If The Game Was Tied With 30 Seconds Left...

When the game is on the line with 30 seconds left it takes a certain type of player to take control. That player has to show up when the lights are the brightest. They have to be willing to work thoroughly under pressure while still being at the top of their game.   Below we cover a handful of prospects that coaches can trust with getting the best shot for their team when the clock is ticking down within the final seconds of a ball game.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    Coming into this Winter we knew that [player_tooltip player_id='766449' first='Delainey' last='Durr'] was the type to be a first-team PG in college with the right pieces around her. Durr has only solidified that belief the past few months with her production on the ball. She is commanding everyone around her into the correct spots when need be with fluid communication, she is taking her weaker matchups off the bounce for consistent offensive attempts, she is getting her team's best weapon the ball when the timing is correct, she is creating off the bounce when their team's play breaks down, and she is defending with a high rate all at the same time. When the game is dwindling down and you need someone to trust to make a play for the Spartans, you give it to Durr. She will make the right choice and get someone an open look, no matter how or where that might be.     Hoogendoorn is going to follow in the footsteps of some really talented guards to compete at Dordt (NAIA) after this season and I have a feeling that she is going to light it up on that floor with her crafty play-making ability as a PG. When you look at games that she has competed in over the past few years at the high school level, you see that she stuffs the stat sheet in most positive statistical categories. In year's past she had some help but this season she is leading the way all by herself in sense. Central Lyon has won most of their games this season. They are going to be a favorable spot moving into the Playoffs to make it to the State Tournament. If there is a close contest that comes down to the last play on offense, I'm sure that Hoodendoorn will get the nod to make something happen from her coaching staff. She controls pace of play at a high rate for her position but she is also a threat as a consistent scorer so defenses need to play things perfectly or else it's going to end in a bucket in one way or another for the Lions. Either way, this is someone that makes the Lion's go so I expect her hand to be in anything successful that they continue to put together moving forward.     Williamsburg is going to be a threat to every team within their Class over the next few weeks as we get closer to the State Tournament in DSM. This season they returned most of their cast from year's past and because of that they are continuing to win most of their battles so far. A prospect for this group that has showed up in clutch time this Winter is SG - [player_tooltip player_id='1215782' first='Taylor' last='Sanchez']. Sanchez mainly plays off of the ball but her scoring ability from deep has been a highlight in some of their highly anticipated contests the past few months. To give you an idea - Sanchez is catching 5-7 feet behind the three point line from wing-to-wing and she is hitting shots consistently with little time left on the clock. When you look the concept of this article, it's about who can make a play with 30 seconds left in the game when you need one and from what I've seen this year, Sanchez can do that. If she can build off of that ability over this next month, Williamsburg is going to love where it leads them.     Mount Ayr has only fallen once this season as they sit with a 20-1 record moving into the middle of February. The reason the Raiders are seeing success like this is because of their competition level. They are just more skilled with more players than most of their opponents and it's because of how talented their prospects really are overall comparatively. Someone that gets foreshadowed for this group, that is one of their main sources of production is Junior PG - Jaylee Shaffer. Shaffer has the highest assist-to-turnover ratio out of the entire state of Iowa at 4.12. This is someone you can trust with 30 seconds left with the game tied. She doesn't attack defenses as a lethal scoring threat for this team but she shows up everywhere else. She rarely turns over the rock and she is always finding those around her for eye-opening assist near the bucket. There is a lot to like about Shaffer and how she presents herself as a hooper. She keeps it simple, efficient, and she does the little things really well. Something you love to see.     This Winter The St. Edmond's Gaels have strung together one of their best high school season's in the past five years. The reason behind that? The new additions to their team as of recent. They added a 6'3 Post prospect out of the 2029 Class ([player_tooltip player_id='1226071' first='Eden' last='Horn']) and that prospect is putting together a rememberable season averaging 14 & 14 but she isn't their source of energy. That's Junior PG - [player_tooltip player_id='988396' first='Chloe' last='Palmer']. Palmer comes in a 5'7, she has a quick first step with good body control at the bucket. Her main responsibility is to make the right play on the floor while getting everyone else around her in the right positions simultaneously. She has proven that she is very good at setting up those around her, especially their Post players, with easy looks as they rotate the ball around the outside. If the game is within its last possession and I have the ball for St. Edmond, I'm giving it to Palmer and telling her to set up some action with the bigs. They have such size that if they use the screen in the correct way, someone is going to be WIDE open for a shot, then it's all about making the opportunity count.

When the game is on the line with 30 seconds left it takes a certain type of player to take control. That player has to show up when the lights are the brightest. They have to be willing to work thoroughly under pressure while still being at the top of their game.