5 Players to Watch in the Crusader Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusader Classic is another one of the biggest holiday tournaments in Oregon's high school girls basketball scene. This year, it has a large field of 3A and 2A teams participating from all around the state. All games are taking place at Salem Academy High School. Here are a few prospects that you'll want to know that are playing in this tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832646' first='Eliza' last='Nisly']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Amity","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Amity is looking tough to beat at #2 in 3A right now thanks to a stacked, young roster that only has two seniors. [player_tooltip player_id='832646' first='Eliza' last='Nisly'] is one of the talented sophomores that have led the Warriors to their hot 7-1 start to the season. She is absolutely everywhere on the court u002du002d both a spark-plug defensively and always pushing the ball on offense u002du002d and she seems to be getting better with every game she has played so far this season. Nisly is a natural pass-first type of player who seems to always be aware of where her teammates are on the floor. In the game against a tough Banks squad, she had a well-rounded 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. She appears to be coming into her own more as a scorer, evidenced in Amity's first game of the Crusader Classic in which she led her team with 17 points in the huge win over East Linn Christian. The Warriors beat Lakeview earlier today (12/29) in which Nisly led again with 13 points, and they will face Nyssa tomorrow (12/30) in the championship game of the tournament at 3:30pm.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='834138' first='Alexis' last='Dockter']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Horizon Christian","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"An extremely dynamic player to watch, [player_tooltip player_id='834138' first='Alexis' last='Dockter'], is constantly the one opposing teams are trying to shut down when they face Horizon Christian. Now a senior, she has been on all-league and all-state lists for several years now. Dockter is a lights out shooter with incredible range who is capable of hitting even the most difficult shots. She often also runs the point for the Eagles with her skillful handles. Dockter is absolutely a talent at the 3A level that should not be missed and a player that opposing coaches have told me that they dread playing. She and Horizon Christian lost to Nyssa yesterday (12/28) and won a close won earlier today (12/29) over Country Christian to snap their four-game cold spell. They take on Stanfield tomorrow (12/30) at 6pm to close out their games in 2023.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='833645' first='Chase' last='Sullivan']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Salem Academy","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Salem Academy won their long-awaited first victory in their opening game of the Crusader Classic that they are hosting. The Crusaders, one of the 2A teams participating in the tournament, have played an extremely difficult preseason against some of the best 3A and 2A teams in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='833645' first='Chase' last='Sullivan'] has been one of the Crusaders' leaders in several statistical categories all season-long, including 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals against Country Christian and 6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals versus Jefferson. She is a heads-up defender at all times, and is lightning quick while always giving 100% hustle. She had perhaps her best performance of the season in the Crusaders' first one, a monster one over Umatilla to open the tournament, in which she had 22 points, 8 assists, and 6 steals. She and Salem Academy take on Mannahouse Academy in their second game at 6:30pm this evening of 12/29 with their final game on 12/30 still TBD.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='834140' first='Kenna' last='Stratton']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Lakeview","_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":"Second team all-state a season ago, Stratton has continued her excellence on the basketball court in 2023-24. The Honkers' primary forward/center, Stratton often leads the team in both scoring and rebounds and is the type of player that is capable of putting impressive double-double numbers on a regular basis. Also one of the top volleyball players in the state, Stratton possesses high-end athleticism combined with an obvious competitiveness that is tough to teach. In their narrow 42-41 win over Stanfield in the first game of the Crusader Classic yesterday (12/28), Stratton led the Honkers with 21 points. Lakeview lost a bout with a very talented Amity team earlier today (12/29) and their opponent and game time are still TBD for their final game of the tournament on Saturday, 12/30.","_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='834142' first='Clarita' last='Arizmendi']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Nyssa","_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":"At 5'10, [player_tooltip player_id='834142' first='Clarita' last='Arizmendi'] is difficult guard for opposing teams to match up with when they come up against a talented Nyssa squad. She is a gifted athlete who has very few weaknesses in her game. Defensively, she uses her length as well as her high basketball IQ to create turnovers for the Bulldogs with steals or blocks. On the offensive end, she uses this defensive ability to create lay-ups for herself and her teammates, during which her athleticism and finishing ability are on full display. She also runs the floor for her teammates incredibly well, often racing out ahead of the pack. Not to mention, Arizmendi can also knock down shots from the outside. With the gifted Gracie Johnson graduating from Nyssa's roster last year, Arizmendi is carrying a larger load of both scoring and rebounding for the Bulldogs. She had 8 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 blocks against Salmon River and 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block against Weiser in two of their final games before the Crusader Classic. The Bulldogs won their first game of the tournament against Horizon Christian on 12/28, won their second game of the tournament today (12/29) over Cascade Christian, and their third and final opponent as well as the game time are both TBD for the game on 12/30.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658f8ffb746f8"} /-->