Upset standouts — top performers vs. top competition

Any player can put up big numbers against a team with a struggling record. The indicator of a true leader and hooper, in my opinion, is shown when players step up and execute against stronger teams. This week I'm focusing on athletes who showed their command of the game and ability to step up against top opponents. Across the state, these players elevated their performance when their teams needed them most, leading to either an upset or a close call. Continue reading to see which upset-makers topped my list!    In a matchup against 11-5 Edgewood-Colesburg, senior leader [player_tooltip player_id='839374' first='Katie' last='Hein'] was the star of the show for Calamus Wheatland. The 5'7" guard shined, going 10/19 from the floor and finishing the with a game high of 24 points. As the cherry on top, Hein also surpassed the 1000-point mark in the matchup — congrats, Katie!   Hein also tallied four boards, two steals, and seven assists for the Warriors, who gave the Vikings a scare but came up just short. Hein has range, and showed it in a variety of ways this week. She has a super quick trigger and will let it fly off the catch, off the dribble in transition, and will pull behind screens. Hein's shooting ability mixed with her aggression in transition and quick hands on defense made for a breakout night.     [player_tooltip player_id='909489' first='Alaina' last='Dreckmeier'] got it done from everywhere on the floor in North Scott's upset of higher-ranked Bettendorf. Finishing the game with an eye-popping 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, the sophomore point guard performed at a super high level while only turning the ball over once — that's impressive stuff. Included in Dreckmeier's stat line was four drained triples — she can shoot it from deep (like, volleyball line deep), and flashed a quick jab step to free herself up for a quick release. Dreckmeier is averaging 16PPG on a surging North Scott squad and is definitely a player to watch in the Mississippi Athletic Conference.     In a heavyweight matchup versus 8th-ranked Iowa City High, [player_tooltip player_id='1675265' first='Emerson' last='McCormick'] rose to the occasion and carried Linn-Mar oh so close to a big overtime upset. McCormick was simply a monster on the floor and finished the game with 15 points (on 6/8 from the floor), 4 steals and 1 assist. The 5'6" guard also tracked down a game-high 12 rebounds. McCormick usually makes her living in the midrange and averages 5.6PPG and 6.9RPG on the season. She leveled up against the Little Hawks by stepping back and hitting all three of her three point attempts and converting from the field at a high level.     Ava Carolan led the charge in West Lyon's efforts against a formidable, second-ranked Central Lyon squad. Bringing size and skill to the perimeter, Ava stepped up and stood out on the big stage. She scored 15 points, hit three three-pointers, and pulled in four rebounds. Carolan is a player that gets a lot of attention on the floor (sometimes face guards and double-teams), and handles this pressure with a steady demeanor. She plays big minutes, keeps turnovers low, and just knows how to make plays. I particularly love her quick trigger from behind the arc — she lets it fly with ease, no matter if there's a hand in her face.     If coaches ever find themselves in a defensive dogfight, they should hope [player_tooltip player_id='833956' first='Kaitlin' last='Loria'] is on their team. Loria flirted with a double-double on a night where each possession was critical, and helped lead her Iowa City High squad to a huge upset win against 5A, 5th-ranked Iowa City West. Loria played 31 minutes in the matchup and didn't let fatigue get to her. She shot at a solid percentage from the floor (40%), only turned the ball over twice, and protected the paint. Finishing with 11 points and 8 rebounds, the small forward is a strong help defender and did a good job to stay upright on West players' shots and brought much-needed momentum to her side on their rival's home floor.     Devin Ludwig was a consistent, productive presence for Independence this week. Against 14th-ranked Center Point-Urbana the steady junior tallied 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 steals. Though the Independence Mustangs came up one point short of the upset, Ludwig's performance was one to highlight. Her IQ and physicality were huge for her team — her ability to jump passing lanes and cut off ball-handlers in the press made a big impact in the matchup. I also loved Ludwig's aggression at the rim. She flashed a number of finishing moves, including a smooth euro in transition for two. Shoutout to Devin for a solid, well-fought game.     Edgewood-Colesburg gave 5th-ranked Maquoketa Valley all they could handle, and senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1143263' first='Lilee' last='Boriskey'] lead the Vikings' charge. Boriskey is a long, athletic athlete that can stick with guards on the perimeter or muscle with post players inside. She's got a great eye for the ball and will shoot the gap on passing lanes — she finished with four steals vs. Maq. Valley. She also makes a living in transition with her speed and finishing ability out of the press. She posted a huge double-double in the matchup, stuffing the stat sheet with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Despite the close loss, Boriskey should be proud of her effort and fight.

Any player can put up big numbers against a team with a struggling record. The indicator of a true leader and hooper, in my opinion, is shown when players step up and execute against stronger teams. This week I'm focusing on athletes who showed their command of the game and ability to step up against top opponents. Across the state, these players elevated their performance when their teams needed them most, leading to either an upset or a close call. Continue reading to see which upset-makers topped my list!