Tony's Takes...Take 4! | Prep Girls Hoops

Here we are, 4 weeks in the books. I was able to get out and catch a couple of games live over the past week and spent the rest of the time watching online. Coaches, I need to ask a favor, please, please, please update your scores with mngirlsbasketballhub.com otherwise known as the Hub. It helps us out, and the players and fans like looking at the box scores as well. They've made it fairly easy for you to do, so again, I'm pleading with you, please update your stats. With that out of the way, lets get to it!   Maple Grove vs Eden Prairie   I had no idea [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] was honing in on joining the 1,000-point club when I was looking for a game to watch in person last week. There are many good players on both sides to watch so it was an easy decision. My only gripe is that they started the game early so I missed the 1st couple of minutes. Ok, enough whining. That was as well a played, coached and officiated game as I've seen in some time. Both coaches pushing the right buttons, the players making big time plays and the officials allowing the players to decide the outcome. Ode, the 3rd ranked prospect and Michigan State commit and [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'], the 6th-ranked prospect and South Dakota commit went toe to toe and was must-watch TV. With all of the attention being centered on them, they did a great job of not forcing the issue and allowing the game to come to them. By halftime they had played to a stalemate with Tori edging Ode 11-10.   Things were nip and tuck for much of the 2nd half with Maple Grove grabbing the biggest lead of the game 68-60 with Ode hitting back to back 3's during the run. Schlagel wouldn't be outdone as she came back with a big 4-point play with 1:38 remaining to cut the lead to 4. Maple Grove just proved to have too many weapons as they had 4 players score in double figures led by Ode's 25. Along with Ode, [player_tooltip player_id='215956' first='Claire' last='Stern'] had 13, [player_tooltip player_id='215944' first='Ava' last='Cossette'] 12 and [player_tooltip player_id='339162' first='Addie' last='Hanna'] with 10. [player_tooltip player_id='252480' first='Rae' last='Ehrman'] led the Eagles with 22 while Schlagel chipped in 19. Both [player_tooltip player_id='595568' first='Ella' last='Hardwick'] and [player_tooltip player_id='396426' first='Vanessa' last='Jordan'] had 9 for Eden Prairie.   [player_tooltip player_id='565312' first='Ari' last='Peterson'] - 2028 guard - Providence Academy   Peterson has the size, speed and pedigree to be a big-time player, and she is well on her way. Ari has all the confidence in the world and playing alongside such a talent as [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], she can't help but pick up the right kind of habits it takes to be a great player. In two games last week, Peterson continuously beat defenders down the court for easy transition buckets and used her length and quickness to crash the boards for big time 2nd-chance points. Peterson is averaging just under 12 points a game for the Lions and will play a big part in their quest to 3-peat as Class 2A state champions.   [player_tooltip player_id='595557' first='Mara' last='Holle'] - 2025 forward - Blaine   Blaine went 2-1 last week picking up wins over Champlin Park and Osseo while dropping a close one to Anoka. Their success is due large in part to Holle and her well-rounded game. She has a pretty stroke from beyond the arc but she's no one-trick pony by any means. Holle keeps it simple but effective, playing very fundamental ball, blocking out, communicating and being a great teammate. Holle is averaging just under 17 ppg and has helped the Bengals get out to an impressive 6-2 record.   [player_tooltip player_id='215956' first='Claire' last='Stern'] - 2024 forward - Maple Grove   While [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] draws a lot of attention, and rightly so, Stern is quietly off to a very good start to the season. She helped the Crimson pick up two good wins knocking off Eden Prairie and Centennial to help Maple Grove improve to 6-0 on the young season. While Ode and [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] went toe to toe, Stern was the X factor in a game that was as well played a game as I've seen. It seemed like every time Eden Prairie was ready to take over, Stern would hit a dagger 3, block a shot or finish at the rim to keep the Eagles at bay. The NDSU commit also shows veteran leadership which will be a major factor as the Crimson looks to make a run at a state tournament berth.   [player_tooltip player_id='252480' first='Rae' last='Ehrman'] - 2025 guard - Eden Prarie   Ehrman has long been identified as a long-range assassin who rarely would put the ball on the deck. Those days are over. Against Maple Grove last week, Ehrman showed all the work she has put in when no one is looking as she scored from all over the court, even crashing the boards for offensive rebounds for put-backs. Of course the 20th-ranked prospect in the 2025 class still knocked down big bombs from beyond the arc that had her Eagles squad poised to pull off a big road win, but their efforts fell just a bit short. Ehrman led the Eagles with 22 points in the 72-65 loss to Maple Grove and chipped in 9 in their big 63-59 home win against Lakeville South.

Here we are, 4 weeks in the books. I was able to get out and catch a couple of games live over the past week and spent the rest of the time watching online. Coaches, I need to ask a favor, please, please, please update your scores with mngirlsbasketballhub.com otherwise known as the Hub. It helps us out, and the players and fans like looking at the box scores as well. They've made it fairly easy for you to do, so again, I'm pleading with you, please update your stats. With that out of the way, lets get to it!