More Impactful Early Season Performers

Brady Peterson December 19, 2025 @ 12:17 PM

As the season rolls on, I'd like to continue highlighting some players from off the beaten path. There are hundreds of teams in the state, and plenty of players who deserve recognition for how the first month and some change have gone for them. Today, we'll look at eight players whom I'd like to discuss based on how they've played thus far.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092830' first='Heidi' last='Olson']   The Albany/Monticello guard had an excellent first season of high school basketball last season, and she's playing well again to start her sophomore campaign. Olson is a hard-nosed two-way player who can make plays on either end of the floor and will be a player who can swing games on her own. The sophomore is a reliable perimeter threat who is among the top spot shooters from beyond the three-point line. Also, like every Olson who's played at Albany/Monticello, she is willing to fly all over the floor to generate extra possessions.   Olivia Sprangers   The Pulaski guard has a role to play in every aspect of what the Red Raiders do on both ends of the court. Sprangers is an excellent athlete who can push the ball up the floor and put pressure on the rim by getting downhill and beating her initial defender off the dribble. She also has an edge to her game and the toughness to play through contact around the basket and finish in the paint. The Pulaski native is a player who has the capability to catch a coach's attention at the next level.   Kloe Denninger   Denninger is a well-rounded frontcourt player for Northwood who can finish around the basket, space the floor, and rebound the ball. The Evergreen can make plays in different ways offensively and has the capability of scoring in the paint or beyond the three-point line. Her ability to space the floor can create mismatches for teams that want to play man defense, but also allows her to shoot teams out of a zone if the opposing team decides to take that route.   [player_tooltip player_id='1305060' first='Carly' last='Pankratz']   The Stratford Tiger has been an excellent high usage player for one of the smaller D4 programs in the state. Pankratz is a player who can handle the ball on the perimeter, create open looks for her teammates, space the floor, and rebound, which allows her to be as effective as she is in every fashion of the game offensively. She is also a player who can help generate live-ball turnovers defensively to get her team into its transition offense.

As the season rolls on, I'd like to continue highlighting some players from off the beaten path. There are hundreds of teams in the state, and plenty of players who deserve recognition for how the first month and some change have gone for them. Today, we'll look at eight players whom I'd like to discuss based on how they've played thus far.