Midweek Highlights: Rising Basketball Talents to Watch

<p>Here are the midweek standouts from the opening week of the 2025–2026 basketball season, representing a range of graduating classes. Khloe is a must-see, with her toughness catching the attention of a parent seeing her play live for the first time, who remarked, "I didn't realize she was that tough in person." Dahni's stock is climbing after a dominant showing in the paint. Lyla possesses the size and skill to stand in her own tier. Demi and Madison form an underrated backcourt duo that plays with confidence and fearlessness.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Frances Panthers:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Khloe showcased her versatility in a commanding road win, capping the first quarter with a smooth corner three and finishing the night with five triples. Her emergence as a consistent deep threat opened driving lanes, allowing her to penetrate and create easy looks for teammates. Her highlight play came in transition, where a defender tried to cut her off but ended up in the spin cycle as Khloe finished at the rim for a clean layup. Khloe finished the night with 27 points and 5 assists.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Dahni's senior composure stood out on the road, taking command as the team's first option on offense. Once she caught the ball at the elbow, she became tough to contain, getting to the basket in a single dribble and finishing with 19 points. She also showed a strong feel for rebounding, pulling down at least 15 and displaying Rodman-like instincts on both ends of the floor. With her motor, physical presence, and reliable production, Dahni brings all the intangibles needed to compete at the collegiate level.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Good Counsel Falcons:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Lyla, serving as the primary point guard, is something special to watch. Her height and court vision gives her the advantage to process the floor quickly and make sharp in-game decisions. In the Falcons' home opener, she initiated a 3-on-1 break and capped it with a smooth no-look pass that set up an easy layup for her teammate. She added a quiet but efficient 14 points, guiding the offense with poise throughout the night.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700"></p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SMCA Mustangs:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Demi delivered an impressive performance against a strong defensive backcourt, showcasing every part of her game. She created and scored efficiently on her way to 17 points, often generating offense on her own. Though she dealt with back tightness after halftime, her senior leadership kept her on the floor, and she still added seven points in the second half. Her toughness and poise were evident throughout.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Madison stepped in as SMCA's primary point guard tonight and handled the role with confidence. Despite consistent full-court pressure, she kept her dribble alive, created her own space, and found ways to set up teammates or get to her own spots. She attacked the basket throughout the game, earning trips to the line and going 5-for-8. She also showed her range, knocking down three triples to finish with nine points from beyond the arc. Her poise and scoring balance stood out in a demanding matchup.</p>

Here are the midweek standouts from the opening week of the 2025–2026 basketball season, representing a range of graduating classes. Khloe is a must-see, with her toughness catching the attention of a parent seeing her play live for the first time, who remarked, "I didn't realize she was that tough in person." Dahni's stock is climbing after a dominant showing in the paint. Lyla possesses the size and skill to stand in her own tier. Demi and Madison form an underrated backcourt duo that plays with confidence and fearlessness.