Tip Off Classic recap: Emerging underclassmen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season kicked off over the weekend with the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska. We've been providing coverage on the event all week, looking at everything from team performances to 7th, and 8th graders making their varsity debuts. On Tuesday, I covered breakout performances among the juniors and seniors. Today we'll look at five more standouts, this time from the underclassmen.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914941' first='Briana' last='Foster'] – 2028 Guard/Forward, Minnehaha Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the premier prospects in the sophomore class, Foster was crucial to Minnehaha Academy's win at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic. Pictured above, the 5'9 wing brought her A-game on the defensive end, using her ample length to grab rebounds, create deflections, block shots, and grab steals. Bri's lateral quickness and tenacity came in handy, contributing to her lockdown one-on-one defense. Down the stretch Foster made big plays, including a crafty spin move in the lane, followed by the and-one at the free throw line. While only a sophomore, Bri showed composure throughout the matchup with East Ridge, leading the Redhawks to a 1-0 start to the season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'] led the team with 24 points, followed by Foster with 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1447676' first='Clara' last='Theobald'] – 2029 Guard, Stewartville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With plenty of underclassmen on the Stewartville varsity roster, there was no shortage of young talent to see at the Tip Off. Theobald saw plenty of floor time on Saturday, but it was the way she carried herself on the court that stood out to us. Whether handling the ball in the half court, or defending much older and stronger players in the low post, the freshman guard exuded confidence on both ends of the floor. Clara's bouncy step, quickness, and tenacity allow her to defend on the perimeter. Her strength, physical style of play, and lack of fear help her make an impact both in the paint and on the boards. We look forward to seeing the Tigers freshman evolve as the season progresses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='815078' first='Zoey' last='Johnston'] – 2028 Guard, Orono</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After missing much of her 9th grade season due to injury,&nbsp; the Orono sophomore found ways to make an impact for the Spartans in her season debut. Despite being on a minutes restriction, Johnston looked as quick and explosive as ever. The 5'6 guard used her speed and tenacity to contribute to the Spartans high-energy defense. Zoey was active on the boards at the Tip Off, grabbing 5 rebounds in the matchup against Duluth Marshall. On the offensive end, Johnston shot the ball with confidence, taking advantage of ball screens to create space for a shot from beyond the arc. We suspect that she will become even more crucial to the Spartans success as the season progresses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1445604' first='Melanie' last='Carlson'] –2030 Guard, Duluth Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those who saw our coverage of the Fall Exclusive last month should be familiar with Carlson's game. The Duluth Marshall 8th grader was a standout performer at that event, and brought much of the same energy to the Tip Off on Saturday. The 5'5 guard showed off her confident ball handling and stellar court vision. She pushed the tempo on both ends of the floor, crashed the boards, and played with no fear. Melanie, a known sharpshooter, made two of her three attempts from beyond the arc, using her quick, left-handed release to get the ball up before the defense closed in. She finished with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists in the matchup against Orono.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='786314' first='Tate' last='Addler'] – 2028 Guard, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Minnetonka sophomore raised her game in recent months, reaching a newfound level of confidence. Addler's growth was evident in the pivotal role she played in the Skippers' statement win over Crosby-Ironton at the Tip Off. From the jump Tate was aggressive on both ends of the floor. On the defensive end, the 6'0 guard/wing applied pressure on the perimeter, using her ample length and quickness to jump passing lanes and pick up steals. On offense she moved effectively without the ball, making well-timed cuts to the rim. When the ball was in her hands, Addler drove to the basket with a head full of steam, finishing through contact and drawing fouls in the process. She finished with 11 points in the win over the Rangers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->