State Tourney: Class 2A MVP and All-Tournament Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Academy was a heavy favorite to repeat as Class 2A state champions in 2023, but midway through the opening half of Saturday's title game the Albany Huskies offered up a level of resistance that made it seem like an upset might just be possible. Still improbable but remotely possible. The game was back and forth in the early stages with Providence leading by as much as 6 when Huskies guard [player_tooltip player_id='594370' first='Tatum' last='Findley'] went to work. She nailed an NBA-length three-pointer at the 4:25 mark, followed with another at 4:04 and then cashed in on a baseline floater at 3:26. Suddenly Albany was in front and had a one-point margin at the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest factor in Albany's early success was the play of 6'3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='302297' first='Alyssa' last='Sand'] who gave elite Providence post [player_tooltip player_id='148338' first='Grace' last='Counts'] all she could handle. Sand had the game of her life, with 29 points, 21 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. It was heady stuff. But once the second half opened the door began to close for the Huskies. Providence scored the first 8 points of the period and put together another 10-0 run a little later on. By the time [player_tooltip player_id='392477' first='Brooke' last='Hohenecker'] nailed a long triple at the midway point, the avalanche had overtaken the Huskies and PA was up by 19. The rest is history as Providence sprinted to a 74-60 victory and its second consecutive title. They concluded the season with a record of 30-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST VALUABLE PLAYER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Providence Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our choice for tournament MVP might just be the most obvious accolade since UCONN star Paige Bueckers was selected as Miss Basketball in 2020. Greenway's performance as an 8th grader at last year's State Tournament was remarkable. Fast forward one year and she was legitimately unstoppable, playing with a level of intensity and focus and determination that was off the charts even by her standards. The numbers don't lie: Maddyn finished the tournament averaging 38 points per game on 45% shooting from the field, 38% from three-point range and 74% at the free throw line to go along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 steals. She concluded the year with 1,019 points. As a 9th grader. Best of all, we get to watch this show for three more seasons!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our picks are based solely on games played in the main bracket. No consideration is given to consolation games since we are not able to watch those.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] – 2026 guard, Providence Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='148338' first='Grace' last='Counts'] – 2023 forward, Providence Academy (UM-Duluth)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='302300' first='Kylan' last='Gerads'] – 2024 forward, Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='302297' first='Alyssa' last='Sand'] – 2024 forward, Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] – 2025 guard, Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2nd team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] – 2027 guard, Providence Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='594370' first='Tatum' last='Findley'] – 2024 guard, Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='178266' first='Angel' last='Hill'] – 2024 guard, Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='302307' first='Elisabeth' last='Gadient'] – 2024 guard, Goodhue</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] – 2026 guard, Crosby-Ironton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='302260' first='Tori' last='Miller'] – 2023 forward, Goodhue</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='550025' first='Kendyl' last='Lodermeier'] – 2025 forward, Goodhue</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jada Scheele</strong> – 2023 guard, Goodhue</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='296515' first='Hope' last='Counts'] – 2025 forward, Providence Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='392477' first='Brooke' last='Hohenecker'] – 2024 guard, Providence Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] – 2027 guard, Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='108319' first='Aniyah' last='Reuben'] – 2023 forward, Minnehaha Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='178271' first='Willow' last='Thiel'] – 2024 forward, Perham</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='612168' first='Avery' last='Rich'] – 2023 guard, New London-Spicer</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='148319' first='Olivia' last='Harazin'] – 2023 guard, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (Dordt)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->