Tony’s Takes: Players who need to come up big this week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March Madness is in full swing, and Minnesota girls basketball is as good as it's ever been! This week features plenty of crucial games from teams that have poured their heart and soul into earning a shot at the big dance. While basketball is all about teamwork, I've identified a standout group of players who could play a major role in their teams' chances of making it to the State Tournament. Enjoy the ride!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346160' first='Ella' last='Keenan'], 2025 forward, Chaska</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan has been dealing with persistent ankle issues, but she stepped up when it mattered most. In the section semifinal against Eden Prairie, she started the game on the bench to maximize her impact late. Ultimately, it wasn't about who started, but who finished. With under 10 seconds left in overtime, [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] hit an off-balance shot in the lane to tie the game at 64. Then, with just 6.5 seconds remaining, Keenan received a pass inside, spun, and sank the game-winning eight-footer as time expired.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, the Hawks advance to face defending champion Minnetonka in the section final. Keenan will face another tough challenge against Skippers' forward [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams'], a dominant presence in the paint. Her rebounding will be crucial as the Hawks aim to limit Minnetonka's second-chance opportunities, with the Skippers known for their relentless energy on the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1090092' first='Demi' last='Holman'], 2029 guard, Park Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates are riding high after recent victories over Spring Lake Park and Irondale, securing a spot in the section final against the Maple Grove Crimson. You can count on junior [player_tooltip player_id='589280' first='Lyric' last='Singleton'] to put at least 20 on the board, as she is relentless at getting into the paint, making her one of the best finishers in the state. For the Pirates to take down the top-seeded Crimson, 8th grader [player_tooltip player_id='1090092' first='Demi' last='Holman'] will need to be sharp. Holman's three-point shooting ability will be crucial to stretching the Crimson defense and opening up driving lanes for Singleton. Defeating the Crimson will require a remarkable effort from the Pirates, but we've already seen a few upsets in this year's section matchups, so anything is possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='918778' first='Delaney' last='Egert'], 2025 guard, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With [player_tooltip player_id='630244' first='Jazmin' last='Daing'] sidelined by shin splints, the "next player up" mentality shines, and [player_tooltip player_id='918778' first='Delaney' last='Egert'] is ready for the challenge. With defenses focused on slowing down [player_tooltip player_id='252383' first='Lanelle' last='Wright'], [player_tooltip player_id='565312' first='Ari' last='Peterson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams'], Egert will have ample opportunities to make an impact—whether by crashing the offensive boards or hitting open jumpers when defenders collapse on Wright in the paint. Egert has stepped up in Daing's absence, scoring in double figures in three of the last seven games, including a season-high 13 points in the thrilling win over Prior Lake, which secured a spot in the section final against Chaska.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'], 2025 guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been nearly two years since McGee last played in the postseason, and she's eager to help the Red Knights break through against Orono. Benilde-St. Margaret's lost both regular-season matchups to Orono by an average of 17 points, and McGee acknowledges those performances fell short. In the section semifinal, she delivered her best game of the season, showcasing her dominance with precise passes and power in the paint, putting Delano away fairly early. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, with confidence on her side, she must elevate her game even more against Orono, who holds home-court advantage and momentum from two previous wins. It's tough to beat a team three times in one season, and McGee will be locked in as she aims to lead the Red Knights to a state tournament berth and keep their hopes for a three-peat alive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296517' first='Katie' last='Kelzenberg'], 2025 forward, Wayzata </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Trojan leader [player_tooltip player_id='212489' first='Sophie' last='Hawkinson'] sidelined for the season, Wayzata, riding a 13-game winning streak, is looking to take down the Hopkins Royals for the third time and earn their first-ever state tournament spot. Even though the Trojans have solid depth, this game is all about Kelzenberg's showdown with [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker']. Kelzenberg will need to come up big in the paint to ease the pressure on the perimeter players, as the Hopkins defense is all about creating chaos and speeding their opponents up. For Wayzata to finally break through and handle their kryptonite—the Royals—they're gonna need Kelzenberg to bring her A-game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->