Opening Round Game Ball Award Winners at the Mid America Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had the privilege of being courtside for the opening round of the <a href="https://mcphersonoptimistclub.org/basketball-stats/">Mid America Classic</a> in McPherson. Hosted by the McPherson Optimist Club this year's MAC is the 31st annual rendition. Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League McPherson hosts 5A AVCTL members Andover Central and Hutchinson, 6A Wichita Northwest of the Greater Wichita Area League, 6A Manhattan from the Centennial League and three 6A teams from the Sunflower League: Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission South and Olathe South. Several players were major difference makers with a select few being my virtual game ball award winners due to their impact on powering their teams to wins. While not my award winners there are several players, including those teams headed to the consolation bracket, who deserve honorable mention recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Award Winners</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["621235"],"_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-697cf2cf78e98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ball is a strong, quick and heady point guard who has been part of the rotation for years if not as a starter. She showed right away how dangerous she can be as a shooter, burying a hat-trick of three balls in the first quarter from all around the perimeter. Finishing with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals Ball also generated 4 of the team's 9 assists. </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":"Juliah Bolden","_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":"Andover Central","_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-697cf6b34ebe2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A big difference maker in the Jaguars not only hanging in with a hard-nosed McPherson squad but in getting baskets in traffic off the drive when it mattered. She hit a three pointer late but most of her 17 points came on tough drives. She repeatedly beat Bullpup defenders off the dribble to slice down the lane to score through challengers. Overall she shot nearly 50% from the floor and picked up a couple steals to boot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1480445"],"_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-697d2426e2485"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let be known that if Kramer is on the floor you best keep track of her because she will hurt you from beyond the arc with range. Going 4/8 from three point land to finished with a team leading 18 points she also showed defensive chops by collecting 6 steals. Do not let her slender frame fool you. She showed good speed and used her length and hand speed to good effect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["672683"],"_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-697cf2cf78f1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Battling illness and a terrific Hutchinson doubling game plan Long wrapped up a 14 point win with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 3 steals. Her results were a big key to victory but how well she adjusted to double-teams and lane clogging was important. She repeatedly found the right kick-out pass, used her hops to generate second-chance points and control the glass. The Falcons out-rebounded the Salthawks 47-24. Disrupting Salthawk plans was her moving out of the center spot to play on the perimeter more. That gave her perimeter looks and enabled the team to open up more space in the lane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mentions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='898726' first='Evie' last='Banks'], 5'9", SG/PF, Manhattan, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1702520' first='Kelsey' last='Barscewski'], 5'6", SG, Andover Central, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1114679' first='Brooke' last='Doile'], 5'9", SF/PF, McPherson, 2026 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544011' first='Laila' last='Johnson-Berndt'], 5'10", CG, Shawnee Mission Southeast, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1263306' first='Ava' last='Krone'], 6'1", PF, Hutchinson, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='751128' first='Aubrey' last='Loman'], 5'1", PG, Wichita Northwest, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1323214' first='Danai' last='Morgan'], 5'5", PG, Hutchinson, 2029 - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='993982' first='Paige' last='Stanfield'], 5'10", PF, Shawnee Mission East, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779231' first='Reese' last='Wilborn'], 5'5", PG, Andover Central, 2027 - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1702523' first='Aleigha' last='Zillicoffee'], 6'0", PF, Olathe South, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->