The Week That Was #2: Beyond the Breakdown

All everyone wanted to talk about this past week was the Breakdown Tip Off Classic. That's no wonder given what a gigantic event the annual gathering has become on the girls basketball calendar. Of all the in-season, multi-team tournaments, this is clearly the biggest and the best. Capped off by a monumental mano-a-mano battle between [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] of Providence Academy and her AAU teamate Rainey Welson of Hortonville, Wisconsin, once again the Breakdown did not disappoint. With a ton of Tip Off coverage coming throughout the week, we're going to set that aside for the moment to look at what else happened around Minnesota during the Week That Was #2.   MILESTONES REACHED   Every week we try to track milestone moments for players statewide. Twitter has historically been a great source for this information, but the social media platform now known as ‘X' keeps changing its algorithm. The result is more spam and fewer milestones to report. Please help us out if you know of a player who has reached the 1,000-point mark, set a career record for rebounds or three-pointers or whatever else seems worthy of recognition. You can email me at gmachoops@gmail.com or send a direct message via Twitter to @gmachoops. Here are the milestones we heard about in Week #2.   [player_tooltip player_id='392473' first='Alexis' last='Thomas'] – The senior from Maple River became the 6th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. The long-time Minnesota Rise standout is quick, athletic and bursting with energy. All that has earned her a prospect ranking among the Top 150 in the Class of 2024. Thomas has committed to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.   [player_tooltip player_id='215987' first='Daviney' last='Dreckman'] – Pictured above, the senior from New Ulm also reached 1,000 points during a 22-point performance against Belle Plaine. That total is particularly impressive given that she suffered an ACL injury during her high school career. Dreckman is a speedy guard/wing ranked #58 among Minnesota seniors. She's bound for the University of Jamestown.   [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] – The 6'2 guard/wing from Alexandria is one of Minnesota's most-gifted prospects with length, pace and touch that few can match up with. Only a junior, Hadley hit the 1,000 career points mark last week. Thul is ranked among the Top 10 prospects in the Class of 2025 and is currently collecting D1 offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='304895' first='Macy' last='Birkholz'] – The speedy senior from Mankato East is well-known for her exceptional quickness and relentless energy. She can also fire the rock. That's how Macy set a school record this week in a win over Big 9 rival Austin for the most career three-pointers in program history. Birkholz is a Top 60 prospect in the Class of 2024 who committed to D2 Wayne State in Nebraska.   [player_tooltip player_id='302314' first='Taylor' last='Clarey'] – The crafty point guard from Rochester Century is known for her excellent distribution and ability to set the tone for a basketball game. Clarey, who put up 21 points Saturday versus Champlin Park at the Tip Off Classic, can also shoot the three-ball. Last week she set the Century record of 193 career threes. Clarey signed with Division 2 Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.   [player_tooltip player_id='422673' first='Ella' last='Mullenbach'] – After a great run at Minnesota Valley Lutheran, the frenetic guard moved to Mankato West this year and has quickly made an impact for Coach Dustin Wright. The 5'5 bomber, ranked among the Top 100 prospects in the Class of 2025, set a Scarlets school record for most three-point baskets in a single game with 8 against Rochester John Marshall.   A DOZEN BIG-TIME PRODUCERS   There were plenty of great individual performances at the Breakdown Tip Off, including the combined 84-point game posted by Greenway and Welson, a 45-point outburst from [player_tooltip player_id='178270' first='Finley' last='Ohnstad'] of Lakeville South, and a 41-point offering courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] of Minnehaha Academy. We'll cover those separately in our look at Top Performers at the event. Here are a few other achievements of note that occurred elsewhere during Week #2.   [player_tooltip player_id='215986' first='Tresa' last='Baumgard'] – Chisholm graduated four all-conference seniors, but much like last year it is the feisty 6-footer who is still powering the Bluestreaks. The 2024 Top 40 prospect, who has committed to MSU-Moorhead, averaged 23 points per game last season. Last week she got off to a great start with a 40-piece in a win over Bigfork.   [player_tooltip player_id='550001' first='Rylie' last='Cother'] – Coming off an eye-opening summer during which she lit it up on a regular basis for the Minnesota Rise, Rylie has leapt into the high school season with more of the same. Last week the Jackson County Central guard had a 39-point game against Blue Earth, including 30 in the second half! She followed that up with another 30 on on Friday versus Pipestone. Cother is a Top 50 junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='178274' first='Amy' last='Thompson'] – The Top 20 senior from Stillwater has a well-earned reputation as one of Minnesota's premier shooters. In fact, the 5'10 guard has topped the 40% mark from three-point range over the past three seasons. Amy was at it again on Friday burying 7 threes against Eagan, scoring 38 points in total. Thompson has committed to Division 1 South Florida.   [player_tooltip player_id='515676' first='Samantha' last='Voll'] – The Top 25 sophomore from Monticello has a ton of responsibility with the Magic, who graduated eight seniors last spring, including at least two who are now playing college basketball. Last year Sam averaged 16 ppg, earning all-conference honors and all-state honorable mention. On Friday, Voll had 35 against Buffalo in the Magic's third win of the young season. This girl can play!   [player_tooltip player_id='208184' first='Zahara' last='Bishop'] – Suddenly there's a lot riding on the play of the gifted 5'10 guard at Benilde-St. Margaret's. With the state's top senior [player_tooltip player_id='177728' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] breaking her hand last weekend, and 2025 #2 [player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'] out for the year with a torn ACL, Bishop is suddenly in the spotlight. She responded last week with an energetic performance that led to 33 points for the Red Knights in a win over Hill-Murray.   [player_tooltip player_id='346160' first='Ella' last='Keenan'] – We're just two weeks into the new season and we've already written about the Chaska post several times. No wonder. The Top 25 junior has been dominant. Keenan is known for her rebounding and averaged 8 boards per game last winter. Now she's also scoring at an impressive clip, over doubling last year's 8.5 ppg average. Last week she put up 33 in a win at Prior Lake. Chaska is off to an impressive 3-0 start under new coach Samantha Canter.   [player_tooltip player_id='215943' first='Somah' last='Kamara'] – After battling through injuries over a long period of time, Kamara has returned to form once again over the past six months. The Top 40 senior is playing with pace, renewed energy and skill. Last week the unsigned guard scored 32 points and collected 10 rebounds, 9 steals and 3 assists while leading Cooper to the first win for new coach Ebony Rich. Kamara averaged 15 ppg for the Hawks last winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='339117' first='Evyn' last='Eppinga'] – Last week we told you about the Anoka guard's long-distance shooting excellence at the Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off where the Top 100 senior made 7 of 8 threes in a 36-point performance against Holy Angels. This week the unsigned prospect showed it was no fluke by scoring 31 against Andover. Eppinga has 104 points in four games and is shooting nearly 48% from beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'] – Coming off an outstanding summer with the Minnesota Rise, much is expected of the Top 50 freshman who led Cedar Mountain in scoring with 18 points per game as an 8th grader, earning all-Tomahawk Conference honors. Last week Aubrey began the new year with a near triple-double scoring 31 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals in a win over Renville County West. She also plays volleyball and runs track for the school in Morgan.   [player_tooltip player_id='330744' first='Savannah' last='Borowicz'] – The 2025 Top 40 prospect from Jordan is an excellent leader and floor general who can fire the basketball from downtown. The Jaguars scored a nice win over Visitation at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic to run their season mark to a perfect 4-0. Earlier in the week, Borowicz put up 30 points in a victory versus Glencoe-Silver Lake. "Savi" averaged 15 ppg last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'] – The 8th grader from Duluth Marshall, a 5'11 phenom who can do it all, is one of the top prospects in the country. In the Hilltoppers season-opening win against Two Harbors, Johnson played just 19 minutes but recorded a near quadruple double, with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 steals. She followed that up on Saturday with 28 more points against a formidable Albany squad.   [player_tooltip player_id='897052' first='Tatum' last='Morrison'] – Another 8th grader posted some impressive numbers last week as the 2028 standout from Deer River recorded a double-double in a win over Little Fork-Big Falls. Morrison had 21 points, 10 assists and 11 steals for the Warriors. Located 15 miles northwest of Grand Rapids in Itasca County, Deer River is likely to raise its profile in the years ahead thanks to this talented young guard.   NAME TO REMEMBER   Malin Youngberg – 2028 guard, Little Falls   Every week we come across fresh faces who clearly have the potential to be successful varsity performers in high school and beyond. Thanks to the diligent social media posting from [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] (one of the best in AAU at promoting their players) we learned this week of Youngberg. The 5'11 8th grader made her presence felt in a win over Big Lake with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals. Malin can play all five positions and rarely leaves the court for a breather. We look forward to learning more about this young prospect.   COMING UP   We'll have extensive coverage of the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, including:   <ul> <li>Top performers (parts 1 & 2)</li>   <li>Stock risers</li>   <li>Newcomers to watch</li>   <li>Emerging stars</li>   <li>Teams that made a statement</li> </ul>   Our viewing plans for the week are set: In addition to watching several streaming replays from the Tip Off (all available on <a href="https://nspn.tv/partners/Breakdown/?referral=breakdown">NSPN's streaming service</a>), we're looking at Park Rapids vs Breckenridge, St. James vs Jackson County Central, Eden Prairie at Prior Lake, Lanesboro vs Hayfield, and Chaska vs Minnetonka. It's tentative at this point but we might make the trip to Goodhue on Saturday afternoon for a tilt between the Wildcats and powerhouse Providence Academy. See you in the gym!

All everyone wanted to talk about this past week was the Breakdown Tip Off Classic. That's no wonder given what a gigantic event the annual gathering has become on the girls basketball calendar. Of all the in-season, multi-team tournaments, this is clearly the biggest and the best. Capped off by a monumental mano-a-mano battle between Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN of Providence Academy and her AAU teamate Rainey Welson of Hortonville, Wisconsin, once again the Breakdown did not disappoint. With a ton of Tip Off coverage coming throughout the week, we're going to set that aside for the moment to look at what else happened around Minnesota during the Week That Was #2.