of Providence Academy is not your average 8th grader. Not only has she excelled in the least-expected way for the past two seasons, Emma has now been named Prep Girls Hoops Defender of the Year. As an 8th grader!   [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] – 2027 guard, Providence Academy   Emma's game speaks for itself. At times it leaves Lions' coach Conner Goetz without words. “Emma brings a consistency that is unmatched for someone who is only in 8th grade,” said Goetz, whose team won its second consecutive Class 2A state championship last weekend. “She is an incredible defender both on and off the ball. We can put her on almost any matchup and feel confident that she will hold that opponent below their average.”   Emma has a ton of assets that earned her this honor. She's physically mature, athletically gifted, and has put in the work to develop a skill set that is way beyond most in Minnesota's Class of 2027. What really stands out for me, however, is her sense of calm. Nothing seems to rattle this kid and, as a result, she can go against the best of the best and get the job done.   “She has a very high basketball IQ. She picks up stuff really quickly,” said Goetz. “Whether that's player match-up tendencies or what the other team is trying to expose, Emma is always on top of it. For example, in a game this year we had to switch our pick-and-roll coverage on the fly without having talked about it or gone over it in practice. I talked to her during one of our player's free throw attempts, about having to switch from a hard hedge to a drop coverage. Emma knew exactly what to do and it even resulted in her getting two steals after the switch. It's high-level IQ stuff that she understands but then puts into action really quickly that separates her from most.”   Millerbernd is so competent, so reliable that we find ourselves forgetting about her contributions from time to time. It's also easy to forget that she's only in the 8th grade. Does that happen to Coach Goetz, too? “All the time! At least when she's on the court,” he said. “She's so reliable and doesn't get rattled by the moment. She makes really smart decisions and I have a high level of trust in her. Off the court, though, she's just like any other 14-year old and I love that about her. She's a great teammate and fun to be around. She helps keep the team atmosphere and culture fun.”   Congratulations Emma. We look forward to watch this excellence for four more years.   RUNNER-UP   [player_tooltip player_id='208185' first='Liana' last='Buckhalton'] – 2025 guard, Stillwater   Video highlights can be incredibly deceptive. When we watch a player's tape we always take it with a grain of salt because anyone can cherry pick some great shooting, sweet one-on-one moves, and spectacular finishes and make it look like the player is the complete package. Buckhalton's highlights are the pure, unadulterated truth: she can defend, defend, defend and defend some more. We get to watch a ton of great defensive execution before the video even gets to the special stuff she does while on the attack. Liana's offensive game flourished this season as she averaged a dozen points a game and was an integral part of the Ponies attack. But it was her defense that was the difference maker as the 6-foot sophomore played a vital role in Stillwater making it to the final four at State. Buckhalton is ranked #12 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025 and her star is on the rise.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='220824' first='Piper' last='Carlson'] – 2023 forward, St. Michael-Albertville (Idaho State)   STMA won a Class 4A State Championship last Saturday in Minneapolis, defeating the big blue machine from Hopkins to do so. Yes, South Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='108299' first='Tessa' last='Johnson'] was the MVP. Yes, junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='339129' first='Ja'Kahla' last='Craft'] played her best basketball and was instrumental in the win. Honestly, though, the Knights don't take home the hardware if not for the physical presence, take-no-prisoners approach, and endless will of Carlson. The 5'11 forward, ranked #33 in the class, is heading for Idaho State of the Big Sky Conference where Carlson's defense is sure to be the workhorse's ticket to success.   [player_tooltip player_id='108336' first='Audrey' last='Kormann'] – 2023 post, Maple Grove (New Jersey Institute of Technology)   Audrey has some God-given advantages that most post players would pay a mint for. Pushing 6'3 with a wingspan to match, Kormann's dimensions have always made her a great prospect. It was her work ethic, however, than enabled the #34 prospect in the senior class to learn and grow and improve to the point where she earned a D1 scholarship. Maple Grove would have been good this season regardless, but it was Audrey's play that elevated the Crimson from good to great. Her defensive abilities will continue to define her at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='108323' first='Ashley' last='Fritz'] – 2023 guard, Eden Prairie (MSU-Moorhead)   Ashley began her high school career in early middle school as a strong prospect on a fairly week team in Hastings, a situation that allowed her to showcase her scoring prowess and rather ample offensive potential. Fritz finished last week at the State Tournament as a versatile, all-around contributor on one of the state's deeper squads, a player who could still score but had become incredibly good at stopping others from doing the same. The 5'10 combo guard, ranked #44 in Minnesota's senior class, will take that most valuable asset to the next level at MSU-Moorhead where it will be even more prized than it was in high school.   [player_tooltip player_id='108335' first='Vivica' last='Bretton'] – 2023 guard, Rochester Lourdes (Winona State)   Vivica's high school career is over now and she has certainly left her mark on Lourdes basketball. There are so many things the big guard does well and she does them consistently. Vivica can handle the basketball, shoot it at a high level, and score inside or out. But if you want to sift carefully through her long list of assets, the one thing Bretton will always be able to hang her hat on is defense. Vivica can flat out shut down opponents of all sizes, shapes and descriptions. Ranked #39 in Minnesota's senior class, Bretton was once again the vital cog in an Eagles machine that went 24-5 in her final campaign.

Whenever a middle schooler makes her way into a significant role at the varsity level, the coach in question really needs to temper their expectations. After all, 7th and 8th graders are going to make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. And while many can be counted on to put up a few points and contribute to the cause in an important way, precious few know anything about defense and fewer still are able to excel at it. Of course, Emma Millerbernd Emma Millerbernd 5'10" | CG Providence Academy | 2027 State MN of Providence Academy is not your average 8th grader. Not only has she excelled in the least-expected way for the past two seasons, Emma has now been named Prep Girls Hoops Defender of the Year. As an 8th grader!