10 Dighton 1A D II Sub-State Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dighton 1A D II sub-state is arguably the toughest due to the top four seeds are all ranked in KBCA's final 2025 season poll. Pairings were set Wednesday by KSHSAA for the twelve teams, from five leagues. Ahead the quarterfinal games scheduled for Monday, February 24, enjoy this look at several key players to watch in the Dighton 1A Division II sub-state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779206' first='Aliviah' last='Ball'], 5'9", SF, Wheatland-Grinnell, 2027 - Ball is a long-limbed, athletic forward with great hands. She runs to the rim well in transition and is a strong offensive rebounder, using her long arms and serious hops to out-jump the crowd to get put-backs. Defensively she is strong at challenging shots without fouling and has tallied 1.8 blocks per game. A very good mid-range scorer with a quick release who is shooting 46% from the floor. She is averaging 12.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773194' first='Jersi' last='Benisch'], 5'6", PG, Wallace County, 2026 - The floor leader for last year's D II third place team continues to average double figures in her career, up to 15.3 points per game in 2025. She is also snagging 4.5 steals and handing out 3.5 assists. The quick floor leader scores well off the bounce and is a solid half court defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='893503' first='Natalie' last='Bixenman'], 5'9", PG, Wheatland-Grinnell, 2027 - The Thunderhawk point guard is averaging 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds but what really commands attention are her steals and assists numbers. She is dishing 4.6 assists and gathering 4 steals per game. If she can shave her 6 turnovers per game average by half her play will go a long way to pushing the team to the state tournament. Watch for her athleticism on scoring chances around the hoop as the southpaw can score it on the fly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='766643' first='Jaelyn' last='Daily'], 5'9", PF, Wallace County, 2025 - A season ago Daily averaged 14.5 points, 7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. An experienced team leader she is a difficult match-up due to her ability to run the floor, her frame and her skill set. Daily is active and athletic around the basket, will step out and hit the three and jumps well to the ball rebounding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1047959' first='Madelyn' last='Kraus'], 5'6", SG, Western Plains, 2026 - Kraus leads the Bobcats in points (15.3), after pouring in 17.6 per game in 2024, and rebounds (8.1). She also is collecting 2.8 steals, shooting 30% from behind the arc and 66% from the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='723402' first='Taylor' last='McCarty'], 5'8", SF, Cheylin, 2027 - McCarty is a load. Broad shouldered with a strong frame she is a high level talent on both ends of the floor. Fast with the ball in transition McCarty scores well at all three levels, pushes tempo when opportunities arise and is as strong defending off the ball as she is on the ball. A very fundamentally sound player with terrific quickness. McCarty is averaging 24 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 4.5 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1107867' first='Kylee' last='Reece'], 5'7", PG, Hodgeman County, 2026 - The leading scorer for the Longhorns, at 9.1 points per game, is hitting her three point shot at a 34% clip and free throws at 65%. Reece is steadily cranking out assists and steals at a steady clip, 2.5 and 2.3 respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202719' first='Brynlee' last='Reed']</strong>, 5'5", PG, Cheylin, 2028 - The slightly built point guard's play is essential to the Cougars' success. A perimeter and driving threat, it is her ball control that will be a difference maker. Iif she runs the offense well and handles the ball strongly against quicker, taller defenders the scorers and shooters on the team will be able to fill up the bucket. Play like that prevents transition hoops, which plays into the strong Cougar half court defense. Reed is averaging 3.8 assists and 3.6 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202716' first='Mallorie' last='Ruff']</strong>, 5'8", CG, Hodgeman County, 2026 - The second leading scorer for the Longhorns, at 8.2 per game, is leading the team in rebounding with a modest 4.8 per game. And while that seems small the team runs eight in the rotation, picks up 14.2 steals, dishes out 12.3 assists and four players have a field goal percentage of 40% or greater. Ruff, like the rest of her teammates, box well on both ends of the floor. The rebounds available are few, putting that 4.8 in perspective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1042539' first='Lani' last='Speer'], 5'10", PF, Dighton, 2026 - Speer is pulling down 9.4 rebounds and swatting 3.9 shots per game. She runs the floor, catches and finishes passes on the flash, walls up on interior shots and closes out to the perimeter well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->