PGH Top 250 Expo Team Six Breakdown (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, we'll close out coverage from the Top 250 Showcase last weekend. Today, we're looking at Team Six and highlighting the players I have notes on from the event. On Monday morning, we'll start our 2025 rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751269' first='Madelyn' last='Springer']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another Hortonville youth program product, Springer, has the physical tools to set a tone for the defensive end of the floor. She's a solid athlete who can stick with opposing guards with speed on the perimeter and cause some frustration chasing lead guards around the perimeter. I also thought she had some poise on the offensive end of the floor. She kept her head up in traffic and made some solid reads as defenses collapsed. We'll see what role she earns for the Polar Bears this season, but she'll be a kid who'll earn minutes over the next few seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1039222' first='Alexis' last='Shelsta']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hartford guard was a significant contributor for the Orioles as they made it to the state tournament last season, and we saw what kind of player she is firsthand in Appleton. Shelsta is a volume shooter who can get into a rhythm and knock down three-pointers in bunches, like most others at Hartford. I also thought she did a solid job of being active on the defensive end of the floor and forcing some mistakes by getting her hands on the ball. She has the potential to be an x-factor in any postseason game with her ability to make shots in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1039259' first='Samantha' last='Panske']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I loved how well she moved away from the ball defensively. The Oshkosh West guard didn't get the ball every time after cutting into open space around the rim, but watching her work away from the ball was more than enjoyable. I thought she thrived on both ends of the floor in transition, which showed how well she can handle things on the fly. Another thing I noted was how much of a pain Pankse was on the defensive end of the floor. The Wildcat was all over the place and frustrated opposing guards all day. She fits what the identity of Oshkosh West has been the past few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1039249' first='Leigha' last='Wardlow']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A starter in her freshman season, Wardlow showed the qualities that earned her plenty of minutes last year at St. Thomas More. I loved Wardlow's motor, how good of a nose she had for the ball, and how engaged she was on the defensive end of the floor. Most importantly, Wardlow does an excellent job of taking care of the ball and getting the ball in places to be dangerous, whether that comes from a pass or by attacking off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->