PGH Victory Region Finals: 17U All-Tourney

The Prep Girls Hoops Victory Region Finals was an exciting tournament to cover once again this year. There were a multitude of talented prospects from different states and teams competing on the hardwood. This was my first time watching many of the teams from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa, so you can imagine the amount of joy I had discovering new prospects in the gym. I hope all of the teams had a great experience with us, and I plan to run it back in 2026!   I chose to divide my All-Tournament selections into First Team, Second Team, and Third Team because there were many prospects from the final four teams who I felt deserved all-tournament recognition. All of these prospects were crucial to their team's success over the weekend. Team success was weighted equally with individual performance on the court–the teams who made it to the semifinals qualified to have individuals considered for All-Tournament honors.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/Example-Wolfpack.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1254312" /></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] 2026 Wolfpack (4-0) defeated [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express'] (3-1) 76-55 in the championship game to win the Victory Region Finals Championship!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/PXL_20250601_184744383.MP_.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1254314" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='514946' first='Shania' last='James'], 2026, [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfpack, PGH Victory Finals 17U MVP.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='514946' first='Shania' last='James'] dominated on both sides of the ball and was dynamic all weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfback. She is our 2025 PGH Victory Region Finals 17U MVP!   Whether certain players should be first team, second team, or third team selections is debatable, and I mulled over these decisions for hours. However, there is no debating that all of these girls deserve to be recognized as all-tournament. Based on observations in the gym, notes, and post-tournament review of film, these are the prospects from our PGH Victory Region Finals who were selected All-Tournament.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">FIRST TEAM</h2>    Danielle reminded me at our Prep Girls Hoops Victory Region Finals of all the qualities I loved when I saw her play in Michigan two years ago. Her dynamic ball-handling, deadly three-point accuracy, passing skills, and finishing around the rim were off the charts. She stopped on a dime, used a flawless behind-the-back snap, then swished a deep step-back three off the bounce. Danielle dropped in soft floaters off explosive drives to the basket and made contested layups with both hands from extremely difficult angles--she can use every inch of the backboard to score. Danielle dished quick passes to open teammates, including a no-look bounce pass on the money. She cut back door to score a layup off two feet and created many steals on defense. Danielle dropped 16 points in the Championship game and 17 in the semifinals. She was a complete player who had an outstanding tournament, contributing in every way to lead [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express'] to the finals. Danielle earned All-Tournament First Team honors.     Zha was an exciting guard to watch at our Victory Region Finals--her two-way impact was impossible to miss. She had explosive quickness, toughness, and determination on defense that made her one of the most productive prospects on the court in every game I saw her play. Zha chased down a breakaway to deflect the ball and hit the deck to scrap for 50/50 balls. She drew a charge on defense, jumped passing lanes for steals, deflected passes, and secured rebounds. Zha was fearless and explosive when driving downhill. She used quick lateral pushouts and a crossover to fly beat a defender in top gear for a layup. Zha scored many layups off two feet using both hands, caused fouls on her drives, and converted many free throws. She turned steals into transition baskets, including a long floater off the glass. Zha sparked [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfpack with a 10-point outburst in the first half of their Championship game and was an elite guard prospect on both ends. She earned All-Tournament First Team honors.     Shania was the X-factor for [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Academy Wolfpack 2026 at our Victory Region Finals. It seemed like every time I looked up, Shania had her hands on the basketball. She contributed in every statistical category--chasing down rebounds, dishing out assists, scoring at all three levels, and creating steals on the defensive end. In a first-game battle where points were few and far between, Shania led the team with eight second-half points, including a shifty double-crossover layup through contact. She swiped the ball away many times and converted key free throws down the stretch. Shania continued to dominate on day two with 10 points in the quarterfinals and 13 in the semifinals, including three triples. It was in the biggest game that Shania shined brightest, pacing the team with 12 first-half points. She started the game with a 3-pointer on the opening possession, dished a dime after stealing the ball away on defense, stole the ball again to score a layup off two feet, and send the crowd into a frenzy after burying a corner triple through a foul--completed the four point play at the line. Shania kept her hands active to deflect passes and outran receivers to the ball like a cornerback breaking on a route. Shania left the game with an injury and showed her competitive toughness by returning to action. In the second half, Shania buried another three-pointer off a double screen, kissed a contested floater off the glass driving full speed, and dished out multiple assists to teammates. She continued to chase down rebounds on both ends and caused turnovers on defense. Shania led all scorers with 21 points and is our 17U All-Tournament MVP.     