Weekend Roundup: (Jan. 2nd – Jan. 4th)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend gave us some STACKED games across the state of Iowa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five prospects who gave it their all while showing up on the hardwood for their squads at a high rate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777225"],"_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-695befe7263ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='777225' first='Katie' last='Muller'] needed a staple game moving into 2026 in my book and she had that game this past weekend against other 5A powerhouse - Ankeny High School. Muller was on fire in this one from deep. Not only was she hitting shots off the catch at a high rate, she was also dribble into jumpers going either way while being heavily contested. She finished things off with 29 points and a high shooting percentage, much like her entire team. Ankeny had some problems navigating screens when Jayla William wasn't in the action and that's what ultimately decided in the game in the end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1613287"],"_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-695befe72648f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Columbus High School recorded their 4th win of the season on Friday night when they beat WACO, 43-42. In this swing, Columbus had a few players that made their mark. Someone that really stepped up in this situation was [player_tooltip player_id='1613287' first='Iris' last='Garza'] as their undersized SF. Garza registered a double-double in points-rebounds with 11 points-12 rebounds, along with a handful of assists and steals on the defensive side as well. Garza is the anchor for this program this season. She isn't always the leading scorer but she always shows up in multiple positive statistical categories and that was enough on Friday to help her Wildcat team pull out the W.</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":"Olivia Bendlage","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Holy Trinity Catholic ","_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-695befe726592"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivia Bendlage of Holy Trinity Catholic put together one of the most impressive stat lines of the weekend in her team's victory against New London on Friday evening. Bendlage recorded 20 points (9-18), 16 rebounds, 2 assists, and 0 turnovers in her efforts at the Forward spot. I think the reality is that Bendlage was the tallest, most coordinated, with the highest motor in this battle on the floor and she showed that with her dominance near the bucket in every way imaginable. The W gave Holy Trinity their second victory of the season with a lot of hope as they continue to move into 2026. </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":"Honor Hovenga","_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":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Janesville ","_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-695befe72667e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Janesville High School is slowly and quietly putting together a memorable season out of this state of Iowa. If you don't know, Janesville is currently sitting with a 4-3 record throughout their first seven games this Winter with only seven prospects listed on their Varsity roster. Their leader in-charge, who has been absolutely killing it for this group is PG - Honor Hovenga. Hovenga led them to another W on Saturday while recording 30 points, going 10-14 from the floor and 7-10 from behind the three pointe line. She also registered 7 rebounds and 3 assists. In the end, the final count of this one was 73-46, so as you can tell, that 30-ball by Hovenga meant everything. She was on fire from the tip and never looked back, which led to that 25+ point win. </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":"Evie Davis ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Webster City ","_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-695befe726759"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Webster City High School might have a player to note at the PF/Center position out of the 2028 Class named Evie Davis. Davis is a 6'1 prospect with physicality to pair along with it. When you look at the competition that Davis has to go against, it's not crazy to think that she will average near a double-double for her career with her size and strength. She also has a soft touch on the ball, she moves her feet really well for her height, and she seems coordinated in multiple facets of the game so looking at all those factors - her big numbers aren't that surprising but still noteworthy. In Webster City' win on Saturday, Davis did her thing and dominated in-between the blocks as you might imagine. We will keep an eye on Davis. The potential is there. Now we just need to see how she builds on top of that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->