Breakdown Tip Off Classic: Breakout performers, part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a lot of star power on hand at the annual Breakdown Tip Off Classic, and they did not disappoint. We had the usual suspects like [player_tooltip player_id='296531' first='Tatum' last='Woodson'], [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] and other vets show up and show out, but you also had some players who may not be as well-known answer the bell. We also had the pleasure watching [player_tooltip player_id='212489' first='Sophie' last='Hawkinson'] score her 1,000th career point. Below are a handful of players that had very good showings in one of the best-run tournaments Minnesota has to offer. Here's part 1 of my Breakdown "breakout" performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992385' first='Anaya' last='Shaffa'] – 2028 guard, DeLaSalle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeLaSalle usually goes as D1 Richmond commit [player_tooltip player_id='296527' first='Aneisha' last='Scott'] goes, and you could tell during their match up with powerhouse Eden Prarie that the focus was to throw everything they had at slowing Scott down. In comes Shaffa, the freshman who entered the game with her Islanders trailing 9-0 and made her impact felt immediately hitting sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='478363' first='Maddy' last='Blaylark'] with a timely pass for a rhythm 3 to get her squad on the board. The Park Center transfer used her lightening quick first step to get downhill to earn a trip to the free throw line and a few possessions after that she knocked down a corner 3. Shaffa also played suffocating on-ball defense the full length of the floor making the EP guards have to concentrate more on ball security than they'd like. She would go on to finish with 18 points off the bench, with 13 of them coming in the 2nd half from all 3 levels including a couple of tough and-1s. The Islanders came up just short, but they've put teams on notice that you won't be able to just key in on Scott as Shaffa will command attention from here on out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923286' first='Ashlee' last='Wilson'] – 2030 guard, Hill-Murray</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just look around at other players in the same class and this just isn't fair. Wilson has the physical make-up of a player 2-3 years her senior and the basketball IQ to match. It probably doesn't hurt to have the number 1 player in the 2027 class, sister [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'], sharing the car ride home with you every day. Watching her in the Becker game, you could tell Ashlee just "gets it". Nothing forced, no mental breakdowns, just savvy play. She ended up with 7 points on the night, but that doesn't begin to tell the story. Wilson had timely passes to teammates for buckets, big blocks on the defensive side, knocked down a 3 and had the game-sealing offensive rebound late in the 2nd half to help her team escape with a 44-41 win over a very scrappy Becker Bulldog squad. Word on the street is that this Wilson has every bit of a chance to be "special" and all signs are pointing in the right direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='644878' first='Sahara' last='Wilson'] – 2028 post, Lakeville North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In as physical game as I've seen in quite sometime, Wilson held her own and met the challenge head on. Watching her and super talented Hopkins post [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] battle is always a treat. No gaudy stats were put up, but Wilson's ability to rebound and push pace helped take some heat off of her backcourt mates and avoid that tremendous Hopkins pressure defense. In the half court, Wilson did a great job of displaying patience and being a willing passer from the high post, leading to some very clean looks for shooters [player_tooltip player_id='346182' first='Elayna' last='Boe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='908286' first='Lauren' last='Robison']. Once Wilson realizes how good she is, she is going to be much more a problem for opponents than she already is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses'] – 2027 guard, DeLaSalle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a freshman last season, Moses showed no fear, but in doing so, sometimes looked like a freshman. Fast forward a year after and what you see before you is the result of hard work and determination. On Saturday in Chaska, Moses was the driving force that kept DeLaSalle in the game early on scoring 6 of the first 11 points for the Islanders. Her strength is unmatched as she literally would just snatch the ball out of unsuspecting rebounders for put-backs against Eden Prairie. Tough drives, offensive rebounds, turn-around jump shots... you name it, she did it. Ranked 19th in the Class of 2027 by Prep Girls Hoops, Moses plays hard and leaves it all on the floor every time she competes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='252480' first='Rae' last='Ehrman'] –- 2025 guard, Eden Prairie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was no way I could not show Ehrman some love after the display she put on against DeLaSalle in the Tip-Off Classic. First and foremost, let's be honest, Ehrman has never been tagged as a lockdown defender, but she was the primary defender on [player_tooltip player_id='296527' first='Aneisha' last='Scott'], and while no one person can stop her, Rae did a great job of slowing her down and making her work for everything she got. The D1 Montana commit scored 38 points on 11-of-13 shooting, 6-for-7 from 3, and went 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Every time the Islanders made a run or took the lead, Ehrman answered. I just wanted to tip my hat to her as this was as efficient an effort on both sides of the ball as you'll see, especially this early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->