Tony’s Takes: Thanksgiving Tournament edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I made my rounds between the Pat Paterson Invitational tournament, held at Hutton Arena on the Hamline University campus in St. Paul, and made the trek to White Bear Lake High School on Saturday to take in a few high-octane games that made leaving my warm and cozy home worth the price of admission. The [player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore']-led (Creighton) Orono Spartans have turned a few heads as they are off to an impressive 4-0 start, with two of those wins coming at Hamline by a total of 2 points. Grant McGinnis is all over that story in his <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/the-week-that-was-2-there-were-no-turkeys-this-year/">Week That Was #2</a></strong> article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over at White Bear Lake, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] was absolutely cold-blooded for Hopkins as she knocked down the game-winning jump shot with 8 seconds left to overshadow great performances by [player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'] (Creighton), [player_tooltip player_id='208184' first='Zahara' last='Bishop'] (Seton Hall) and [player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] for a 64-62 win over BSM. Below are some more players who showed up and showed out over the Thanksgiving weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='531697' first='Cecelia' last='Davis'] – 2025 guard, Como Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis got things going right away with a 3-point bomb to get the Cougars on the score board, and it was off to the races after that. Another three makes from beyond the arc in the first half had Davis leading all scorers with 12 at the break. Along with shooting very effectively from outside, Davis was also diving for loose balls, communicating at a high level and just being a great teammate. To see Cece back on the court after a devastating knee injury a little over a year ago and not holding back shows the grit and determination she plays with. Davis would go on to score 15 points on 5 made threes and gives the Cougars a very dangerous threat from outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Naijona Shaw – 2027 guard, Como Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw is starting to emerge as a key player for Como, especially with teams having to account for the outside shooting of Davis and [player_tooltip player_id='921685' first='Makyia' last='Kenney'] getting busy around the basket. Her performance against Bloomington Kennedy, particularly a personal 8-0 run to close out the half, showcased her ability to take control of the game when needed. Leading the team with 17 points shows her growing confidence and skill on the court. As she continues to develop her game, and understands her potential, looking ahead, Shaw could be the future for Como. It will be exciting to see how she progresses throughout the season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550013' first='Macie' last='Miller'] – 2025 guard, Bloomington Kennedy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles faced a challenging matchup against a tough Como team right out the gate, but Miller did everything possible to keep her team competitive. She played with excellent pace, effectively handling the Cougars' pressure defense without getting rattled. Miller frequently drove to the rim, either drawing fouls, finding open teammates by collapsing the defense, or finishing through contact herself. Even more impressive was her positive attitude towards her teammates, who seemed overmatched; she showed no signs of frustration and consistently encouraged them. Miller finished 12 hard-earned points in the game, and although her team ultimately lost to the Cougars, her leadership was top tier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106580' first='Reese' last='Majerus'] – 2028 forward, Waconia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waconia boasts a veteran-led squad featuring senior <strong>Faith Turner</strong> and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='717676' first='Addison' last='Bryfczynski'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1194442' first='Audrey' last='Brown']</strong>, make way for the impressive freshman forward Majerus. Standing at 6 feet tall, Majerus brings a remarkable level of confidence and freedom for a freshman, encouraged by the support of her seasoned teammates. Against Lakeville South on Friday, she excelled at using her strong physique to create space around the basket, enabling tough finishes, and showed her range stepping out knocking one down from deep. Defensively, Majerus is versatile, capable of guarding multiple positions on the court, and showcased her quickness shooting the gap for a steal and finishing at the other end against Lakeville South. With plenty of potential ahead, this player is definitely one to watch!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520270' first='Harley' last='Wock'] – 2025 forward, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Skippers have undergone significant changes in their lineup as they head into the season, with Aaliyah Crump departing and newcomers [player_tooltip player_id='630244' first='Jazmin' last='Daing'], [player_tooltip player_id='565312' first='Ari' last='Peterson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='782562' first='Lesedra' last='Williams'] joining the team. While these additions are sure to enhance any squad, the steady presence of senior [player_tooltip player_id='520270' first='Harley' last='Wock'] is what truly holds everything together. Wock is a difficult player to game plan for as her relentless work ethic shines as she dives for loose balls, dominates the offensive boards, and creates difficulties for her opponents on the defensive end. Additionally, she has tightened up her ability to finish around the rim and utilizes her impressive jumping ability to shoot over defenders, providing Minnetonka with another valuable offensive asset. You better pack your hard hat when you step on the court with Wock becauase it's going to be a long day at the office.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453753' first='Lauren' last='Hillesheim'] (North Dakota) and [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] – Hopkins </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hillesheim and Walker delivered an impressive performance in the thrilling 64-62 victory over Benilde-St. Margaret's, demonstrating their key roles in the Royals' win. Scoring 44 of the 64 points, they not only showcased their individual skill sets but also complemented each other well on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hillesheim's ability to light it up from beyond the arc with 6 three-pointers, totaling 24 points and adding 9 rebounds, highlighted her shooting prowess and versatility. Her success against the 2-3 zone indicates she can capitalize on open looks and stretch the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker's dominance in the paint with 20 points and 12 rebounds, particularly on the offensive glass, illustrates her presence in the paint. Her ability to grab rebounds and finish inside was back-breaking for Benilde. Hillesheim and Walker were a deadly one-two punch in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Allison Sheehan – 2026 forward, Bloomington Kennedy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot forward chipped in 13 points in a win over St. Louis Park on Saturday, but it was her rebounding and propensity to block and change shots that stood out more. It will be interesting to see how her contributions evolve as the season goes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1095965' first='Kailoni' last='Johnson'] – 2030 guard, St. Louis Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what you can call a "rebuilding year," Johnson is definitely a big part of the Orioles future. She's gaining valuable varsity minutes as a 7th grader competing hard on both ends. Her ability to attack the rim with both strength and agility indicates she possesses a versatile skill set. As she continues to compete at the varsity level, Johnson's progression in both her offensive and defensive capabilities will be essential for building a strong foundation for the Orioles' future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502569' first='Clara' last='Goodman'] – 2026 guard, Eastview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goodman is clearly proving to be an essential part of the Lightning's offensive attack, especially as a shooter who can capitalize on the plays created by [player_tooltip player_id='212488' first='Myah' last='Maull'] and [player_tooltip player_id='520263' first='Bra'ja' last='Torry'] collapsing the defense. Her handles are pretty good, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='425385' first='Amina' last='Allen'] – 2025 guard, Minnehaha Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anyone who watches Minnehaha play knows that Allen is without question the emotional leader for the Redhawks. Allen is a willing passer who sometimes defers too much, but she's all about making the right basketball play and you can't be mad at that, especially when you have a prolific scorer like [player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] on your team. Allen is usually tasked with checking the post player on the opposing team, and does it without a complaint. Along with the intangibles that she brings, Allen can also light it up from outside, which she showcased knocking down 3 three-pointers against Como Park in a big win for the Redhawks on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->