My Class 3A All-First Round State Tournament Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams that get knocked out in the quarterfinals of state tournaments never get any love. All-state tournament teams always just include players from the semifinalists. Some of the top performers who should be included get left out. So, after attending the opening day of the 3A tournament, I present my 3A All-First Round State Tournament Team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='94968' first='Taryn' last='Sides'], 5'7", PG, Phillipsburg, 2023 - The thing I enjoyed watching the most about Sides is how well she plays within the team on both ends and how well she seizes opportunities to make opponents pay. Her perimeter game was off, only finishing 1/6 from downtown, but she still finished a strong 6/9 from the field otherwise. In a close game she powered the Panthers to an extended lead by getting the transition game going. One short stretch of a pile of points is all it took midway through the fourth quarter and it was over. The last three minutes of the game was played by both benches as the result was not in doubt. Sides had her moments but where she stood out all game was with her defense. She and [player_tooltip player_id='94966' first='CJ' last='Rignell'] were matched up on both ends and Sides would not let Rignell get anything easy. Not with physicality but with positioning and smarts. Very impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McKinley Kruger</strong>, 5'6", SG, Silver Lake, 2024 - Kruger's shooting was a major catalyst for the Eagles' 32 point, second quarter explosion against a Santa Fe Trail team that led by four at the end of the first. She flat lit-up from three point land, going 4/5. Racking up 13 points in the quarter she finished with a team leading 20 points. Kruger also was a perfect 4/4 from the line, pulled down 5 rebounds, and distributed 4 assists without a turnover. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544025' first='Brenna' last='Rucker'], 5'7", CG, Eureka, 2026 - Rucker served notice that she is going to be tearing opponents up with her all-around game for the next three years. A strong, solidly built player Rucker is a terrific perimeter shooter as well as effective ball handler and scorer. Despite 5 turnovers Rucker went 5/10 from the field, scoring 13 points, distributed 2 assists and racked up 5 rebounds and 6 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='94966' first='CJ' last='Rignell'], 5'7", PG, Riley County, 2023 - Rignell's statistics do not reveal just how impactful she was against Phillipsburg. Yes she tallied 8 of the Falcons' 27 points, 3 turnovers, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 rebounds, and a blocked shot. What was significant was she kept [player_tooltip player_id='94968' first='Taryn' last='Sides'] occupied on both ends of the floor. Sides would hit a deep three and have a 7 point fourth quarter that helped break the game open, but all of that was at the expense of all other defenders not named Rignell. Sides played terrific defense against Rignell, but keeping her occupied opened up opportunities for her teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191489' first='Hattie' last='Pyle'], 5'8", CG, Frontenac, 2023 - I have been a big [player_tooltip player_id='191489' first='Hattie' last='Pyle'] fan for a few years now. A strong player who is also among strongest emotional leader in Kansas high school basketball the past few seasons, she once again powered her team to a fourth straight 3A state tournament appearance. Not until she hit a corner three with about 2:30 left in the second quarter, the Raiders had not made a basket and were down by as much as 21. Scoring 14 points in that last span, they would enter half time only down 9. She would score a 7 total in that last stretch as she led the rally that continued into the second half. A second half that was a battle as Goodland desperately tried to regain control but could not stay out of foul trouble. A complete garbage touch foul with only minutes to go in the fourth sent her to the bench for what would be her final time. Finishing with 14 points and 2 assists without a turnover, Pyle shot 3/6 from downtown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191481' first='Campbell' last='Hague'], 6'3", C, Cheney, 2023 - To say that Hague was huge, so to speak, is a serious understatement. My MVP, Hague finished with a giant 17 point (on 7/17 shooting), 22 rebound performance in which Eureka only registered a single more rebounds than Hague alone compiled. Her quickness and long arms, coupled with her quick hops and mid-range scoring ability, was a combination the Tornados could not slow down. A deep team, her effectiveness drew triple teams and led to many open drives and shots. Hague would also register 3 assists, 4 turnovers, and 3 blocked shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156305' first='Talexa' last='Weeter'], 6'0", CG, Goodland, 2023 - Weeter and her teammates were rolling in the first half as Frontenac could not solve the Cowgirl 1-3-1 zone that relied on the great length and quickness of the Good land bigs. Then foul trouble began to pick up for Weeter and her teammates. By halftime she would have three. She would eventually foul out with just over a minute to go in the game. With 9 points by halftime, Weeter would finish with 20 points including a huge 7/8 from the line and a made three. She also gathered 6 boards. Statistics aside, Weeter vocally encouraged her team to keep going. That leadership sent her over the top to make my team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='396406' first='Kaelee' last='Washington'], 5'10", PF, Santa Fe Trail, 2024 - The Chargers were on the receiving end of a tremendous, Silver Lake second quarter that resulted in 32 Eagle points to the Chargers' 8. Washington impacted the from the start with her speed, length, handles, and aggressiveness to score. She was without a doubt the fastest, most athletic, and dangerous forward on the floor. In the end she just missed a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Despite 4 turnovers, including a pair in the first quarter, she earned 2 assists and registered a blocked shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->