Meet the newcomers who got noticed at Granite City

The holiday season is a time of transition for many high school varsity rosters. The senior class – even those who have primarily played junior varsity in previous seasons – has had 8 or 10 games to show they deserve minutes in the team's rotation. It's a delicate dance head coaches often execute that can involve politics, parents and patronage – a reward for services rendered over time if you will. If they haven't established themselves by this point, however, the upperclassmen sometimes find their minutes diminish while the youngsters who've waited their turn move up in the pecking order. We saw that play out this weekend at the Breakdown USA Granite City Classic.   Albany, for example, is undergoing a complete rebuild following the graduation of standouts like Alyssa Sand (St. Thomas), Kylan Gerads (St. Cloud State) and Tatum Findlay (St. Ben's). Riding its veterans, the Huskies are off to a 1-7 start. Now the youngsters are being eased into more action. Due to a spate of injuries, the Lakeville North roster has seen an infusion of young talent lately. Edina is relying on young but gifted players as the Hornets try to claw their way back to relevance.   Today, courtesy of PGH scout Ally McGinnis, we bring you evaluations of several youngsters who seized their opportunity to play more minutes at the Granite City Classic.   [player_tooltip player_id='1124601' first='Rose' last='Kalscheur'] – 2029 guard, Edina   After picking up a 73-56 win over Becker at Granite City, Edina is off to a strong 7-3 start to the season. Thus far, the 8th grader (pictured above) has been a key piece on a young Hornets roster, scoring 12 points in the win over the Bulldogs. Kalscheur is long, lean, and plays with a blend of IQ and skill that is tremendous for a player her age. In Friday's game against Maple Grove, Edina might have been overmatched but Rose showed no fear. We were impressed with the speed at which she plays and how relentless her motor is. Everything Rose does on the court, from her defense to her decision-making, is done quickly and with maximum effort. While her role on the team is evolving, it is clear that she's is going to be a quality college prospect in due course.    [player_tooltip player_id='1124598' first='Caitlin' last='Champeau'] – 2028 guard, Delano   The younger sister of Delano starter [player_tooltip player_id='927238' first='Lexi' last='Champeau'], the freshman Caitlin is now making a name for herself on the Tigers' varsity roster, as well. Standing at 5'9, Caitlin is a bigger guard with length and a large, muscular frame. She has a relentless motor that allows her to rack up hustle stats and make big defensive plays all game long. She's also a strong rebounder who uses her size and positioning to wrestle the ball away from opponents. In the Tigers' win over Rock Ridge on Friday, Champeau tallied 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. The Tigers enter the new year at 9-4 before a meeting with Byron this Saturday at the Southern Minnesota Hoops Fest, a game we're really looking forward to.    [player_tooltip player_id='1124604' first='Brynn' last='Koehnen'] – 2027 guard, Lakeville North   Now a member of the varsity rotation at Lakeville North, the sophomore guard has stepped into a much larger role for the Panthers than anticipated. Last weekend the 5'5 guard contributed significant minutes off the bench for the intjury-depleted Panthers. Koehnen is a tremendously athletic guard with a motor that doesn't quit. She's quick, has great vertical, and is a pest on defense. In Friday's game against Alexandria, the Cardinals broke away with what looked to be a fast break layup. The basket was thwarted when Brynn hustled down the floor, got to the block and set her feet, blocked the shot and then stole the basketball, earning her team an extra possession. With so much speed, confidence, and hustle, we look forward to seeing how Koehnen's game evolves going forward.    [player_tooltip player_id='1124603' first='Stella' last='Perry'] – 2029 guard, Lakeville North   The 8th grader is another new addition to the Panthers varsity roster who got noticed last weekend. Stella is the younger sister to #35-ranked junior [player_tooltip player_id='502552' first='Sophia' last='Perry']. Stella is a 5'8 guard with a lot of length. She came into the game early against both Alexandria on Friday and Anoka on Saturday and fit seamlessly into the lineup almost immediately. Stella has quick hands, lots of speed, and is fundamentally sound. She excels at defending on the ball and has a smooth, left-handed stroke. Lakeville North has a deep roster that can be challenging for young players to break into, but with recent injuries to UM-Duluth commit [player_tooltip player_id='346182' first='Elayna' last='Boe'] and Top 25-ranked freshman [player_tooltip player_id='908286' first='Lauren' last='Robison'], Perry is making the most of her opportunity.    [player_tooltip player_id='983021' first='Lylah' last='Findley'] – 2028 guard, Albany   Yet another younger sibling who stood out at the Granite City Classic, Findley is next up for the Huskies following the impactful graduations cited at the onset of this article, including her sister Tatum. While the 5'8 freshman guard is still settling into her role on varsity, we saw promising things in Saturday's matchup against Southwest Christian. Lylah is long, quick, and a disruptive defender. She can guard multiple positions on the perimeter and has a calm, business-like demeanor. When she gets the ball on offense, Findley is a crafty ball handler who excels at attacking the rim. This summer with the Comets, Lylah also showed she can be a great three-point shooter.    Here are three more newcomers we liked at St. Ben's.   Kayla Forster – 2025 forward, Albany   The 5'10 senior forward made a strong impression over the weekend. She has an athletic build that jumps out immediately, as well as a great motor and excellent natural instincts on the court. With some more skill development and time in the varsity rotation, this exceptional athlete could find her way to the next level.    [player_tooltip player_id='764193' first='Ellery' last='Horner'] & [player_tooltip player_id='764178' first='Amelia' last='Vessel'] – 2027 forwards, Edina   These two sophomores also impressed at Granite City. Horner showed off her post presence and strength in the paint. The 5'11 forward has a large frame, lots of strength, and touch around the rim. Vessel shined on the defensive end, using her length to be disruptive and force turnovers. The 5'10 forward is also strong on the boards.   [player_tooltip player_id='1124606' first='Stella' last='Serie'] – 2028 guard, Providence Academy   We saw a brand new face (at least to us) in the Providence Academy rotation over the weekend. Pressed into extended service with [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] in early foul trouble, the 9th grader was strong on the defensive end of the floor and a steady presence against both Hopkins and Duluth Marshall. While she is primarily a softball player, Serie will likely be a key contributor for the Lions going forward.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis wrote these evaluations.

The holiday season is a time of transition for many high school varsity rosters. The senior class – even those who have primarily played junior varsity in previous seasons – has had 8 or 10 games to show they deserve minutes in the team's rotation. It's a delicate dance head coaches often execute that can involve politics, parents and patronage – a reward for services rendered over time if you will. If they haven't established themselves by this point, however, the upperclassmen sometimes find their minutes diminish while the youngsters who've waited their turn move up in the pecking order. We saw that play out this weekend at the Breakdown USA Granite City Classic.