Top Performers at the Lakota Nation Invitational Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashlan Blount - Red Cloud - 6'0" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashlan is one of the top prospects in South Dakota basketball. Her game is complete and she has her Crusader team firing on all cylinder teams with her performance and leadership on the court. She had a fantastic tournament and was awarded with all-tournament honors and the play-maker award. Her ability to score as well as set up her teammates sets her apart from the pack. 19.3 PPG and multiple assists and steals per contest, this young lady gets it done on all levels!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='375632' first='Jodene' last='Hunter'] - Red Cloud - 5'6" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jodene had a very efficient tournament averaging 15.0 points per game and helping her team win the championship at the LNI tournament! She gets it done on all levels and can score hitting shots or attacking the basket. Defensively she is extremely active and helps her team get stops and rebounds. Another really talented player on an a very good team in Red Cloud!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taleah Lunderman - Red Cloud - 5'9" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders are loaded with talent and Taleah certainly falls into that category. She's a scoring machine and plays with a selfless nature that makes her an excellent teammate as well. She scores when she needs to but consistently makes the right play when she has a teammate with a better shot. In the paint, she does an excellent job "feeling" the defense and putting herself in good positions to score. She had a huge performance in the championship game leading all scorers with 18 points. For her efforts she was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy Fridia - Red Cloud - 5'4" G/F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scoring gets you on the stat panel and in the paper, but anyone who follows basketball appreciates the effort, grit, and intensity that this young lady brings on the floor. She was given the Defense and Hustle awards at the tournament and for good reason. She is an intense defender who reads the floor well and creates a ton of turnovers leading to transition points for her squad. She runs the floor hard both directions in transition and makes hustle plays all game long. She also chipped in 15 points in the championship game and was a big reason the Crusaders brought home the hardware!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='317408' first='Nora' last='Dinger'] - Wall - 5'5" PG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nora is a play-making point guard who can score and create for her teammates. She attacks the basket well and has a knack for finding paths to the basket even in traffic. She has a consistent three-point shot if you leave her open and makes defenses pay from there as well. This playmaker is a big reason why Wall got all the way to the championship game in the tournament and scored 12 points in the contest. A personal milestone was reached for this talented senior as she reached her 1000th career point during the game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='363192' first='Rhea' last='Tucker'] - Wall - 6'0" G/F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rhea helped her team reach the championship game before falling to Red Cloud. She is an efficient scorer who creates matchup problems with her length and athleticism. She was one of the top rebounders at the event averaging 8.5 per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='403792' first='Paige' last='Kjerstad'] - Wall - 5'10" G/F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paige showed off her physical style and ability to get to the basket all tournament long. She finished in the paint and got to the FT line with her aggressive nature and high basketball IQ. An all-tournament award recepient, she finished with an average of 15.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG. A player that's good for a double-double per game is a huge asset on both ends of the floor and this young lady continues to have a great senior year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525670' first='Blake' last='Thompson'] - McLaughlin - 5'7" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake is a talented scorer who can knock it down from well beyond the arc as well as use her impressive ball handling skills to attack the defense and score around the rim. She averaged 14.0 PPG at the tournament and hit 7 three's. This young lady does a great job scoring and commands a lot of attention from opposing defenses, and she's only a sophomore!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='375381' first='Hayden' last='Thorton'] - Rapid City Christian - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayden had yet another great performance after stepping out as a leader for her Rapid City Christian squad this year. She made a formidable duo last year with the talented guard (now playing at the University of South Dakota) Olivia Kieffer, but this year she is handling even more of the load for her team. The final day she helped her squad snag third place at the tournament with 19 points including 4 made 3's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lydia Williams - Rapid City Christian - 5'10" C</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lydia is an emerging prospect from Rapid City that has an increased role and is playing well for her team. She is a force in the paint and helps her team on both ends of the floor. On the final day she chipped in 11 points in a very efficient scoring performance and grabbed seven rebounds as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='613977' first='Maleena' last='Brave'] - White River - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maleena is a talented athlete from White River who showed out at the tournament. She has a variety of moves to finish around the rim and does a nice job scoring for her squad. She reads the floor well in transition and demonstrates a high basketball IQ. She poured in around 15 PPG and was one of the most efficient scorers at the event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lesleen Makes Room for Them - Todd County - 5'10" G/F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lesleen is an absolute sniper from beyond the arc! She made 12 three's in the tournament and was given the award for the Top 3-Point Shooter. An all-around talent she led the entire field with 20.5 PPG at the tournament and chipped in a little over 9 RPG as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylee Jewett - Dupree - 5'11" G/F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylee had a nice showing at the LNI and was second in overall points per game putting in 19.3 per contest. She does an excellent job attacking the basket and finishes well at the basket. Her aggressive style led her to getting to the FT line and making teams pay from there as she made 20 FT's at the event. She has a great combination of length and speed and a lot of valuable experience in her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->