Younger Standouts from Scott City at Buhler

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opening night of class 4A girls basketball found me catching a #8 vs #9 seed game at Buhler. The Beavers of Scott City (10-10) from the Great West Activities Conference traveled to take on the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division IV Crusaders (11-9). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='302141' first='Erika' last='Felker'] came up big with 19 points on a trio of three-pointers and going 10/10 from the line as the Beavers took down a 60-47 win. Scott City advances to take on another Crusader team, Wellington at Wellington Friday, March 1. Several underclassmen stood out for both teams. Enjoy this look at them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":862869,"width":"101px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Buhler-2025-Charley-Baxter.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-862869" style="width:101px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Buhler 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='649171' first='Charley' last='Baxter']. Photo: Robert Kelly</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='649171' first='Charley' last='Baxter'], 5'8", CG, Buhler, 2025 - Baxter had a terrific game. Strong, athletic, and physical with good hops Baxter jumps to the ball with both hands very well. She controlled and cleared rebounds. She also was a physical presence inside on the offensive end. A couple players learned the hard way that Baxter commonly came out unscathed on interior collisions. I liked her handles, efforts to create off the bounce and on the move, and just overall mindset. Going forward, adding whirls and other moves to her bounce game will get her scoring looks she was not able to finish creating tonight. In hitting a three off a set sideline play she showed a quick release with her feet set. I look forward to seeing more of that dimension from her in the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='872341' first='Kendall' last='Gentry']</strong>, 5'5", PG, Scott City, 2025 - Gentry was the best point guard on the floor. Buhler gamely tried to apply full court pressure at different points but the Crusaders, missing injured standout freshman [player_tooltip player_id='932966' first='Ella' last='Voss'] and junior leader [player_tooltip player_id='539011' first='Gracie' last='Oard'] limited by an ankle, did not have the guard quickness to prevent the Beavers from getting transition or open three point looks out of their press breaker. She proved to be strong and fast with the ball, quick, and a dangerous perimeter shooter. Finishing with 17 points she buried a trio of three pointers and went 4/6 from the line. Defensively Gentry and her fellow guards were quick defending on the perimeter and consistently did not allow Buhler to penetrate off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":862878,"width":"99px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Natalya-Krafels-2025-Buhler.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-862878" style="width:99px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Buhler 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='616754' first='Natalya' last='Krafels']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='616754' first='Natalya' last='Krafels'], 5'9", PF, Buhler, 2025 - Krafels set the tone inside from the start, scoring the Crusaders' first two hoops off inside play. She would finish with 19 points including a made three and by going 3/4 from the line. Long, fast, and active with quick, good footwork she showed the ability to score on the move and off post moves with elevation and athleticism. She, senior center [player_tooltip player_id='669292' first='Emmie' last='Stallman'], and the rest of the Crusaders effectively snuffed out Beaver interior play aside from strong play by [player_tooltip player_id='872373' first='Megan' last='Trout']. Krafels has the potential to be among the top forwards in 4A her senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":862866,"width":"95px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/Scott-City-2025-Megan-Trout-1.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-862866" style="width:95px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scott City 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='872373' first='Megan' last='Trout']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='872373' first='Megan' last='Trout']</strong>, 5'10", PF, Scott City, 2025 - The Crusaders advantage heading into game would be their size and strength inside and Buhler's bigs were virtually automatic when they got good looks around the rim. Trout showed a mature, quick post game on the offensive end. Defensively she battled post-ups and challenged interior plays with physicality. Scoring 7 points she also collected a couple blocked shots, several rebounds, and registered a few assists and steals. Trout has a solid build, good length, transition speed, and terrific footwork on both ends. A smart, tough prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932993' first='Tori' last='Tustian']</strong>, 5'5", PG, Buhler, 2027 - Buhler has something in the freshman. On a night where the Crusaders could not get into the paint off the dribble Tustian, who first entered the game early in the third quarter, immediately beat Beaver defenders off the dribble her first two trips down the floor. The experienced Scott City guards were able disrupt her on the perimeter afterward but it is clear that she has a future to watch. She confidently brought the ball up the floor and defended with quickness and speed as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->