Breakdown Community Clash: Breakout performers at STMA

The Breakdown Community Clash took place at three sites over the weekend; Becker, St. Cloud Cathedral, and St. Michael-Albertville. Prep Girls Hoops scout Grant McGinnis evaluated the girls varsity games in Becker and St. Cloud, while I'm tackling the ones at STMA. In part one of my coverage on the Community Clash, we looked at standout performances from seniors at the event. For part two, here are five players among the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen who raised their game at STMA.   [player_tooltip player_id='992385' first='Anaya' last='Shaffa'] – 2028 Guard, DeLaSalle   Just as she's been doing for much of this season, Shaffa (pictured above) led the way for DeLaSalle at the Community Clash. She got the offense rolling in Saturday's matchup against Totino-Grace, looking for opportunities to score right from the tip. The 5'8 guard quickly found open looks on the perimeter, hitting three shots from beyond-the-arc in the first half. In the second, Anaya drove to the rim often, finishing through contact on more than one occasion. The top 35 2028 prospect currently leads DeLaSalle in scoring, averaging 15.3 points a game. On the other end of the floor Shaffa held things down on the perimeter. Using her quick lateral movement and defensive IQ, the Islanders sophomore jumped passing lanes and forced turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'] – 2027 Forward, Maple Grove   After transferring into the program this fall, the Maple Grove junior has taken some time to find her footing. Now in the latter half of the season, Sexton has found her stride. In Saturday's matchup against Lakeville South, the 6'3 post player exuded confidence as soon as she stepped on the floor. Mariah made her presence felt on both ends of the floor, using her strength and tenacity to gain positioning on the block, fight for rebounds, and create tie-ups off of loose balls. The Crimson forward used simple, but highly effective footwork to get open looks in the paint. When the opening for a shot wasn't there, Sexton excelled at getting kick-out passes to the perimeter for an open three.   [player_tooltip player_id='1096421' first='Maren' last='Powell'] – 2028 Forward, Rosemount   While the Irish didn't get the outcome they desired in their weekend matchup against Providence Academy, Powell's performance was a bright spot for the team. The Rosemount sophomore stepped up in a big way, providing key plays on both ends of the floor. On the defensive end, the 5'11 power forward length and versatility were a key asset. Even when playing against the run-and-gun style of the Lions, Maren's mobility and quickness made her a reliable defender at multiple positions. On the other end of the floor, she hunted for offensive rebounds, made smooth step-through shots in the paint, and passed the ball unselfishly. Powell contributed double her typical scoring average on Saturday, dropping 16 points against Providence.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/AvaSmithJaliyahDiggs-crop-3226x2118-1770235044.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1718170" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1209360' first='Ava' last='Smith'] – 2028 Wing/Forward, Hopkins   Smith, pictured above on the left, made an immediate impact for Hopkins at the Community Clash. She came out hot, attacking the basket off the bounce and scoring 6 points in the early minutes against Orono. Ava kept the offense going all game, finishing through heavy contact in the paint. She ended the contest with 15 points. The 5'10 forward also showcased her playmaking abilities, particularly on well-timed post-entry passes from the perimeter. On the other end of the floor, the Royals sophomore made things incredibly difficult for the Spartans. Using her strong frame and physical style of play, Smith bumped players off their lines, stopped cutters, and fought tooth and nail for each rebound that came her way.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057125' first='Macie' last='Henrikson'] – 2029 Guard, Lakeville South   Since her return from injury back in December, Henrikson has been on a roll. Her hot streak continued last Saturday, where she was a standout performer at the Breakdown Community Clash. Despite getting in foul trouble early against Maple Grove, the 5'10 guard found ways to impact the game. Macie fought for rebounds and loose balls, made hustle plays, and provided strong, physical defense for Lakeville South. In the second half, the Cougars freshman got going offensively. She went coast to coast in transition, found open shots on the perimeter, and drew contact in the paint, earning herself trips to the free throw line. Henrikson finished with 15 points against the Crimson.

The Breakdown Community Clash took place at three sites over the weekend; Becker, St. Cloud Cathedral, and St. Michael-Albertville. Prep Girls Hoops scout Grant McGinnis evaluated the girls varsity games in Becker and St. Cloud, while I'm tackling the ones at STMA. In part one of my coverage on the Community Clash, we looked at standout performances from seniors at the event. For part two, here are five players among the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen who raised their game at STMA.