West Coast Holiday Festival: Under-the-Radar Guards who stood out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burroughs High School's annual holiday festival is one of the largest tournaments in the state. The 5-day tourney featured several marquee matchups. There were so many games to choose from, but I was only able to cover the athletes and teams I watched with my own eyes. The guards below are difference makers who should be on your radar immediately!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Bella Rico","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Santa Paula","_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-6957d0a8d2cd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Bella's</strong> gave her team plenty of firepower offensively. 20+ points in three of four games, including a 29 point outburst! Excellent guard rebounder who did whatever it took to lead her team to victory. <strong>Bella</strong> has been on a roll lately. That should be a surprise to no one, as she averaged over 16 a game for St. Bonaventure last year. She applies constant pressure on a defense and knows how to get opposing defenders into foul trouble. <strong>Bella</strong> has been the catalyst for a Santa Paula squad who had a point differential of +65 for the tourney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1052277"],"_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-69532b2303295"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The intangibles really stand out when evaluating <strong>Heidi</strong>. She was on the floor for literally every single loose ball. Excellent guard rebounder who fights for rebounds. Appears to be as competitive as they come. Possesses natural leadership characteristics. <strong>Heidi</strong> can create off-the-dribble for herself and others. Displayed poise, craftiness, and control with the ball in her hands. Keeps the defender on her hip, applying pressure on the opposing defense from start to finish. Uses her body well to initiate contact. Has the strength to absorb contact from physical defenders. Ran the show and routinely made the right play. You get better with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1052277' first='Heidi' last='Sprague']</strong> on your team, simple as that!</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":"Isabella Amayakyan","_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":"5'4u0022","_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":"Burroughs ","_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-69571203b1057"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Isabella</strong> can score the ball on all 3 levels. Nice floater in the lane. Moves well without the ball. Thrives in transition. <strong>Isabella</strong> is at her best going downhill with a head of steam. She understands how to wiggle her way into the paint. <strong>Isabella</strong> will be the face of Burroughs basketball for the next few years. Her deadly shot fake keeps defenders on edge because you truly don't know if she is going to shoot or drive. One of the top hidden gems in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1274613"],"_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-69571203b10ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Brianna</strong> has a nice SG frame to go along with an all-around game. She was an absolute beast in Leuzinger's victory vs. Newbury Park. <strong>Brianna</strong> recorded a double-double performance and made winning plays throughout. Excellent guard rebounder who plays her role to perfection. On the offensive end, she understands how to pick and choose her spots. <strong>Brianna</strong> cuts well without the ball. Scores the ball in a variety of ways. One of the top underrated guards in the senior class!</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":"Andrea Antonio","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Hamilton","_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-69571203b0f68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fearless young PG who is VERY hard to contain off-the-bounce. Despite her youth, <strong>Andrea</strong> was confident and vocal on both ends. Applied good on-ball pressure throughout the tourney. <strong>Andrea</strong> is a pure scorer with the ball in her hands. She routinely made tough shots that kept her team in the game. Good shooter who can get into the paint at will. The potential as a scorer and playmaker is off-the-charts for this up-and-coming freshman guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->