Player Takeaways From Opening Week

Brady Peterson November 18, 2023 @ 08:28 AM

There are still a handful of games left from the opening week, but I wanted to get a headstart highlighting some takeaways from the opening week. I'll post articles about some takeaways on the team and player sides of things today.   [player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller']   I talked about Miller at length coming into the season and felt vindicated after her debut last night. In a highly competitive contest with reigning Sectional Champion McFarland, [player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller'] was the most influential Crusader on the floor. She seemed slightly flustered in the first few possessions. After that, Miller settled in and played high-level basketball. Nothing she does is particularly flashy, but when the ball is in her hands, she creates scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. I said Miller was better than the vast majority of guards in the state, and she hasn't done anything to prove me wrong yet. Miller nearly rattled home a potential game-tying three-pointer with under a second to go. Everyone in Edgewood's program trusts her.   [player_tooltip player_id='338955' first='Lola' last='Bond']   I had questions about who KM would trust as their main initiator, but Bond answered all those questions at New Berlin West. Bond is a 5-4 guard but accelerates quickly. I thought she got to whatever she wanted on the offensive end, making multiple three-pointers, getting to the rim at will, and creating for others. It won't always be smooth sailing for her over the next 22 games, but the signs were positive. I'm not sure where the ceiling is for KM, but if Bond is a kid who can be a solo press break, make open shots, get to the rim, and continue to make free throws, this team can surprise people in the Classic Eight.   [player_tooltip player_id='764914' first='Finley' last='Morgan']   Few teams have the players justify having a kid like Morgan on the bench to start games with thousands of students, but little Laconia does, and she brought plenty of juice off the bench. Over the summer, Morgan was a floor-spacer for a 14U team that ended up being a competitive 15U EYBL team. In high school, Morgan has shown her speed and ability to finish around the rim. The newcomer attacked the backup Oostburg guards. Morgan was a significant part of the Spartan's run to get back into that game and eventually win it. She may take them to another level this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='209605' first='Claire' last='Bjorge']   De Pere did well without Bjorge last year and will probably have to adjust a little to accommodate her, but seeing Bjorge back in Red Bird colors is refreshing. Nobody expected the Duluth commit to give a reputable defensive unit like Oshkosh West 30, but that's what she did in her first high school game back from injury. The future Bulldog got anywhere she wanted on the floor and gave the Wildcat defense fits. Although De Pere lost on a last-second shot, it gives the Red Birds a baseline of what they can do now that they have all their pieces on the floor.

There are still a handful of games left from the opening week, but I wanted to get a headstart highlighting some takeaways from the opening week. I'll post articles about some takeaways on the team and player sides of things today.