Playoff Takeover: Guards

The 2025–2026 playoffs are here, and the field is narrowing down to the top teams in the state. Night after night, players are putting on a show. Here are just a few of the guards who are shining under the big lights and deserve to be on your radar.    [player_tooltip player_id='933334' first='Shelby' last='Gaines'] has had her foot on the gas all senior year and has not let up this postseason. In the playoffs, she has posted scoring games of 33 and 15 points. In the 33 point performance, she shot 52 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. Gaines is not afraid of the big lights or the big moments she consistently rises to the occasion. Competing in one of the toughest regions in the state, Gaines is determined to help lead her team to the state tournament, and she has both the skill set and leadership to make that happen.     [player_tooltip player_id='1235220' first='Ella' last='Johnson'] has had only one game this season in which she did not score in double figures, and she has maintained that consistency throughout the postseason, shooting over 50 percent from the field. But scoring is not all she brings to the floor she is also willing to rebound and get her teammates involved, averaging at least four assists per game this postseason. Johnson shows tremendous skill and rhythm with the ball in her hands. Her ability to handle the ball in tight spaces, combined with a high basketball IQ, makes her a must watch every time she steps on the court. Although she is only a sophomore, she is a natural leader on the floor. Ella makes her team a favorite to win the 4A state championship as she elevates those around her while still leading in scoring. She is clearly making a case as one of the best players in her class.     [player_tooltip player_id='514673' first='Brandy' last='Whitfield'] has been on a tour, showcasing her skill and competitive nature in every gym she has stepped into this season, and she has taken it to another level in the postseason. Over her last four games, she has scored 17, 38, 39, and 29 points, leaving everything on the floor as she looks to make the deepest playoff run possible in her senior year. She has been scoring from all three levels, and in three of those four games, she knocked down at least four three pointers. Brandy is making a statement that she is one of the best scorers in the state and is battling for a chance to reach the state tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='1227838' first='Victoria' last='Pippi Boyer'] has been leading her team in scoring all season, and that has not changed in the playoffs as she looks to take her team to the state tournament. Boyer has scored 20+ points in her last four games, including a 42-point performance. She shows no signs of slowing down as she continues to build confidence and earn the trust of her teammates and coaches to play freely and within the flow of the game.     [player_tooltip player_id='748532' first='Whitney' last='Hudson'] is hitting her stride in the playoffs and showcasing her experience and grind it out work ethic. Her ability to use her speed as a weapon, changing pace with the ball in her hands in both the half-court offense and transition has made her difficult to contain. She also draws contact well and gets to the free throw line consistently. Scoring in double figures during her playoff games has helped lead her team on the floor. Hudson is an underrated player in her class who is stepping up on the big stage and increasing her stock.

The 2025–2026 playoffs are here, and the field is narrowing down to the top teams in the state. Night after night, players are putting on a show. Here are just a few of the guards who are shining under the big lights and deserve to be on your radar.