2025 Early Season Breakout: Independence High School

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the early rumblings of the high school season, in the class of 4A, Independence High School is making some noise. To start the 2025-2026 season, they have an impressive record of 7-3 and are currently on a six-game win streak. Here are a few players on this talented squad that people should take note of this season and going forward in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["822345"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69407aa4a0e12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='822345' first='Madison' last='Zaitz'], in her junior season, is starting to put together the best season of her high school basketball career to date. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'11", the ceiling of what Zaitz can bring to a team is high. She has great versatility, and one area she is capitalizing on against teams is in the interior. She is locking in on the glass in securing rebounds, and is chipping in defensively down low, generating good shot contests and blocked shots routinely. When it comes to scoring, she has a great three-point shot. With this, she can score in bunches in both transition and in half-court sets in the paint. This was somewhat seen in one of her more recent games. On Dec. 12, against Ravenwood High School, she had 16 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["900231"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69407aa4a0e8f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='900231' first='Riley' last='Brooks'] is having a strong senior season and has been an integral part in trying to help improve on Independence's record of 13-12 last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'2", Brooks is a player opposing teams constantly have to be aware of on both sides of the court. If they do not, she finds multiple avenues to help her team win, with interior defense and scoring being two of these pathways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, she has had multiple games with two or more blocks, including a recent game against Centennial High School, where she had three. For a player of her height, she also moves extremely well, and her timing on contesting shot attempts is above average.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Brooks can score in a multitude of ways inside the paint. Her footwork and the way she maneuvers down low are things that stand out and make her effective in getting buckets in this area. To go with this, Brooks is also a constant offensive rebounding threat. She is also just a great rebounder in general on both sides of the court. She already has multiple double-doubles this season. This includes one against Brentwood Academy, where she had 11 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["822288"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69407aa4a0ee1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To flank the great interior play of Brooks and Zaitz listed above comes the junior sharpshooter, [player_tooltip player_id='822288' first='MJ' last='Montgomery'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are great shooters all across high school basketball, but some have one trait that holds them back. The trait being referred to is hesitation. When it comes to Montgomery, she does not possess that whatsoever. If she is given the space, she lets it fly and is extremely effective doing so. Montgomery's outside jumper was on full display in a game against Franklin High School, where she had six three-pointers. The main way Montgomery scores from beyond the perimeter is off catch-and-shoot actions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252921"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69407aa4a0f54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1252921' first='Ava' last='Trudeau'] has already carved out a role on the varsity squad for the Lady Eagles program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the main areas Trudeau has contributed to this season to Independence is her defense. At her height of 5'11", Trudeau is one of the best defenders on the team. She has the foot speed to hang with most guards and the size to defend most post players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Trudeau can also space the floor with a good-looking three-point jumper. Against Franklin, she had two makes from behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tay Werts","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Independence High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69407aa4a1011"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tay Werts has brought forth great overall guard play in her junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Werts, when she is on the court, can do a little bit of everything. She can shoot, playmake, and rebound. Whatever her team needs, she can fill the gaps to give her team the best chance to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Werts is a constant steal threat, which was one area she was also strong in her sophomore season. This was seen in games against Stewart Creek and Centennial, where she had two steals in each game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->