Team Eight Breakdown (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have three days' worth of teams to highlight still from the PGH Freshman Showcase. Today, we'll discuss Team Eight and highlight what each player did well last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874943' first='Rayna' last='Helmer']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'2 Cambria-Friesland guard found ways to complement the four players she's shared the floor with. Nothing she did was particularly flashy, but she made things work. I thought she found her way to plenty of loose balls and won possession for her team more than 50% of the time. Her ability to find ways to make the whole better than the sum of its parts may not lead to stats, but it could help the Hilltoppers improve these next four years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991446' first='Kara' last='Hesse']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, West Bend East didn't have a program for more than two games. Now, they have [player_tooltip player_id='991446' first='Kara' last='Hesse'] coming into the fray, which could help lift the program. Hesse showed an ability to turn the corner and use her speed to beat defenders off the dribble. In any sport, speed kills, and Hesse has enough to keep defenses on their heels. I also thought that the West Bend native did a solid job finishing around the basket and finishing off plays that she made on the perimeter. There's room to grow, but guard play is No. 1 thing every coach wants, and Hesse will improve East's backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='984413' first='Piper' last='Atkinson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Menomonee Falls guard showed some spot-shooting ability in Appleton. Her ability to catch and shoot, paired with talented guards on this group, could foreshadow things to come if Atkinson earns a spot in the Phoenix rotation this season. Having a kid who can consistently make shots opens up an offense. I also thought she did find ways to make plays on the ball. She was constantly in good positions on the defensive end, which led to her stealing wayward passes that helped her team get into transition offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992479' first='Ahviana' last='Dean-Baker']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I loved what Dean-Baker brought to the floor. The confidence of the Madison East guard jumped out when I saw her playing in 3x3. She looked at home with the ball in her hands and space to make some things happen off the dribble. Dean-Baker showed plenty of shot-making and creating traits throughout the event, and she's more of a scoring guard. However, the Purgolder displayed that she can pass at a high level. Her vision is excellent, and she made some tight-window passes. I loved her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->