Santa’s Nice List: Top Performances From Last Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It might be frigid outside, but the nets are hot for Iowa girls high school hoops. I scoured the state for high-quality performances last week to see who went into Christmas break with a bang. High-flying freshmen, a near triple-double and more...read along to see who shot the Christmas lights out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883552"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6768f313b4ab4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In a highly-contested matchup between ranked opponents, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='883552' first='Braylyn' last='Birmingham'] was instrumental in #3 Norwalk's victory over #14 ranked Southeast Polk. Birmingham finished the game with an unconventional double-double, converting 12 of her 14 free throw attempts (finishing the game with 16 points), and dishing out 11 assists. Talk about spreading some Christmas cheer! Birmingham is currently averaging 17.8PPG for the undefeated Warriors - keep your eyes on her to make serious waves during her young career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zoey Thompson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Butler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6768f313b4bcc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite a close loss to Nashua-Plainfield, Zoey Thompson had herself an excellent game to close out 2024. She scored 12 points on an efficient 4/9 from the floor - including 3/4 from behind the arc. In addition the 5'5" guard was a nightmare on the boards, tracking down 5 offensive rebounds and 11 rebounds overall. To finish the stat line Thompson tallied 3 assists and 3 steals on the night. Zoey is leading her team in points per game and I envision a strong start to her 2025 vs. Hampton-Dumont-Cal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1130683' first='Addison' last='Marcks']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Osage","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6768f313b4c9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Points were at a premium in the matchup between Osage and Wapsie Valley and Osage's [player_tooltip player_id='1130683' first='Addison' last='Marcks'] sure made her mark on the outcome (pun intended). The forward finished the game with a double-double and was even on triple-double watch. She finished the game scoring ten points, snagging nine rebounds, and swatting six blocks to lead the Green Devils to their second straight win. Averaging a double-double this season at 15.1PPG and 10.3RPG, [player_tooltip player_id='1130683' first='Addison' last='Marcks'] is putting together a noteworthy junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842537"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6768f313b4d0b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='842537' first='Nora' last='Peterson']'s efforts on Friday just about led her Alta-Aurelia squad to an upset vs. undefeated West Bend-Mallard. A do-it-all player for the Warriors, Peterson finished the night with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Friday's game was just a taste of what Peterson can do - averaging 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 4.1 steals per game, Nora is capable of putting up massive numbers. She's already notched a triple-double in her career (and was 3 assists away from a quadruple-double) so don't be surprised if you see more big-time production from the 5'10" senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["988395"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6768f313b4d73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Take a bow, [player_tooltip player_id='988395' first='Dayonna' last='Davis']. Versus Burlington on Friday, the 5'7" junior from Fort Madison had an extremely efficient night while scoring 26 points and leading her team to a Christmastime W. Davis went 8/14 overall from the field, 3/5 from three point land, and converted 7/9 free throw attempts. To add icing to the sugar cookie, the combo guard grabbed 14 rebounds, 4 steals, an assist, and a block to boot. So far this year Davis is averaging 16.9PPG, 10.1RPG and 3.4SPG, and with three gettable games upcoming for the Fort Madison Bloodhounds, I think these numbers will see a boost in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->