Midseason Report: Almost Perfect From The Stripe
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In the state of Iowa, throughout the holidays, there are no tournaments due to state rules and regulations. Therefore, we are going to go back and recap some of the best players from the first half of our season. In…
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Continue ReadingIn the state of Iowa, throughout the holidays, there are no tournaments due to state rules and regulations. Therefore, we are going to go back and recap some of the best players from the first half of our season. In this specific article, we will be covering four athletes that have been fantastic from the free throw stripe this season so far.
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Constant production is hard to come by at any level and should be talked about. A player that has been consistently producing at a high rate since the start of this season is Bailey Birmingham Bailey Birmingham 5’9″ | SF Norwalk | 2025 State IA of Norwalk High School. Birmingham is producing all over the floor, in a number of different ways at the moment. She is getting to any spot she wants to and even getting her teammates involved at any chance that she gets. Coming into break, Birmingham has the most free throw attempts throughout the state of Iowa, regardless of grade-level. Throughout her teams first 11 games, she has 110 attempts from the stripe on the season, while making 85 of them or 79%. To put this all into context, Birmingham has as many makes from the free throw line, as the #3 ranking player, has in total attempts. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Norwalk does a great job of putting the ball into their best players hands and making it easy for them. If they continue to compete at this level, they are going to be a team to reckon with come Playoff time.
Highlights
Anna Bartels
Anna Bartels
Anna Bartels of Midland High School has started off her Senior year with some great numbers going into break, all while helping her team to an overall 5-4 record so far, 5-1 in conference. Bartels is averaging 22 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 AGP, and 5.4 SPG. She is also averaging shooting the ball 43.1% from the field and 70% from the free throw line. These stats put Bartels as a top producer for not only her own team, but throughout the state at this point. Coming out of break, Midland is prepped to have a big second half of their season. If Bartels can keep holding her own, this team could beat some good programs before everything is said and done this winter. If there is a Will, there is a way and I think there is a lot of Will on this team. Each player seems to have boughten in and is willing to put in the work, they just need to go out and do it now.
Addy Wolfswinkel
Addy Wolfswinkel
In two weeks we will have the start of our Player Ranking Update dropping throughout the month of January. A player that is going to be included in the update for the 2027 Class is Addy Wolfswinkel. Wolfswinkel is a 5’8 guard, that has proven so far this season, that she can compete at a competitive level on the high school floor. To begin this year, Wolfswinkel is averaging 16.8 PPG on 47.1% shooting, 5.9 RPG, and 2.3 APG. These efforts have led her team to an overall 9-2 record, with their only losses coming at the hands of two other top ranking teams throughout the state. With this 16.8 PPG, Wolfswinkel is getting to the line 6.6 times a game and making 4.7 of those attempts. This stat says a few things about the style of play she may possess but more-so than anything else, it says that she is willing to attack the hoop and get to the line. It says that she isn’t afraid of contact but more-so welcomes it so that she can attempts some free throws. Wolfswinkel has had a good start to her high school career, I’m hoping she can ride that momentum moving forward.
Morgan Neuroth is shooting 79% from the free throw line so far this season. That ranks as one of the best percentages throughout the state of Iowa for a player having a minimum number of 50 attempts so far this year. I didn’t know a lot about Neuroth’s game until recent. She is someone that has the green light to help lead her East Marshall High School team this winter, for one last go around at the high school level. The Mustangs haven’t necessarily started this year the way they wanted to going into break but that is all about to change these next few weeks. This team is going to regroup and look to come out stronger then ever. There is a good amount of upperclassman leadership on this team and that is going to be crucial moving forward. If everyone can continue to buy it, it’ll all work out for the best. With personal and leaders like Neuroth, it’s something that is more than doable.