Key Non-Seniors in the 6A East Sub-State Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams reaching the 6A East sub-state finals feature several talented non-seniors that integral to their team's drive to reach the state tournament that begins next Wednesday in Wichita. Enjoy a quick look at several of them to watch at the four March 1st sub-state finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544011' first='Laila' last='Johnson-Berndt'], 5'9", CG, Shawnee Mission South, 2026 - I am among the Prep Girls Hoops scouts who have seen Berndt play in the past couple of years. Raider coach Mark Western has been thrilled at how much improved she is this season. In January she was averaging 8.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals. He especially likes how much better she is driving with the ball. She has been on Prep Girls Hoops' radar ever since my colleague Grant McGinnis saw her on a 14U team. Even then raved about her athleticism, ability to play at tempo, and defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='335955' first='Brynnae' last='Johnson'], 5'7", CG, Lawrence, 2026 - 7.9.23 Mason Asher at Run 4 the Roses - "...was very impressive today as she showed great footwork around the basket and does a nice job of getting her defender off balance. She can flat out just get baskets for her team.3.9.23 6A quarterfinal loss to Washburn Rural, made my 6A all-first round team - Johnson led all scorers with 21 points (2/6 from three), 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists while turning the ball over three times. With nice size and length, Johnson is the real deal. Her quick hands and feet are effective on both ends, she is terrific off the bounce, and even better in transition (Who missed the left-side, challenged, transition basket using a reverse spin right hand shot?). 6.4.22 tweet shared a video clip of her driving from the wing, whirling and hitting a teammate on the block with a behind the back pass out of the whirl. 10.14.21 Team 7 Lawrence circuit review - "Looks to dime drop on transition basket attack. Fast with the ball. Slick right to left mid-lane basket attack with half scoop."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='351760' first='Asia' last='Lee'], 5'9", PG, Olathe North, 2026 - The 2023 Sunflower League second teamer is having a great season and has been a big influence on the team's winning ways over the past few weeks. This season she is averaging 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.1 assists. She is shooting 35% from three (58/164) and 70% from the line (81/116). Long, quick and athletic she wastes little movement on her perimeter shot, handles with speed in transition, shoots well off the screen game, and has solid handles with good speed in transition. A difference maker on the running the team even when having a off night scoring, she makes a point of getting her teammates involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='536974' first='Jessica' last='Borders'], 5'11", SF, Olathe West, 2026 - Borders is a high motor and versatile player. She has good size, length, hops and athleticism. She is very good in the transition game as she finishes well at speed, pulls up for the jumper, and will hit the three ball as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773199' first='Abigail' last='O'Connor'], 5'3", PG, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 2026 - The Cougars are a team with a good mix of young and experienced size and athleticism that relies on O'Connor, a floor general type point guard, to lead with headiness. A strong passer, including with the no-look variety, she has a ceiling that I am looking forward to watching her get closer to in the years ahead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='672683' first='Eve' last='Long'] 6'3", C, Olathe South, 2027 - Long has had a monster of a freshman year and is already one of the premier post players in the state. With the potential to climb over 400 points before the Falcons' season ends she is putting up 16.4 points on 57% shooting and pulling down 10.4 rebounds per game. She is also swatting 2.4 shots and picking up a couple assists per game. Long plays a smart, mature game that takes advantage of her great frame, big hands, hops, finishing ability, and strong catching ability in a variety of situations. Her back-to-basket game and defense of opponents' game is very strong. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779227' first='Amillia' last='Prochnow'], 5'7", PG, Blue Valley, 2027 - Prochnow has already established herself as one of the top guards in the state. She has stupid quick hands, is a terrific finisher, shoots the three with range, and is a tough on-ball defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349453' first='Aubrey' last='Shaw'], 6'1", PG, Blue Valley North, 2025 - The defending state champion Mustangs are one step away from returning to the state tournament for the third straight years. Coincidentally the team entered the post-season with the same number of losses as last year. Shaw has been a major component of the team's success in that stretch. Blessed with great size and length for a point guard she also has good quickness and transition handles with speed. She is also very heady. My colleague Jeremy Deckard, after seeing her at a team camp last summer, described her as "a real gunslinger" because of her ability to fill up the bucket from behind the arc. This season she is making three pointers at a 35% clip (44 made). She is also shooting 73% from the line and grabbing more than 9 rebounds per game. All told she is putting up nearly 16 points and 2.8 assists per game. Shaw has run the show at the point her entire high school career and is the key ingredient for teammates like center [player_tooltip player_id='349796' first='Jaliya' last='Davis'] to get the touches needed for the Mustangs to be successful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='456513' first='Gabrielle' last='McFall'], 5'11", CG, Blue Valley Northwest, 2025 - McFall is part of a very big, very deep team that is more than capable of beating defending champion Blue Valley North in their sub-state final. McFall is important partially due to the size and wingspan she brings to the guard position. She has good, quick hands; is light on her feet; and has handles to weave through defenders. She makes quality decisions on both sides of the ball and has a very smooth, nature way of playing the game. Her play was important in the Huskies close win over the Mustangs not quite two weeks ago. She is averaging 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.6 assists. For the Huskies to get to the state tournament she and her teammates have to control transition play and limit the number of quick, easy touches the Blue Valley North bigs get and the number of open perimeter shots BVN guards get. Her size and hops will be important for the Huskies to win the rebounding battle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->