Player Of The Week – Week 8 (Jan. 15th – Jan. 21st)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we tip off the girls high school season throughout Iowa, there are going to be a few new articles/evaluations that we publish every week during the season, that we have not done recently in the past. One of those articles being our MVP Of The Week and Players Of The Week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MVP Of The Week is an individual that displayed what it means to put on a major performance/s for their perspective squad throughout the week. Someone who came out firing on all cylinders and dominated in more ways than one on the hardwood while putting up an eye-opening stat line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Players Of The Week are other individuals that were in consideration for the MVP of the week but fell just short in the end when taking into consideration all outlying factors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MVP Of The Week</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["246163"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cemu003e1/20/24 vs IC West - 44 Pointsu003c/emu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernThe Cedar Falls Tigers beat up on the Iowa City West Trojans yesterday, winning by a final score of 83-43. In this contest, the Tigers star Shooting Guard, [player_tooltip player_id='246163' first='Grace' last='Knutson'] registered 44 points in the win. Let me repeat that once more so everyone understands what is going on here. Knutson ended the contest scoring 44 points by herself, while hitting a school record 13 three pointer from deep. I haven't seen the full stat line so I can't tell you what her other numbers were just yet but putting up more points then the entire other team is impressive, especially when you are scoring in the 40's-50's range. If you can't tell, this was a shooting clinic but Knutson and her whole team. They started off the game on fire and that never seemed to slow down. There is going to be a conversation at the end of this year for best performances during the 2023-2024 season throughout the state and this performance WILL be included in that.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ad55991fe8a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players Of The Week</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations":"","_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ad55991fec6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["311391"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cemu003e1/18/24 @ Durant - 27 Points (11-23), 2 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 3 Steals, 2 TO'su003c/emu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernMorgan Miller of Regina Catholic has been fantastic this entire season. Miller is a Point Guard out of the 2025 Class and she has some real talent on the hardwood. From everything she has demonstrated throughout this past 2.5 years, I am confident in saying that she is one of the top PG's in the state in the regards of leader and setting up the players around her. No matter what court she is on or who the competition may be, there is never a time where she seems sped up or out of control. When she was a Freshman, she had this ability but the scoring wasn't quite there yet but that has definitely changed. The consistent expansion of her range when shooting the ball has been promising to say the least. I'm not sure who has reached out to Miller or where she might have interest from at the collegiate level but she can play. I would be shocked if she wasn't committed before her Senior season comes to close. She could be a game changer for a lot of programs out there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["656438"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cemu003e1/18/24 vs IC City High - 19 Points (6-14), 11 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 2 Blocksu003c/emu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernThe Western Dubuque Bobcats came away with a meaningful win on Thursday evening at home against the Iowa City Little Hawks. In this contest, the Bobcats main source of production was at her best in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='656438' first='Karrington' last='Asp']. Asp is a college committed player already and she is working each night to become better for her future endeavors. She ended this one with a game high 19 points, while also bringing in 11 Rebounds. Asp has natural height and physicality. Not to mention that she moves really well down the floor and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty in the paint. The Bobcats might only be sitting with an 8-6 record but trust me, Asp is doing what she can. She is going to be the type of consistent player at the next level that I wouldn't be surprised if she see's the floor right away, depending on their returning roster. She has all in the intangibles, she just needs to stay hungry. That's when she is at her best.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["311370"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cemu003e1/19/24 @ Pella Christian - 40 Points (13-22), 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 4 Steals, 1 TOu003c/emu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernBailey Birmingham has been included in this type of article twice now on the season because of her fantastic play throughout the week. In all honesty, Birmingham is having one of those seasons where she could be considered for this article every week. She is putting up massive numbers each game, her team is winning, and it seems like everyone is loving the culture being built within their Norwalk Girl's program. On Friday night, the Warriors won their contest and Birmingham had another game to remember. She ended up recording 40 points on 13-22 shooting, 3 Rebounds, 2 Assists, and 4 Steals. All of this success doesn't come alone. Birmingham has a great set of teammates and supporting cast around her to help install the confidence that she has to go out and do this on a regular basis, which is really important. When it gets closer to Playoff time and teams start to scout this group, someone else is going to have to produce. Teams will target Birmingham and force her to give up the ball. If everyone else around her can step up in those moments, this team is going to be very hard to beat, no matter the circumstances.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["246121"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cemu003e1/20/24 @ Millard West - 20 Points (8-12), 11 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 5 Steals, 1 TOu003c/emu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernThe Johnston Dragons went on the road and took on the #1 team out of Nebraska yesterday at the University of Creighton. In this contest, it was a back and forth battle in the first half with the Wildcats not going away. At halftime the count was 32-30 Dragons but that all changed in the second half. As you would expect, the Dragons took over and kept their pace while the Wildcats started to slow down. In the end, Johnson walked away with a 24 point victory behind the play of their Senior leader, [player_tooltip player_id='246121' first='Aili' last='Tanke']. Tanke finished the game with 20 points (8-12), 11 Rebounds, and 5 Steals. If you know about Tanke and her game, this performance was more of the usual. You know what you are going to get each game when she laces up and that is why I am sort of shocked at this result in general. There were moments throughout this contest when Tanke was left wide open for a rebound at the rim or at the three point line for a shot and I am not sure how that happens against an Iowa State commit. If you want to beat a team like the Dragons, you can't do that. All in all though, this was an all around great showing and learning experience for both sides moving forward.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ad55991fff0"} /-->