Athletes I Liked at the Freshman Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I want to conclude the events in Appleton last week. First, I want to name my all-event first team, and then I'd like to highlight a few more kids who I thought played well and deserved recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750731' first='Mariah' last='Sexton']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The physicality of Sexton will be the key for her in the Big 8. She can win any battle around the basket and doesn't shy away from contact. Sexton also has some touch around the rim, and with work, there's a chance she could be an elite high school post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751243' first='Ava' last='Vogler']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I talked about Vogler already, but I enjoy how well she creates space. She's not the most physically imposing guard you'll find, but she reads and creates well and could be the next elite Madison-area guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751252' first='Carrington' last='Balthasar']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Balthasar's poise makes her one of the most intriguing newcomers this season. With all the guard talent coming to Whitefish Bay, I think Balthasar could make a difference. She sees the floor well and passes it at a high level, and I'm eager to see how she fits with [player_tooltip player_id='509716' first='Sage' last='Miskel'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751264' first='Kennedy' last='Thistle']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thistle fits the mold of a Kettle Moraine Lutheran guard. She's a scrappy small guard who can play for hours and not get tired. I loved how much energy she played with and the level of engagement on the defensive end. She was as disruptive as anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madi Davel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another talented kid will end up in Neillsville, and Davel will bring a nice change of pace compared to someone like [player_tooltip player_id='780363' first='Paris' last='Opelt']. Davel's ability to shoot the ball will open up the floor for her teammates. Davel was ready to shoot on the catch whenever she got the ball, and she consistently made shots when I watched her group play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751236' first='Alexis' last='Shelsta']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelsta was one of my favorite kids to watch, mainly because she got into a good shooting rhythm. The second she shot the ball, I fully expected it would go in, and that says a lot about the confidence she exudes when she gets the ball with any space on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madi Springer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was pleasantly surprised by how confident Springer looked all day. She wasn't afraid to attack the rim as an undersized guard and managed to find ways to finish around some tall defenders around the rim. I thought her quickness, toughness, and confidence were evident in Appleton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->