2024-25 Preview: Dynamic Duos in 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 43 days, the 2024-25 season for girls' high school basketball begins. Which means, now is the perfect time to start looking at the top duos from the 4A class that are either previously established or have the opportunity to flourish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The common idea of a 'Dynamic Duo' is having two players that play complimentary basketball and can deliver a '1-2 punch' on a nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some notable 4A duos:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Players</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>School</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='467051' first='Rylie' last='Whitehair'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='901165' first='Kayden' last='Tsosie']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Gallup</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='458557' first='Catalina' last='Anaya'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='565812' first='Macy' last='Freeze']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPX</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391108' first='Jadyn' last='Montoya'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='648209' first='Jaiden' last='Montgomery']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Valencia</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648194' first='Malaiya' last='Castro'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='648207' first='Ashelynn' last='Borunda']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Lovington</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648203' first='Rebecca' last='Neal'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='888510' first='Breanna' last='Payton']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Highland</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='565809' first='Giana' last='Roybal'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='565815' first='Neveah' last='Richardson']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Valley</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gallup Bengals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitehair and Tsosie are arguably the top duo from the 4A class. Both were All-State Selections this past season, earning a First and Second Team nod, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rylie and Kayden are six-footers with a feathery touch and excellent footwork. On top of that, what makes the tandem tough to guard, is that they can run a deadly High/Low action. Both players are comfortable operating from the high-post and short-corner areas but are also willing passers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Pius X Sartans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anaya is one of the top guards in the 4A class who earned her first All-State Selection (Second Team) this past season. Furthermore, Anaya is a menace defensively but is also an underrated three-point shooter. Freeze is an intriguing forward listed at 6'0" garnering next-level interest. Freeze, who is now a senior, is a prime breakout candidate this upcoming season that could play more on the perimeter. Having said that, Freeze's bread and butter is still in the pick'n'roll game. She is a steady option when diving or rolling to the cup due to her size and touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valencia Jaguars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montoya, an All-State Selection (Second Team) as a junior, averaged a commanding 20.6 points, shooting 43 percent from the floor. Additionally, Montoya connected on 58 three-pointers at a 34 percent clip showcasing her ability as a three-level scorer. As for Montgomery, she is the 'glue-player' for Valencia that does a multitude of things. She defends, rebounds and scores when called upon. This past season, the lanky forward logged seven Double-Doubles posting 9.9 points and 7.1 rebounds to go with 1.4 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lovington Wildcats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Castro made 39 three-pointers in 2023-24 -- which was the second most amongst the 2026 class -- and has 107 for her career thus far. The savvy CG averaged 11.6 points per game as a sophomore and has the opportunity this upcoming season to become the primary option moving forward. But in order to become the No. 1 option, there must be a reliable No. 2 who has your back. That is where Borunda comes into play. Borunda is a high-energy, multi-positional player that competes on both ends of the floor. The 5'8" junior is coming off a career year in which she averaged 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals in 23 games played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Highland Hornets</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a playmaker and a knockdown shooter on your roster is a luxury and a necessity at the same time. Luckily for Highland, they have such things with Neal and Payton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a stellar year for Neal as she finished the 2023-24 season with nine Double-Doubles! On top of that, Neal was the only player from the class of 2026 to average a Double-Double this past season. The 5'8" point-guard put up 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds which was also the top mark for the sophomore class. Payton is one of eight players returning for the 2024-25 season to connect on 50 or more three-pointers. As a junior, Payton shot 36 percent from behind the arc, connecting on 53 'treys' in 27 games played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valley Vikings </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As juniors, Roybal put up 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists while Richardson averaged 9.6 points 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals. Roybal's ability to stretch the floor -- 42 three pointers on 39 percent -- allows driving lanes for Richardson and others due to the defense having to respect her outside shot. On the flip side, it's Richardson's defensive intensity that becomes contagious. Richardson has active hands and anticipates well which leads to several steals and deflections throughout the course of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Coupon Code</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enter code at checkout and receive $10 off your registration!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Code:&nbsp;<strong><em>MartinezPGH2024</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->