Team Nine Breakdown (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have two more days of articles left to recap the PGH Freshman Showcase. Today, we're looking at Team Nine and notes I have on the players on that team. I hope you enjoy it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992515' first='Sydney' last='Loerke']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'0 Deerfield product will be a needed influx of talent and size to the Demons' program. Loerke is a rangy athlete who defended around the basket well and used that length to deter guards from attacking the basket. I also thought Loerke did a solid job playing through contact and was physical around the basket. Playing with some of the talented guards at Deerfield already could help maximize Loerke's physical tools with her 6'0 size. The Demons have been competitive these past few years, and there's more talent coming through the ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992488' first='Ava' last='Hendrickson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Post players that run the floor are valuable because that adds value to a team's transition offense, and Hendrickson does that. The West Salem forward showed excellent touch around the rim and knew the role she needed to play to help her team play the best version of basketball they could. Hendrickson's style will fit in with the style of basketball the Panthers play, which has powered them to the state tournament the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888430' first='Leyla' last='Burkemper']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent influx at Whitefish Bay has been a lead guard influx. All the kids who've come into the program have been undersized lead guards, and there's plenty of talent, but Burkemper could help balance that out over time. The Blue Duke is an active wing who can guard multiple positions on the perimeter. She's a hard-nosed defender who uses her length to contain ball handlers on the perimeter and to stay active in passing lanes away from the ball. We'll see what the plan is for her over the next few seasons at Whitefish Bay, but the tools for her to find minutes at some point due to her defensive tools could help the Blue Dukes maximize their competitive window with their juniors and sophomores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992503' first='Laylaa' last='Peterson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'd known of Peterson for a while because she's played AAU around where I am and because her mom coaches at 2023 Sectional Champions, McFarland, where she's attending school this year. I was more than impressed by what she did in Appleton. Peterson isn't a physically imposing kid but makes up for it with her athleticism. I thought she was one of the better kids at beating her defender off the dribble by using her speed to turn the corner and attack defenses with a numerical advantage. Peterson did a ton on both ends of the floor and was an engaged guard whenever she was on the floor. The McFarland guard was one of the more influential players I saw in all the games I watched in the 5v5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->