Tony’s Takes: Thanksgiving Tip Off Dynamic Duos

The Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off at White Bear Lake has quietly become one of my favorite early-season stops. You get a mix of teams still finding their footing and players looking to make a statement right out of the gate. This year, the theme was clear from the start: dynamic duos were running the show. Whether it was guards feeding off each other, inside-outside combos causing problems, or two-way players lifting their teams on both ends, the pairings were hard to miss. It's still early, but weekends like this give you a pretty good idea of who's ready to take that next step. With competitive games, packed crowds, and plenty of standout performances, the Thanksgiving Tip Off once again delivered.   [player_tooltip player_id='719637' first='Deborah' last='Ayeni'] - forward, 2026 - Anoka   Ayeni set the tone right away, and honestly, she controlled the game in a way the box score still doesn't fully show. The Southeast Missouri State commit bullied her way to 16 points and 18 rebounds in the opener, but what stood out even more were the passes she fired to cutters all night. Those weren't simple dump-offs – she was throwing darts right into windows that most posts don't even see. Her feel for the game continues to shine. I would've liked to see her stay planted around the paint even more because Mahtomedi had no one who could handle her strength or size. Any time she was inside, it changed the entire possession. Still, she did more than enough to help her group secure a comfortable win on their way to a 1-1 weekend. Performances like this remind you why she's such an important piece moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1055095' first='Drew' last='Pederson'] - guard, 2026 - Anoka   Pederson came out ready and set the pace from the start. The senior guard flashed her full skill set all weekend, jumping passing lanes with her quick burst and turning steals into easy runouts. She scored at all three levels and looked more confident creating off the bounce, dropping 16 points to open the weekend. Her improved handle helped her hdeal with pressure, and she kept the offense organized with good reads and simple, smart plays. She brings a competitive edge her teammates follow. When the tempo picked up, she stayed calm. When the game got physical, she met it head-on. Her shot didn't fall on day two, but she never let that leak into the rest of her game. She stayed aggressive, defended, and kept making winning plays. Pederson is a tone-setter, and once again she proved why she's such a steady, trusted presence for her group.   Kim Barkor - post 2027 - Osseo   Barkor may not be a household name yet, but she took a real step toward changing that this weekend. The 6-foot post from Osseo used her strong frame the right way, mixing power with a soft touch around the basket. She created contact without getting herself in trouble, which is something young posts usually struggle with. In a tight opener against Visitation, she came up huge late – grabbing clutch offensive boards, finishing tough put-backs, and calmly sinking important free throws when the pressure was on. Defensively, she read the floor well and slid over to contest shots at the rim, showing she's more than just a scorer. With her physical tools and willingness to compete, her ceiling is high. Watching her progress over the next couple years should be fun because she has the talent to play at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1316899' first='Kiana' last='Davis'] - guard 2026 - Osseo   Davis and Barkor give Osseo a strong inside-outside look, with Barkor handling business in the paint and Davis doing her work on the perimeter. The mid-range jumper might be fading from most players' games, but Davis is keeping it alive. After a quiet first half against Visitation, she settled in and knocked down a string of smooth pull-up jumpers that helped the Orioles secure their first win of the season. She shoots it clean, and because of that, she could benefit from looking for her shot a little more. When she's confident and aggressive, the offense opens up for everyone around her. Davis has the tools to be a steady scoring option, and performances like this show how important her perimeter game is to Osseo's success.   [player_tooltip player_id='990285' first='Kiyanah' last='McGriff'] - forward, 2028 - Roseville   When you're matched up with McGriff, you better be ready for a long night. The 5'10 forward brings a nonstop motor and plays with a level of physicality that wears opponents down. She mixes strength with a soft touch and uses her bounce to clean the glass before anyone else even reacts. Against Totino-Grace, she bullied her way to a key bucket by attacking straight through contact and challenging anyone to step in front. Her shot didn't fall as well the next night against Anoka, partly because she ran into a tough matchup with Ayeni, but she still impacted the game in other ways. McGriff stayed active on the boards, defended with energy, and helped her team roll to a 2-0 weekend. She's the kind of player every coach wants on their side.   [player_tooltip player_id='773429' first='Maddie' last='Sundberg'] - guard, 2026 - Roseville   Sundberg put together a strong opening weekend and gave Roseville exactly what they needed. The senior guard scored 19 in the opener, then backed it up with 14 more to help the Raiders finish 2-0 at the Tip Off. She knocked down six threes across the two games and stayed locked in defensively, showing she's more than just a shooter. Playing alongside senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='658914' first='Mira' last='Jackson'] has been a great fit – Jackson gets her the ball in rhythm and makes sure she's taking the right shots. With McGriff and [player_tooltip player_id='991090' first='Peyton' last='George'] drawing attention inside, Sundberg is going to keep getting clean looks. Based on how confidently she shot it this weekend, she's ready to take full advantage.   [player_tooltip player_id='1048130' first='Izabelle' last='Keaveny'] - guard, 2026 - Mayer Lutheran   Keaveny (pictured above right) set the tone right away and never let up. In the opener against White Bear Lake, she turned into a one-woman press, picking up full court and making it nearly impossible for ball handlers to even cross half court. When she wasn't hounding the ball, she used her speed to jump passing lanes and turn steals into easy points the other way. She finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals in that win, doing a little bit of everything to help Mayer Lutheran control the game. She kept it rolling the next day with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a tight battle with Totino-Grace. Even in the loss, her impact was obvious. Keaveny plays with an aggressive edge that lifts her whole team, and she showed this weekend just how valuable she is on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='1268580' first='Avery' last='Arvig'] - guard, 2026 - Mayer Lutheran   Arvig (pictured above left) set the tone early in the opener, scoring the first seven points for Mayer Lutheran and finishing with 10. She didn't put up huge numbers across the weekend, but her understanding of the game stood out every time she touched the ball. Her reads were sharp, and she consistently put teammates in spots where they could succeed. That kind of awareness is something you can't teach. She could benefit from being a little more aggressive because she shoots it well from the outside and has the handle to get into the paint whenever she wants. With her skill set, looking for her own opportunities wouldn't hurt. Pair her with her twin sister Clare Arvig, and you've got a combination that's tough to deal with.   [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] - guard, 2027 - Hopkins   I didn't think Diggs had another level to reach, but she showed again why you should never doubt her. What Jaliyah does on both ends of the floor at her size is special, and it comes from the kind of heart you can't coach. The outside shot she's added has changed everything – defenders can't sag off her anymore, and once she gets downhill, it's a wrap. But what really stood out this weekend was how tough she was defensively. Teams tried to bully her in the post, and she wasn't having it. Her strength, timing, and understanding of how to guard bigger players made life tough for anyone who tried. Oh, and she still averaged 15 points over the weekend while making winning plays on both ends. Hopkins went 1-1, dropping a close battle to Dowling Catholic of Iowa 46-45, but Diggs showed again why she's one of the most competitive players around.   [player_tooltip player_id='1418505' first='Marianna' last='Davis'] - post, 2030 - Hopkins   Davis' stellar game against Providence Academy felt like her introduction to the state, and some might've wondered if it was beginner's luck. This weekend shut that conversation down. The 8th grader showed she's built for this level. In a strong Friday night win, she poured in 17 points in every way you can think of – put-backs, up-and-unders, transition finishes. She played with real force on the glass and blocked shots that sparked runs, helping Hopkins take down Stevens Point 92-69 in the border battle. With [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] out on Saturday, Davis earned her first varsity start. The scoring wasn't the same, but her presence mattered just as much. She defended, rebounded, moved the ball, and stayed poised. She literally improves every time she steps on the floor. She's young, humble, and hungry, and that combination is dangerous.

The Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off at White Bear Lake has quietly become one of my favorite early-season stops. You get a mix of teams still finding their footing and players looking to make a statement right out of the gate. This year, the theme was clear from the start: dynamic duos were running the show. Whether it was guards feeding off each other, inside-outside combos causing problems, or two-way players lifting their teams on both ends, the pairings were hard to miss. It's still early, but weekends like this give you a pretty good idea of who's ready to take that next step. With competitive games, packed crowds, and plenty of standout performances, the Thanksgiving Tip Off once again delivered.