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The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)

The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
Byron Xerxes Livsey
Byron Xerxes Livsey January 23, 2026 @ 01:32 PM
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In this article:

Becca McDougall
Becca McDougall 5'11" | SF | 2026
IL
Kaylea Lacey
Kaylea Lacey 5'8" | SG | 2026
IL
Lyla Shelton
Lyla Shelton 5'7" | CG | 2026
IL
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks 5'7" | CG | 2026
IL
Bridget Rifenburg
Bridget Rifenburg 6'0" | CG | 2026
IL
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Playoff basketball is about momentum. Games are decided by a handful of possessions, and one play can shift the flow fast. The players below impact the game in ways that often end up swinging momentum when it matters most.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514034"],"_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-6972e485b6384"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Big shots win playoff games just as much as defense does, and Kenwood has one of the best shot makers in Brooks. From all over the court, she can get going, and with her ball handling skills, she's able to create her own if shes in a situation that requires it. Coming off a state title last year, she also knows what it takes to get there, and that could definitely mean the leadership quality will take effect. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728413"],"_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-6972e485b63cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>McDougall is the glue for this team, and she doesn't need 15+ points to draw attention. She impacts the game in every area and seems to love doing the little things. When games come down to a possession, whether it's crashing the boards or hitting the floor, Becca is usually right in the middle of it. She has a strong feel for the tendencies of her teammates, which ultimately makes her one of the best playmakers as well. Washington is at the top of their class.. and Becca will be a huge piece on if they bring a state title home.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514892"],"_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-6972e485b62c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Shelton has been a consistent complementary piece to the success that this program has had in recent years. Her ability to make things happen without dribbling the ball the whole possession will be a major factor in how they look to score. She can stretch the floor off of a catch and shoot, she can take a couple of dribbles to get to the midrange to pull up, and she has no issue running the floor on a fast break to finish an easy one. She will forsure have some big moments this postseason. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["590575"],"_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-6972e485b6414"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Theres no many two guards in the senior class like Lacey. A complete athlete that can change a game, truly just off her energy and athleticism. The strong thing is that her skillset and her atheltcism goes band in hand. She is a force on the board due to her strength and vertical, she can defend multiple possessions due to her being fast and quick for the guards, and she can handle the bigs too due to her solid frame and fearlessness atttiude. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["407517"],"_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-6972e485b6338"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Benet has a decent amount of weapons to choose from when it comes to closing out a game, and one of their main weapons is Bridget. From the ability to run the point, or play off the ball and score off the cut, or from the nail is why theyre so hard to guard. She commands a ton of attention due to her being a major threat, and it seems as if she uses this to maybe be a decoy on possessions. A player who doesn't need the ball at all, and can still shift how a defense sets up, is a player that every team that gets deeper in the playoffs will need. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

Playoff basketball is about momentum. Games are decided by a handful of possessions, and one play can shift the flow fast. The players below impact the game in ways that often end up swinging momentum when it matters most.

Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks

IL
CG
HEIGHT 5'7"
POS CG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Danielle
Brooks CG
Class
2026
Height
5'7"
HS
Kenwood
|
IL
The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
Big shots win playoff games just as much as defense does, and Kenwood has one of the best...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Danielle Brooks

Instagram Twitter
State: Illinois
School: Kenwood
Club: Chicago Hoops Express
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Becca McDougall

Becca McDougall

IL
SF
HEIGHT 5'11"
POS SF
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Becca
McDougall SF
Class
2026
Height
5'11"
HS
Washington
|
IL
The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
McDougall is the glue for this team, and she doesn’t need 15+ points to draw attention. She impacts...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Becca McDougall

State: Illinois
School: Washington
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Lyla Shelton

Lyla Shelton

IL
CG
HEIGHT 5'7"
POS CG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Lyla
Shelton CG
Class
2026
Height
5'7"
HS
Nazareth Academy
|
IL
The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
Shelton has been a consistent complementary piece to the success that this program has had in recent years....
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Lyla Shelton

Instagram Twitter
State: Illinois
School: Nazareth Academy
Club: Chicago Hoops Express
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Wichita State
Kaylea Lacey

Kaylea Lacey

IL
SG
HEIGHT 5'8"
POS SG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Kaylea
Lacey SG
Class
2026
Height
5'8"
HS
Alton
|
IL
The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
Theres no many two guards in the senior class like Lacey. A complete athlete that can change a...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Wichita State
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Kaylea Lacey

State: Illinois
School: Alton
Club: Illinois Legends
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Richmond
Bridget Rifenburg

Bridget Rifenburg

IL
CG
HEIGHT 6'0"
POS CG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Bridget
Rifenburg CG
Class
2026
Height
6'0"
HS
Benet Academy
|
IL
The Top Momentum Swinging Players To Know For Playoffs (3A/4A)
Benet has a decent amount of weapons to choose from when it comes to closing out a game,...
Written by Byron Xerxes Livsey
Richmond
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Bridget Rifenburg

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

Highlights

Prep Girls Hoops

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