Playmakers Shine in Marion County Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year marked the&nbsp;<strong>52nd Marion County Tournament</strong>, one of the most exciting events in Indiana girls basketball outside of the IHSAA State Tournament. The Marion County Tournament featured a strong field including Speedway, Franklin Central, Roncalli, Decatur Central, Lutheran, Ben Davis, Southport, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, Pike, Beech Grove, Perry Meridian, Park Tudor, Warren Central, North Central, and Brebeuf Jesuit. Lawrence Central entered the tournament as the defending champions from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roncalli continued to benefit from playing extremely well as a collective unit. Currently ranked&nbsp;<strong>16th in the state of Indiana</strong>, Roncalli recently picked up two impressive upset victories over ranked opponents in Franklin Central and Lawrence Central. In the championship game, they struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first half, but made key adjustments and began knocking down shots. What stands out most about this Roncalli group is how connected they are—each player understands their role and plays with great discipline and purpose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams that have been playing at a high level behind elite talent were&nbsp;<strong>Pike and Roncalli</strong>. Pike is loaded from top to bottom, with impact players ranging from freshmen to seniors, making them one of the deepest teams in the state. Ranked&nbsp;<strong>6th in Indiana</strong>, Pike entered the championship game looking to capture its first Marion County title since the 2018–2019 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pike set the tone early and finished strong, playing their brand of basketball—fast-paced, under control, and poised. They built a&nbsp;<strong>40–26 halftime lead</strong>&nbsp;over Roncalli and never looked back, securing a&nbsp;<strong>75–52 victory</strong>&nbsp;to claim the Marion County Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following players will be featured for their standout performances in the Marion County Championship Game:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pike</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Senior Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038873' first='Deniyah' last='Warren']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Senior Forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Freshman Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Junior Guard <strong>Sniya Smith</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roncalli</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Senior Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='421106' first='Catie' last='Rosko']</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Junior Guard <strong>Elliott Leffler</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1038873"],"_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-69435f4a7b3c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1038873' first='Deniyah' last='Warren'] is clearly one of the most influential leaders on this talented Pike team. She leads in multiple ways—setting the example with her play and consistently communicating on the floor. Warren brings contagious energy that keeps her teammates engaged and locked in, especially on the defensive end. She continues to show what it means to impact the game in ways beyond scoring, whether it's through effort, awareness, or leadership. Her ability to influence both ends of the floor, combined with her competitive edge and desire to win, makes her one of the most exciting players to watch in the Marion County Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["928878"],"_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-69435f4a7b42c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers'] completely dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. She was highly efficient scoring around the rim while consistently controlling the glass. One of the most enjoyable aspects of her game is how well she complements [player_tooltip player_id='686306' first='Komari' last='Booker']—together, they create a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Jeffers finished the championship game with <strong>14 points and 7 rebounds</strong>, making her presence felt throughout the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1263952"],"_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-69435f4a7b474"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell'] has been playing at a high level all season, with her consistency as a scorer standing out the most. She has a strong feel for finding her spots and using her skill and strength to put the ball in the basket. From the opening game of her high school career until now, Mitchell has steadily grown stronger and more physical, making her a force inside. She capped off the championship game with <strong>14 points and 10 rebounds</strong>, while also making an impact defensively by contesting shots, securing boards, and altering plays around the rim. Her performance showcased her growing two-way presence and importance to Pike's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751118"],"_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-69435f4a7b4b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sniyah Smith continues to prove she is an offensive threat every time she steps on the floor, largely due to her ability to consistently knock down shots. She excels at running the floor in transition, both with and without the ball, and has a natural feel for spacing that allows her to get clean looks. She has been consistently been the leading scorer for this team and is quickly becoming a star. Defensively, she applies constant pressure with her quickness, staying active in passing lanes and disrupting opposing guards. As one of the quickest guards on Pike's loaded roster, Smith's speed, shooting ability, and two-way impact consistently create problems for opposing defenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["421106"],"_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-69435f4a7b4f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was my first opportunity to watch Catie play, and she made a strong impression. She impacted the game by effectively getting others involved, showing strong ball-handling skills and poise as a lead guard. Defensively, she was active in passing lanes and competed on the ball, creating disruption for Pike's guards. Her ability to influence the flow of the game went beyond scoring. Catie finished the night with <strong>7 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals</strong>, highlighting her well-rounded performance.</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":"Elliott Leffler","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Indianapolis Roncalli","_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-69435f4a7b593"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elliott Leffler put on an offensive clinic for her team, consistently keeping them within striking distance. She displayed advanced shot-making ability, creating her own offense off the bounce and confidently knocking down shots against defensive pressure. Leffler was effective scoring from the perimeter and attacking closeouts, but she truly stood out with her ability to get downhill and finish through contact. Her aggressiveness forced Pike's defense to foul, sending her to the free-throw line where she converted <strong>15 of 20 attempts</strong>. Leffler finished the night with <strong>30 points</strong> while shooting <strong>39% from the field</strong>, highlighting both her volume scoring and toughness in a high-level championship environment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->