More Small School Kids Who Can Win Games
Let’s look at some small school kids who could decide how the small-school brackets look heading into Sectionals in two weeks. Jaedyn Zdroik The Cardinals are in a situation like Laconia was in a few years ago. They’re incredibly young,…
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Continue ReadingLet’s look at some small school kids who could decide how the small-school brackets look heading into Sectionals in two weeks.
Jaedyn Zdroik
The Cardinals are in a situation like Laconia was in a few years ago. They’re incredibly young, talented, and in a position to make a run for a gold ball that nobody expected coming into the season, and Zdroik is the engine for this program. The 5-10 guard wants to get downhill and play up-tempo whenever possible, and it’s not a matter if they’ll outrun you. It’s a matter of how much they’ll outrun you. Zdroik can make long-range passes in transition to get easy looks, run by transition defenders to get to the rim or finish in the paint through contact to put two points on the board. The Cardinals will contend for the next three years and this postseason with their 2027 group.
Naomi Rikkola
Rikkola is the source of offense for Sevastopol, and that offense comes in an unorthodox fashion. Rikkola has been someone defenses have allowed to shoot this season, and she’s made them pay, shooting the three at a high percentage for the second year in a row. However, her influence is much more prominent than her leading the team in scoring. Rikkola is probably also Sevastopol’s rebounding, steals, and blocks leader for a team that could make a deep postseason run this season.
Reese Grimm
Pittsville has had a successful season and earned a No. 2 seed in their subsection next week. Grimm is part of a trio of juniors who’ve developed into all-conference-level kids the past three years. In Grimm’s case, she’s stepped up in the most high-profile games of the season and nearly led the Panthers to an upset win over Pacelli, making six threes. Her consistency shooting the ball will be needed playing against plenty of 2-3 zones, but she’s also been one of the better passers in Central Wisconsin. The Panthers may have a competitive two-year run.
Callie Kurzcek
Having a kid punish teams for playing a 2-3 zone by attacking the basket from the free-throw line is a tool most schools don’t have, but Kurzcek is excellent at that. She’s a physical and undersized forward who manages to power her way into wherever she wants to go, and she can finish through that contact if it’s called or not. She’s also willing and able to plant her feet and take charges, which most kids won’t do, and those extra possessions in a one-game playoff will add up. Kurzcek’s Berlin group will be a No. 3 seed in their subsection in D3.