3A hoopers to watch — Mt. Vernon vs. Mid-Prairie

I sat down to watch a 3A heavyweight clash between Mount Vernon and Mid-Prairie, and boy was I not disappointed. With a trip to the State Tournament on the line 12th-ranked Mid-Prairie stormed into a full-house at top-ranked Mount Vernon and gave them one heck of a fight. With the score within three points with only 1:30 left, every possession in Saturday's showdown proved critical. Amongst the athletes on these top teams a few stuck out that were both consistent and clutch when their team needed it most. Continue reading to see who stepped up with the season on the line.    I just loved [player_tooltip player_id='1057729' first='Jovi' last='Evans']' grit on Saturday. Her 5'7" frame doesn't stop her from battling in the trenches — from cutting to post, to sealing on the inside with drop steps, to diving in for offensive rebounds, Evans made her presence known in the paint. She also has a strong ability to read the defense on the perimeter. She reads defenders well and separated off of ball screens and handoffs for huge threes in the second half. With a quick trigger and solid release, Evans hit one of the most clutch shots of the night as well — a contested buzzer beater as the shot clock expired to tie the game during crunch time in the fourth quarter. There's no quit and all fight in this kid.     Brooklyn Schneider was a threat off the bounce and showed a knack for different finishes at the rim. She showed confidence behind the arc and was most effective slashing to the rim off give-and-gos and by knifing through the defense. Because she's a willing shooter who doesn't need a lot of room, her defender had no choice but to stay close. She took advantage of this coverage by catching defenders off guard with sharp dives to the rim for layups and aggressive drives. She also had a nifty back cut that landed her an open pull up just outside the lane. Keep your eyes on this junior to be a leader next season at Mid-Prairie.     I was thoroughly impressed with Tessa Bombei's performance this weekend. The super Sophomore led with aggression and high IQ while proving she was a threat from all levels on the floor. Tessa shot 43% from the floor overall this season and continued this high efficiency on Saturday. At the rim, she finished over high hands in a number of ways, including in transition, off offensive rebounds, while attacking closeouts, and by diving to the rim from the elbow. She also hit a smooth kickout three in the first half. Bombei was opportunistic and took what the defense gave her without forcing. I would definitely keep my eye on Bombei to make some noise in Class 3A in the next two seasons.     [player_tooltip player_id='957840' first='Savanna' last='Wright'] is a poised, crafty point guard who always seems to be in control of the game. Her footwork on the pickup is solid, she handles the ball at an elite level, and she just knows how to make winning plays. She flashed a number of smooth moves on Saturday to create her own shot — my favorite being a cross-jab into a same foot finish with her left hand. Skillset aside, Wright put the Mustangs on her back late in the fourth. She hit a lob shot to push Mount Vernon's lead to five, then proceeded to get steals on back-to-back Mid-Prairie possessions to secure the win. Her intuition and fearlessness were crucial to get Mount Vernon over the line. Finishing with a game-high 26 points, [player_tooltip player_id='957840' first='Savanna' last='Wright'] is the real deal.     When Mount Vernon needed a lift [player_tooltip player_id='883553' first='Quinn' last='Pershing'] was there to deliver. Pershing hit a skillful left handed layup in transition early in the first quarter, and later gave the Mustangs a boost of momentum with a cross-court three. In crunch time she showed composure beyond her years. Quinn stuck herself in the paint for a much-needed offensive rebound and putback to regain Mount Vernon's lead, then soon after, she splashed all of her free throws when points were at a premium to widen the gap for Mount Vernon. Averaging 12.1 points this season, I would point to [player_tooltip player_id='883553' first='Quinn' last='Pershing'] as Mount Vernon's X-Factor as they look to claim back-to-back State Championships.

I sat down to watch a 3A heavyweight clash between Mount Vernon and Mid-Prairie, and boy was I not disappointed. With a trip to the State Tournament on the line 12th-ranked Mid-Prairie stormed into a full-house at top-ranked Mount Vernon and gave them one heck of a fight. With the score within three points with only 1:30 left, every possession in Saturday's showdown proved critical. Amongst the athletes on these top teams a few stuck out that were both consistent and clutch when their team needed it most. Continue reading to see who stepped up with the season on the line.