Fall League: Raising the bar in the East Metro

Each year around this time we make our annual trek out to Park High School in Cottage Grove to check out some of the top talent from both the Twin Cities East Metro and Western Wisconsin. In this week's installment of our coverage of the Breakdown Fall League, we'll look at both teams and players who have taken their game up a notch in preparation for the upcoming high school season.   MOUNDS VIEW MAKING WAVES   With big back-to-back wins on Sunday morning, the Mounds View varsity squad looks to have taken things up a notch from their 14-13 record a season ago. Despite the absence of junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='910063' first='Taylor' last='Whitehill'], the Mustangs made a statement at Fall League this week. Here's a look at some players who will be key pieces to the puzzle this winter as they look to climb the standings in the Suburban East Conference.   [player_tooltip player_id='1120672' first='Jaycie' last='Helmer'] – 2030 Guard, Mounds View   At this point it's no secret that Helmer (pictured above) is one of Minnesota's top prospects in the class of 2030. She's an elite multi-sport athlete with an incredible natural feel for the game. The 5'9 point guard plays hard, while making the game look completely effortless at the same time. In her 7th grade varsity season, Jaycie averaged just over 10 points per game for Mounds View. She then spent the AAU season playing up a year for the top [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 14U EYBL squad. On Sunday, Helmer turned her defense into offense, locking down her opponents on the perimeter, racking up steals, and pushing the ball up the floor for transition buckets. There's no doubt that Helmer will be crucial to the Mustangs' success this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1349743' first='Avery' last='LaNore'] – 2026 Forward/Post, Mounds View   LaNore made some noise this summer as a core member of the [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] 2026 Locke squad. Now she looks poised to do the same in her final season of varsity. Standing at 6'2, Avery is a post with plenty of length and mobility. She's strong with a solid frame, allowing her to hold her own and create space in the low post. On Sunday, the Mounds View senior was super active on the defensive end, using her physicality to prevent post-ups and employing her length to block shots with ease. LaNore also excelled on the defensive glass, using a powerful box-out to give herself positioning. On the offensive end, Avery kept things simple, using fundamental footwork to create easy buckets. We look forward to seeing what the season has in store for the Mustang post.   [player_tooltip player_id='782563' first='Maddie' last='Schneider'] – 2026 Guard, Mounds View   As the Mustangs leading scorer last season, averaging nearly 13 points per game, Schneider will likely need to provide more of the same firepower this winter. That should be no problem for the Mounds View senior, if her Fall League play is any indication. At 5'9, Maddie is a lengthy guard who is quick and light on her feet. She handles the ball with ease and can knock down shots from beyond the arc all day long. On Sunday, she showed off her court vision, solid decision making in her passing and shot selection, and her quick-release outside shot. Schneider was aggressive on the defensive end, taking advantage of her ample length to block shots and create stops on numerous possessions.   UPPERCLASSMEN WHO STOOD OUT   [player_tooltip player_id='533847' first='Mia' last='Hernandez'] – 2027 Guard, Tartan   Hernandez ran the show for Tartan at Sunday's Fall League games, using both her skill and leadership on the court to get everyone involved for the Titans. A 5'6 guard with a strong, muscular frame, Mia excels at getting downhill with the ball in her hands. She has an explosive first step, a tight handle, and the ability to finish at the rim in a variety of ways. The Titans junior also showed off her quick, textbook release, as well as her ability to distribute the ball in the half court. As the team's leading scorer last season, averaging just over 14 points per game, Hernandez will be a major component of the rotation again this winter.    [player_tooltip player_id='502594' first='Ashlynn' last='Spong'] – 2026 Guard, St. Croix Prep   After consistently putting the work in for the last several seasons, Spong is gearing up for a big year. The 5'9 guard was highly impactful on Sunday, combining athleticism, skill, and sheer effort. Ashlynn is a versatile, two-way player who will do whatever her team asks of her. In this week's Fall League games, the Lions senior used her quick hands and awareness on the defensive end to pick up steals, leading to more scoring opportunities for her team. On the other end of the floor, Spong attacked the basket with an explosive first step and a head full of steam, absorbing contact on her way to the rim. It's only a matter of time before she finds a home at the collegiate level.

Each year around this time we make our annual trek out to Park High School in Cottage Grove to check out some of the top talent from both the Twin Cities East Metro and Western Wisconsin. In this week's installment of our coverage of the Breakdown Fall League, we'll look at both teams and players who have taken their game up a notch in preparation for the upcoming high school season.