Emily was in the zone from beyond the arc for [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfpack 2026 at our Victory Region Finals--she was an assassin from 3-point distance. The nets need to be replaced on court one. Emily started Sunday off with an 18-point game in the quarterfinals, including four triples. She followed that up with a 19-point semifinal game with three more triples, and added a crescendo to her weekend with a 17-point Championship game that included an eye-popping five 3-pointers. She was also a strong rebounder, set ball-screens to get teammates open looks, converted free throws with confidence, and created steals. Emily secured an offensive board and finished with a sweet reverse layup. She showed no quit on plays, scored contested layups, and was one of the best players in the gym all weekend. Emily is an All-Tournament First Team selection.     Darryelle was a game changer throughout the weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express']. She gave the team an offensive rebounding and defensive presence that was crucial to their run to the Championship Game. Darryelle pursued rebounds with a relentless effort that ended in many free throws and put-backs throughout the weekend. She drives through gaps like a running back. Darryelle finished athletic layups and delivered great dump-off passes to teammates when the help defense arrived. She used excellent pivots to score off two feet and climbed way up the ladder to score an offensive rebound tip-in. Darryelle had great defensive awareness off the ball, denying passes with her outside hand in a textbook stance. She created many steals on defense, and her aggressiveness inside forced the opponent to foul. Darryelle made seven free throws in the Championship game, and her contributions in every area earned an All-Tournament First Team selection.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SECOND TEAM</h2>    Ashlee was quietly a very important and impactful contributor to her team's success at the Victory Region Finals. She had plenty of moments that made me say wow throughout the weekend. Ashlee closed out quickly to block shots on the perimeter and shot out of a cannon to secure offensive rebounds. She showed off her athleticism during an impressive fake-pass eurostep layup and after blocking a shot on the perimeter, sprinted down the court, made a great adjustment to make an over-the-shoulder catch, then finished confidently with her left hand. Ashlee played great defense all weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfpack 2026. She is an All-Tournament Second Team selection.     Makaylee put her best on display Sunday, and it started with a 15-point performance that helped [program_tooltip program_id='713092' first='Indiana' last='Showcase Black'] secure a comeback win in the quarterfinals. She was a thief on defense, turning steals into transition layups. Makaylee trapped the ball, swiped it, and accelerated to finish the play with an and-one layup. She created another steal and dished out an assist in transition, then swiped the ball away again for another full-speed and-one layup. Makaylee created separation from defenders with lightning-quick behind-the-back, between-the-legs, and crossover dribble combinations. Her ability to anticipate defenders, see the floor, and deliver accurate passes moving full speed is an area of strength. Makaylee impressed me the most during their greatest adversity in the semifinals. During a mostly non-competitive game against the tournament champs, Makaylee scored a team-high eleven points. She showed no fear or signs of giving up. Makaylee used a sweet double-crossover dribble to get by her defender and delivered a perfect bounce pass for the assist. She drained a pull-up jumper in transition and buried two triples. Makaylee went back to the double-crossover again and used a high-pick-up eurostep to cause a foul. She stood out on both ends of the court all weekend at our Victory Region Finals and earned All-Tournament Second Team honors.     Symora was an effective player on both ends for [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] Wolfpack 2026 at the PGH Victory Region Finals. She had a big eight-point first half in the semifinals and made some highlight reel plays in the finals. Symora grabbed an offensive rebound and dropped in a floater. She dished a smooth behind-the-back pass to a teammate in transition. Symora reversed the court with a quick between-the-legs dribble, accelerated downhill, absorbed hard contact, and finished the layup off the glass. She blew by a defender with a burst using an inside-out move and scored another tough, contested layup. Symora added a full-speed and one layup in the second half and made unselfish passes to teammates. She gave the team a spark on defense and was an excellent facilitator. Symora has been selected for the All-Tournament Second Team.     