Youngsters who've impressed in section play

There's just so much to see during the first week of section play and it all seems to happen at once. The games come in bunches, and there are far fewer contests available online either live or for replay. That's a tough combination when the goal is to see as many games as possible. We did our best over the past week with a focus on two primary targets – graduating seniors and rising stars. In our recap of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/03/the-week-that-was-15-sections-and-seniors/">The Week That Was #15</a> we wrote a lot about seniors who bowed out of tournament competition and thus played their final high school games. Today we look at the youngsters, the up-and-coming talent who made their mark last week in section play. Here are 5 prospects who stood out in particular.   [player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'] – 2027 guard, St. Peter   With starting point guard [player_tooltip player_id='208187' first='Annika' last='Southworth'] out of Saturday's contest with a hand injury, the St. Peter Saints needed someone to step up and be a difference maker in the section 2AAA semifinal at Gustavus Adolphus College. Luckily for the Saints, Annika's younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'] was ready for the challenge against a strong squad from New Ulm. The 5'6 guard was an effective floor general all night long, setting up plays for her teammates and knocking down some big-time shots of her own. Kylie buried three triples in the first half, plus two more in the second, finishing the contest with 17 points. In addition to her shooting, Southworth brought a high level of defensive energy and a fiery approach to the game that has become her calling card. MSU-Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id='178267' first='Rhyan' last='Holmgren'] was the star attraction for the Saints, as usual, but they don't advance to the section finals without Kylie's performance. St. Peter takes on Marshall in the section championship game Thursday at Gustavus.   [player_tooltip player_id='866655' first='Maggie' last='Joyce'] (2028) and Leah Brustad (2029) – New Ulm   With senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='215987' first='Daviney' last='Dreckman'] out with a serious knee injury, the New Ulm Eagles went into Saturday's section semifinals short-handed. Dreckman, who is committed to play at the University of Jamestown, is one of the team's top scorers and the undisputed emotional leader of the group. Several players stepped up in Daviney's absence, including starters [player_tooltip player_id='396444' first='Morgan' last='Hulke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='339175' first='Brooklyn' last='Lewis'], as well as two middle-schoolers who impressed us with their performance.   In the first half, it was 5'10 8th grader [player_tooltip player_id='866655' first='Maggie' last='Joyce'] who provided key minutes at the forward position. She played with the poise and confidence of a player several years older. Her shot selection and defense were solid, and her ability to rebound the ball is outstanding. Joyce uses her length, verticality, and strength to find and maintain position under the basket and easily wrestle the boards away from her opponents. Maggie plays with zero fear. We won't rank the Class of 2028 until September, but you can be pretty sure that Joyce is going to find her way into the Freshmen 50 one way or the other.   In the second half it was time for lengthy 7th grader Leah Brustad to shine. Like Joyce, Brustad is versatile and can play multiple positions. When we last saw Leah a few months ago at the Fall Exclusive event, she stood out week after week with her adaptability, shot blocking, ball handling, and post play. While Brustad wasn't quite as dominant against the much older (and mostly larger) high school players on Saturday, she held her own and then some. Brustad made a positive impression with her confidence and the decisions she made under a good deal of pressure. While the Eagles weren't able to get the win over 26-2 St. Peter, the play of their youngsters showed promise for what lies ahead.     [player_tooltip player_id='630241' first='Kate' last='Arnold'] – 2027 guard, Chanhassen   The Chanhassen Storm had a slightly improved record this season at just over the .500 mark with 14 wins and 13 losses. Their season came to a close last Wednesday, however, in a 72-66 loss to Prior Lake. The game went down to the wire in the final minutes, but there were two 9th graders who impressed us all game long. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='630241' first='Kate' last='Arnold'], younger sister to St. Ben's commit [player_tooltip player_id='215990' first='Lauren' last='Arnold'], has been a mainstay for the Storm all season long. Her stats have been strong across the board as she averaged 14 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Last Wednesday's performance was no different. Kate was aggressive from the jump, running the floor for fast break opportunities and confidently attacking the basket. The top 15 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027 finished the contest with 8 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='763004' first='Lyla' last='Hentges'] – 2027 guard, Chanhassen   Another Chanhassen freshman who impressed was 5'10 guard [player_tooltip player_id='763004' first='Lyla' last='Hentges'].  Lyla came out of the gates with aggression. She was clearly looking to score, which was much needed for the Storm. Senior point guard and leading scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='215990' first='Lauren' last='Arnold'], who averaged 17.3 points per game this season, was playing with a shoulder injury that appeared to be impacting her ability to score. Throughout the contest Hentges showcased her ability to put the ball in the basket in all manner of ways, from a shifty drive to the hole, to turn-around jumpers, to off-balance transition shots. The second half is when Hentges – another top 15 prospect – really started to heat up. She opened the half with three made triples in a row. Lyla continued to make shots as the clock was running out and the pressure was growing. While the Storm were unable to come away with the win, Hentges finished with an impressive 25 points, including 5-of-7 from three.  Like Arnold, she is a strong candidate for Division 1 basketball.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to these evaluations.

There's just so much to see during the first week of section play and it all seems to happen at once. The games come in bunches, and there are far fewer contests available online either live or for replay. That's a tough combination when the goal is to see as many games as possible. We did our best over the past week with a focus on two primary targets – graduating seniors and rising stars. In our recap of The Week That Was #15 we wrote a lot about seniors who bowed out of tournament competition and thus played their final high school games. Today we look at the youngsters, the up-and-coming talent who made their mark last week in section play. Here are 5 prospects who stood out in particular.