Granite City Classic: Top Performers around St. Cloud

Admittedly, livestreaming games while sick in bed was not how I thought I'd be taking in the sights and sounds of Breakdown's annual Granite City Classic. While I was sad to miss the action taking place at St. Ben's, which is always one of the highlights of the high school season, my bout of illness allowed me to catch games from all of the other sites; St. Cloud State University, and the variety of high schools in the St. Cloud area (St. Cloud Tech, St. Cloud Apollo, Sartell, and Sauk Rapids-Rice). While these games didn't take place under the brightest of lights, there was still plenty of solid basketball to watch. Here are 5 top performers who excelled around St. Cloud.   [player_tooltip player_id='764201' first='Jaelyn' last='Bursey-Dixon'] – 2027 Wing, Spring Lake Park   Pictured above, Bursey-Dixon put on an impressive performance on Friday afternoon, dropping a season-high 24 points against Waconia. The 5'10 wing led the way for Spring Lake Park, creating a major impact on both ends of the floor. On the defensive end she was relentless on the glass, and a shot blocking threat in the paint. On the other end Jaelyn showed off her basketball IQ, making great reads on the defense when the ball was in her hands. She showed off her crafty ball handling and shifty footwork on drives to the rim, and used simple, but highly effective post moves to score from the low block. The Panthers junior is currently averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals a game.   [player_tooltip player_id='999549' first='Anna' last='Smolich'] – 2027 Wing/Forward, Spring Lake Park   The Spring Lake Park junior had a slow start in Friday's matchup against Waconia, but Smolich became highly impactful for the Panthers once she got the ball rolling in the second half. The bouncy, 5'11 wing was a versatile scoring threat, hitting shots from long range and attacking the basket with an explosive first step. Anna was efficient on drives to the hoop, using a soft touch to consistently finish at the rim. She ended the contest with 10 points. On the other end of the floor, Smolich brought plenty of energy, as well. The long and lanky junior was an impactful defender, using her length to create deflections and grab boards.   Emily Schoenrock – 2027 Forward, St. Francis   While the shots may not have been falling for the oldest of the Schoenrock sisters on Saturday afternoon, the 6'4 forward found plenty of other ways to create an impact. The St. Francis junior was a major defensive threat from inside the paint; using her consistent work ethic and immense length, she snagged a whopping 15 rebounds and tallied 4 blocks in the matchup against Foley. Emily showed her versatility on the offensive end as well, playing from both the paint and the perimeter, and showing off her abilities as a passer and screener as well. With her combination of size, length, quickness, and mobility, Schoenrock's game should definitely attract the attention of college coaches.   Lydia Anderson – 2027 Guard, Foley   Anderson gave a tremendous performance at the Granite City Classic, proving herself against talented players from around the state. The 5'6 point guard possesses a tremendous level of skill and plays the game with tons of hustle and heart. In Saturday's matchup against St. Francis, Lydia made great reads on both ends of the floor, defended with intensity, and showed off her keen passing ability. The Foley junior handles the ball like it's on a string, has a pure release on her three-point shot, and a seemingly endless motor. Along with upperclassmen Addison Beier, [player_tooltip player_id='1183731' first='Kylie' last='Storkamp'], and Alexis Swanson, Anderson was crucial in the Falcons success over the weekend.   Mercee Mbangowah – 2028 Guard, Bloomington Jefferson   Mbangowah gave one of the most entertaining performances of the weekend in Friday's matchup against New Ulm. Despite racking up 3 quick fouls and having to sit for most of the first half, Mercee had an electric second half, finishing with a team-high 17 points. The 5'6 guard scored from nearly every spot on the floor, hitting threes from around the perimeter and finishing at the basket with a high degree of efficiency. The Bloomington Jefferson junior is explosive with the ball in her hands and has plenty of tools in her offensive bag. On the other end of the floor, Mbangowah played quick, relentless defense on the perimeter and was an active force on the boards.

Admittedly, livestreaming games while sick in bed was not how I thought I'd be taking in the sights and sounds of Breakdown's annual Granite City Classic. While I was sad to miss the action taking place at St. Ben's, which is always one of the highlights of the high school season, my bout of illness allowed me to catch games from all of the other sites; St. Cloud State University, and the variety of high schools in the St. Cloud area (St. Cloud Tech, St. Cloud Apollo, Sartell, and Sauk Rapids-Rice). While these games didn't take place under the brightest of lights, there was still plenty of solid basketball to watch. Here are 5 top performers who excelled around St. Cloud.