State Semi-Finals: Best I Saw (Day 1)

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545645"],"_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='545645' first='Halle' last='Vice'] showed off why she is going to Marquette and such a big problem on the basketball court on Thursday afternoon in her team's semi-final game. She played with aggression, poise, and most importantly she became better as the game went on. The Pleasant Valley Spartans play an extended 2-3 zone on defense and Vice is a major key to that zone. She plays a bottom wing that covers either the near-side corner, wing, or either post position. A job that is tough but she makes it look easy with her length, speed and basketball IQ. On the offensive end Vice showed her entire bag throughout the game. She scored at all three levels and had two momentum changing AND-1 baskets in transition in the 4th that put her team over the edge to win the game. Vice and the #1 ranked Spartans will face their toughest challenge of the year in the championship against the #2 ranked Johnston Dragons. A matchup that is sure to be a show for the ages.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["592185"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='592185' first='Julia' last='Johnson'] really impressed in her semi-final showing as well as her quarter-final game for the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes. Johnson would be labeled as a shooter on a scouting report but she showed over her two games, 1 win and 1 loss, that she is ready to play and score at a high level no matter the competition. In both of her games she made most of her shot attempts while getting to the hoop going either way on a drive. She played off of 2 feet while attacking, keeping her ability to come to a jump stop and pass or finish. Going into her senior year everyone will look at her to see her aggressive offensive play-style continue while at the same time tightening up her shooting percentages from some spots on the floor. Next year this team is going to be back with Johnson as one of their senior leaders, hoping to keep the momentum from the end of this season and channel it into another big state run. Something do-able with the group they are planning on bringing back.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["246117"],"_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":"Benton Community and Vinton-Shellsburg were tied 24-24 at halftime of their semi-final game but [player_tooltip player_id='127632' first='Jenna' last='Twedt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='246117' first='Emma' last='Townsley'] took over in the second half, leading them to a narrow victory and onto the state championship. Townsley, a quick point guard, controlled the pace of the entire game in the second half as she led her team to victory. This team gets a lot of credit for winning because of [player_tooltip player_id='127632' first='Jenna' last='Twedt'] and rightfully so but Townsley has clearly showed this week that she makes this team go just as much as Twedt, if not more in crunch time. She has done a great job showing off to everyone what she can do and the type of leader she is. Looking forward she is going to have a chance to bring home the ship in a day or two with her Bobcats team as the starting point guard, a job she is not going to take lightly. I can't wait to see how she plays in the biggest spotlight the girls high-school season has to offer here in Iowa.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Makenna Walhof","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Sioux Center","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Makenna Walhof Isn't the primary offensive option for the Sioux Center Warriors on a nightly basis as they do a great job of evenly spreading out their offensive attempts and such but in their semi-final game against the Solon Spartans she was a monster on the boards. Leading herself to a very successful first half and overall game. This is just one of the big boosts this group needed to compete in this game. The Spartans were out-rebounded by the Warriors by about 2:1 on both sides of the floor, leading to a lot of scoring from their posts and forward positions, Walhof included. These games tend to mean so much more when it comes to the seniors playing in the games because it's their last ride and that's no difference in this one. Makenna really wanted to have a year to remember and I'd say, she has definitely accomplished that. As for her future, I'm not sure what it holds. I'm not sure what interest she has or anything to that effect but I do know that if she chose to go that route and try to play college ball, there would be a program out there that could use a hard-worker and gamer like her.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='608159' first='Willow' last='Bleeker']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Sioux Center","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another major part to the victory of the Sioux Center Warriors was led by their top guard in [player_tooltip player_id='608159' first='Willow' last='Bleeker']. Bleeker did a little bit of everything. Scoring, passing. making deflections, but most importantly she was consistent from start to finish. In the first half alone she had 8 points on 3-8 shooting, including being 2-2 from the free throw line. Bleeker is a fundamental guard. She doesn't do too much or too little and is always in the play. She plays a wing in their 1-3-1 defensive set up while she can run the 1-3 position on the offensive end the way she can shoot and handle. This is Bleekers last high school ride too and she is making the most of it. She has put together a great season thus far and has excelled during the playoffs. She should be proud of what she has done to help lead her team to the state championship, where she is going to have to step up and be a difference maker for one. more. game.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["246111"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='246111' first='Brooklyn' last='Stanley'] left everything on the floor on Thursday night in their loss in the Semi's VS North Polk. Stanley, a vocal and emotional leader of this team, did everything she could and more for her teammates in this contest. She was the constant scoring threat that North Polk had to defend, she was the top of their 1-3-1 the ENTIRE game creating steals and deflections, and the thing that stuck out to me the most is how well she kept the team together. It was inspiring. Someone who after timeouts gets the five girls who are on the floor, together, so they can speak and regroup. Someone who would do anything for her people and do anything to see them win. In this contest a specific moment stood-out to me. At the end of this game with about 30 seconds left their starting 5 got subbed out. All 5 players subbed out, grabbed each other and hugged each other in a huddle on the sideline for about a minute or two, this was one of the greatest things I've seen this week. Bishop Heelan tonight showed everyone in that gym that no matter win or lose, it's about being apart of a team that feels like your family. Hats off to BH. As for Stanley, I'm excited to see her shake this off and get into the AAU season with her SD Attack team. She is going to get a lot of interest with the way she plays. She is the definition of a player who plays with their heart on their sleeve out there. Something quiet impressive and others should take notes on.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["311383"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='311383' first='Abby' last='Tuttle'] was the u0022Xu0022 factor in her North Polks Semi-Final win VS Bishop Heelan. Tuttle hit a lot of big shots while also controlling pace and tempo from the point guard position. She ended with a game high 20 points including a big 3 point buzzer beater to send the Comets into halftime up 4, instead of 1, a big shift in momentum before heading into the locker room. From there in the second half she did much of the same. She scored the ball, dribbled through some defenses and in the end made some good choices with the ball in her hands to seal the deal. This North Polk team is legit. They have star power, leaders, and a good system all lead by Tuttle at the 1 position. It'll be intriguing to see how they do in the ship. They are going to need all hands on deck as the team they will face is longer with a little bit more experience in high-pressure situations, so we will have to see what happens.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64011e0220922"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->