Hidden Gems, High Stakes: Small School Playoff Push

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With several programs graduating cornerstone players, the competitive landscape has shifted across the board. That turnover has opened the door for under-the-radar prospects to step into expanded roles and establish themselves as emerging stars this season. As we move into the heart of the schedule, region play takes on heightened importance—every possession, every result, and every matchup carries weight in the playoff picture. With that in mind, here are the teams I believe are positioned to make a serious push for a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payson Longhorns</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Longhorns are young however they play hungry and look to compete at a high level every game. Coach Chaz Davis has done a phenomenal job in building a winning culture. The Longhorns are using their momentum from last year's 3A runner up finish. The Longhorns utilize a scoring by committee approach where a total of six players average 5 points/game or more. The three guards who I have been able to watch in the offseason are big contributors to include Karlynn Williams, Bebhinn Wile, and Bailey Cline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Window Rock Scouts</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Scouts were very young last year however under the leadership of Head Coach Gabby Whitney, she developed her young talent to compete at a high level. The Scouts most recently won the Epic Tourneys Championship this past week with a win over rival Ganado in the Championship. The Scouts are led by Freshmen Sensation: Tiana Edison 13.2 points/game and Senior Leader <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/fort-defiance/window-rock-fighting-scouts/athletes/kourtney-bitselley/?careerid=iosn5i3le3srb">Kourtney Bitselley</a> 13.1 points/game. The Scouts are my favorite to win the coveted 3A North Region Title and use that momentum into playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yuma Catholic Shamrocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucked away in Western Arizona sits Yuma Catholic, a small private school that's anything but small when it comes to basketball. Don't be fooled by the name or location—the Shamrocks can flat-out hoop, powered by a dangerous three-headed attack in [player_tooltip player_id='1267872' first='Amelia' last='Borrallo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1141267' first='Sadie' last='Estes'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1267863' first='Neriah' last='Sakay']. Head coach Anthony Gerg remains one of the most underrated coaches in the state, consistently preparing his teams to compete with anyone on the floor. With talent, toughness, and coaching all aligned, Yuma Catholic is my dark-horse pick to shake up the 3A landscape this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Carlos Braves</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves had an early playoff exit last season which seemed to fuel Coach Al Antonio's group to shoot for a championship. What sets this group apart is the maturity of their front court in Senior Post [player_tooltip player_id='605124' first='Kylee' last='Juan'] and Junior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='859879' first='Malia' last='Antonio']. Both prospects are double double machines and pose a matchup nightmare for smaller teams. I like Juan's ability to space the floor and she is a lethal passer. Antonio just makes plays and strives to lead her team night in and night out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horizon Honors Eagles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you been following small school girls basketball for some time, Horizon Honors has a rich tradition of being at the upper tier of small school programs. Coach Isaiah Ledford has been doing a great job in carrying the torch to continue the success for the Eagles. One player who emerges when I think about Horizon Honors is sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1047033' first='Alicia' last='Londono']. Londono is a talented point guard who makes her teammates better. With the Eagles length and athleticism, they will pose matchup nightmares for teams in the second leg of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->