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Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.

Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
Byron Xerxes Livsey
Byron Xerxes Livsey January 21, 2026 @ 05:43 PM
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In this article:

Lucy Tierney
Lucy Tierney 5'11" | CG | 2028
IL
Alex Nowak-Tice
Alex Nowak-Tice 6'2" | C | 2026
IL
Erin Hackett
Erin Hackett 5'7" | SG | 2026
IL
Grace Lee
Grace Lee 6'2" | PF | 2026
IL
Allison Linke
Allison Linke 6'1" | PF/CG | 2026
IL
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With sectional groupings being announced, there's a clearer picture of what teams could possibly be heading down to state. Below are a couple players who I believe could really change the outcome of the game when the playoffs start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773814"],"_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-697164a4a6e07"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Hackett is a big reason why Central is a team opponents have struggled with. Her ability to stand out next to top level talent and remain a true threat is amazing to see. She can stretch the court at a high clip, is more than aggressive on the boards, and can legitimately fit into any offensive scheme.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836404"],"_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-697164a4a6e97"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Tice has honestly shown major improvement in her skill set over the past few years. When the game slows down, players who operate in the post usually excel, and she is one of those players. The frame, the strength, and the simplicity of her game can work in any system. She doesn't need much to get things done, but she also has a ton of energy.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["442381"],"_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-697164a4a6f1c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>There hasn't been a player who can legit play the 1–5 in Illinois in a while. When it comes to playing the guard position, she can handle the ball better than most and has also shown major glimpses of being a high level playmaker. Her strength, frame, and patience are the main reasons why she is such a force in the paint and why teams will have to adjust every possession.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["625058"],"_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-697164a4a6f9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Lee below the nail is usually a bucket, and if you're guarding her down there, it will be a long night. You'll have to deal with her ability to score with one move, and you'll have to make sure your head is on a swivel if you're on the help side, because her vision and the confidence to make passes out of the post will cause a lot of problems for the defense.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882110"],"_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-697164a4a6ff2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Every team needs a player that can count on to cause issues for the oppisites team best player, and Benet has that in Tierney. This program has a chance of making it back down state again, and with all the scoring power they have. She brings a 3&amp;D skillset that will definitely be needed when games close. </em>Theres no fear in this kid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

With sectional groupings being announced, there's a clearer picture of what teams could possibly be heading down to state. Below are a couple players who I believe could really change the outcome of the game when the playoffs start.

Carthage (WI)
Erin Hackett

Erin Hackett

IL
SG
HEIGHT 5'7"
POS SG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Erin
Hackett SG
Class
2026
Height
5'7"
HS
Naperville Central
|
IL
Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
Hackett is a big reason why Central is a team opponents have struggled with. Her ability to stand...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Carthage (WI)
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops​.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Erin Hackett

Twitter
State: Illinois
School: Naperville Central
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Winona State
Alex Nowak-Tice

Alex Nowak-Tice

IL
C
HEIGHT 6'2"
POS C
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Alex
Nowak-Tice C
Class
2026
Height
6'2"
HS
Lake Zurich
|
IL
Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
Tice has honestly shown major improvement in her skill set over the past few years. When the game...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Winona State
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops​.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Alex Nowak-Tice

State: Illinois
School: Lake Zurich
Club: M14 Hoops
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Murray State (KY)
Allison Linke

Allison Linke

IL
PF/CG
HEIGHT 6'1"
POS PF/CG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Allison
Linke PF/CG
Class
2026
Height
6'1"
HS
Prospect
|
IL
Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
There hasn’t been a player who can legit play the 1–5 in Illinois in a while. When it...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Murray State (KY)
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops​.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Allison Linke

Instagram Twitter
State: Illinois
School: Prospect
Club: Wolverinas
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Boston
Grace Lee

Grace Lee

IL
PF
HEIGHT 6'2"
POS PF
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Grace
Lee PF
Class
2026
Height
6'2"
HS
DePaul College Prep
|
IL
Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
Lee below the nail is usually a bucket, and if you’re guarding her down there, it will be...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Boston
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops​.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Grace Lee

Instagram Twitter
State: Illinois
School: DePaul College Prep
Club: All In
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Lucy Tierney

Lucy Tierney

IL
CG
HEIGHT 5'11"
POS CG
CLASS 2028
View Player
​
Lucy
Tierney CG
Class
2028
Height
5'11"
HS
Benet Academy
|
IL
Final Stretch of the Season, Players Who Will Be Gamechangers.
Every team needs a player that can count on to cause issues for the oppisites team best player,...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops​.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Lucy Tierney

Instagram Twitter
State: Illinois
School: Benet Academy
Club: M14 Hoops
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Prep Girls Hoops

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