High performers in crunch time

College programs are constantly seeking trustworthy, reliable players who will deliver when the game is on the line. From locking in defensively, to executing a drawn-up play, to hitting clutch buckets down the stretch, players that know how to rise to the occasion in tight games are highly sought after. These seven players paced their teams in close games this week and showed their ability to step up during crunch time. Looking for competitors who level up in big moments? Keep reading to find out who did that across the state last week.    [player_tooltip player_id='1556440' first='Aniya' last='Hardee'] was the X-Factor last Friday for Bedford High School, who took down Gilford in dramatic fashion 45-44. Hardee had one of the most impressive stat lines in the state over the weekend, finishing with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists to lead the Bulldogs to a win. On any given night, you can put Aniya on triple-double watch. The junior combo guard is averaging 9.8 points, 8.7 boards, and 7.5 assists per night in Class 1A. And defense? Yes, she does that too — Hardee is averaging 4.3 steals per game. You can trust that Hardee will do her job and make an impact.     [player_tooltip player_id='655384' first='Campbell' last='Schulz'] showed her skillset and efficiency this weekend against a gritty Xavier team, and her efforts helped North Polk get a big 53-56 win. Schulz showed her ability to score across the floor by going 7/9 from the field, knocking down all eight of her free throws, and nailing a three pointer (good for a game-high 23 points). Schulz also chipped in 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Schulz has a high IQ and makes solid plays — any time she's got the ball in her hands she just makes good things happen. I would keep my eye on Schulz this summer during the recruitment period.     Another nominee for my Player of the Game honors in the North Polk vs Xavier matchup was combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='777231' first='Fayth' last='Sullivan']. Sullivan has a lightning-quick shot from beyond the arc and splashed a deep one as the buzzer expired in the first quarter. She was also the defensive force for Comets, leading the way with 4 steals. She finished the night with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists and was efficient at the free throw line, going 9/11. Sullivan is flat-out getting it done this season, averaging 14.8 points and 8.4 boards from the guard spot.     In a closely-contested matchup between Crestwood (3A) and Turkey Valley (1A), it was combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1220768' first='Mea' last='Shelton'] who took the spotlight. Shelton scored 19 points, pulled in 3 rebounds, dished out 7 dimes, and tallied 2 steals to lead the Cadets to a close 52-50 victory. Shelton is no stranger dishing out assists — she leads her team in the category. She also knows how to turn up the head defensively and leads her squad in steals, too (how many people can say they have a 10-steal game under their belt?). Shelton knows how to shine in the big moment for Crestwood.     4A foes Mason City and Waterloo East squared off in an exciting affair last Friday, with Mason City pulling out the win 45-43. Despite the close loss, Waterloo East standout [player_tooltip player_id='582812' first='Kaelin' last='Knipp'] was a force to be reckoned with. She finished the game with 15 points, 17 boards, one assist and one block. Knipp is a powerful center who did most of her work in the paint and was a monster on the offensive boards, tallying 8 overall. She went 7/11 on the night and though she didn't put up any threes vs. Mason City, she won't shy away from an open jumper if given the opportunity. I really liked Knipp's tenacity in this matchup.     Calie Waltz helped lead the charge for Camanche this weekend against Bellevue. Waltz showed both efficiency and tenacity by making 6/10 of her attempts from the floor and snaring 12 rebounds to lead her Storm squad to a narrow 55-52 win. That's an impressive 15 point, 12 board double-double for the senior. Though she's a bit undersized at the small forward position Waltz game speaks for itself. This season she's averaging just under 10 rebounds per game to go along with 8 points per game. When you need big numbers in a tight matchup, look to Waltz to fill up the stat sheet.     Another high performer out of Camanche this week is sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='896412' first='Jenna' last='Dunlap']. I think Dunlap's best basketball is ahead of her — she's got size, plays disciplined defense, rebounds at a high level, and converts field goals a high clip. Her skillset was on display in her matchup vs. Bellevue, where she just about tallied a double-double with 8 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a big block. I'm looking forward to seeing Dunlap's development over her career as she continues to grow her offensive game, and also continues to be a menace in the paint on defense — she's averaging 3 blocks per season.

College programs are constantly seeking trustworthy, reliable players who will deliver when the game is on the line. From locking in defensively, to executing a drawn-up play, to hitting clutch buckets down the stretch, players that know how to rise to the occasion in tight games are highly sought after. These seven players paced their teams in close games this week and showed their ability to step up during crunch time. Looking for competitors who level up in big moments? Keep reading to find out who did that across the state last week.