Lauryn is an athletic forward who was a major contributor to the success of [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express'] at our Victory Region Finals. In the quarterfinals, she was outstanding. Lauryn imposed her will inside. She scored many strong finishes off two feet and grabbed multiple steals on the defensive end. Lauryn poured in eight points during the semifinals and did so again in the Championship game. She drained a corner three, rejected a shot with both hands, battled to secure rebounds on both ends, and scored two finishes off two feet in the second half. I noted Lauryn as a "strong rebounder," and she had an impressive weekend. Lauryn has been selected for the All-Tournament Second Team.     Lyla showed her passing vision in the quarterfinals, driving downhill with a burst, then making a great dump-off pass to a teammate for the assist. She stepped up offensively in the semifinals, knocking down a mid-corner jumper, finishing layups, and scoring through contact for an and-one layup in transition. Lyla finished with 10 points and went on to energize the team with a huge first half in the Championship game. Lyla forced fouls inside to earn trips to the line and made all five of her free throws. She scored multiple layups off two feet, including a strong finish through a foul, then knocked down her free throw. Lyla drilled a corner three and led the team with 16 points at the half. Lyla dished a jump pass dime to a teammate for an assist in the second half. She handled the ball with poise, threw strong passes to teammates, and helped lead [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express'] to the Championship game on Sunday. Lyla has earned All-Tournament Second Team honors.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">THIRD TEAM</h2>    Aniyah caught my eye on day one of the Victory Region Finals with her three-level scoring abilities and cat-like quickness. She started Sunday off with another impressive performance, leading [program_tooltip program_id='713092' first='Indiana' last='Showcase Black'] in scoring with 18 points, including two triples. She made a hard back-door basket cut, caught the bounce pass, and elevated without an extra dribble to drop a floater in over two defenders. Aniyah finished transition layups, created steals with her ball pressure, and made great kick-out passes to teammates on the perimeter when she penetrated the defense off the dribble. Aniyah helped her team to a semifinal appearance and was a point guard prospect who left a great impression over the weekend. She has been selected for the All-Tournament Third Team.     Morgan used her strength inside to help [program_tooltip program_id='834910' first='Example' last='Sports'] 2026 Wolfpack take home the Victory Region Finals trophy. She worked hard to grab rebounds on both ends and converted multiple layups in traffic. Morgan battled to secure an offensive rebound, then scored the put-back through a foul. I noted that Morgan had a "strong finish" and was a "strong rebounder." She did not shy away from contact. Morgan set solid screens to create scoring opportunities for teammates and made scoring a challenge for opposing forwards. Morgan added another and-one layup in the Championship game, and looks like a promising prospect. She has been selected for the All-Tournament Third Team.     Aunyai is an athletic guard from Legends United who had a solid weekend at our Victory Region Finals. She has shifty ball-handling moves and quickness that make it very challenging to keep her from getting to the cup. In the semifinals, Aunyai kept getting downhill with her dribble--she knocked down five free throws and poured in nine points. Aunyai threaded passes through small windows, closed out hard on the perimeter to force missed shots, and pressured the ball to create steals on the defensive end. She used a swift, low-sweep move on the perimeter to get the edge and buried a smooth pull-up jumper. Aunyai is a lockdown defender, and she earned All-Tournament Third Team honors.     Amillya had a great weekend for Legends United at our Victory Region Finals. She scored a team-high 11 points in the semifinals, draining three triples with a confident wrist-snapping follow-through. Amillya used her quickness and active hands to create many steals on defense. She had the ball on a string, using shifty crossovers, between-the-legs, and push-out dribbles to create space from defenders. Amillya has a soft touch on her floaters, converted contested layups at the rim, and is a very talented prospect. She has been selected for the All-Tournament Third Team.     Jada is a forward prospect whose tenacity and determination grabbed my attention at the Victory Region Finals. She blocked shots, outworked opponents to secure offensive rebounds, and created steals on the defensive end. Jada had an impressive semifinal game for Legends United, pouring in eight points. She powered through contact to score two and one layups, and backed down her defender to score a contested turnaround bucket in the paint. I noted that Jada was a "strong rebounder" and her hard work was visible on both ends of the court. She finished offensive rebound put backs through contact throughout the weekend and has earned an All-Tournament Third Team selection.

The Prep Girls Hoops Victory Region Finals was an exciting tournament to cover once again this year. There were a multitude of talented prospects from different states and teams competing on the hardwood. This was my first time watching many of the teams from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa, so you can imagine the amount of joy I had discovering new prospects in the gym. I hope all of the teams had a great experience with us, and I plan to run it back in 2026!