Primetime pros — Newell-Fonda vs. GTRA

My Tuesday night featured another ranked matchup out of North Western Iowa, with 1A 10th-ranked GTRA entering enemy territory against 1A top-ranked Newell-Fonda. Don't let the small class size fool you...these girls can hoop. From high-energy heat checks in the first half to lockdown defense in the second, this matchup was a game of two halves and finished with Newell-Fonda coming out on top to protect their home floor. Continue reading to see which playmakers stood out to me with their skill and composure in this Primetime showdown.   (Hint - this is my first article that features multiple relatives from both teams)    [player_tooltip player_id='1239063' first='Kamryn' last='Hough'] was one of my favorite athletes on the floor for GTRA. She does a little bit of everything including playmaking, handling the rock against the press, getting in the mix on offensive rebounds, and sharing the ball with open teammates. My favorite aspect of Hough's game, though, is her high-level jumper. She hit a number of big shots tonight with superb footwork and a hand in her face — she came off of tough cutting angles and didn't let it alter her form off the catch. Any time Newell-Fonda scored in the first half, it seemed like Kamryn flashed right back with a deep three counter punch. A pesky, agile on-ball defender as well as a willing distributer to flashing cutters, there is a lot to like about this sophomore's game and she showed that tonight.     This Hough is tough. From the first tip to the final buzzer you can count on sophomore guard Caitlyn Hough to buckle down and make plays. She started the game with high-energy on-ball defense that definitely altered the pace of Newell-Fonda's high-powered offense. She then extended that pace to the offensive end of the floor, where she used hesitations and rip-throughs to blow past defenders and create scoring opportunities at the rim. Caitlyn has a number of finishes in her bag — euro-step, pro hop, high rip-through, two-feet, etc. She looked comfortable finishing at the rack with either hand, and ability in the mid-range and shooting off the catch as well. Overall, the kid just knows how to create and attack space off the dribble and did so at a high level vs. Newell-Fonda.     Going 3/3 on Hough girls vs. Newell-Fonda, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1224378' first='Lauryn' last='Hough'] brought her own unique skillset to this game. She flashed her range early with the first triple of the game and continued to make high-IQ plays throughout the matchup. She was one of the best decision-makers on the floor and showed really strong fundamentals — especially as a freshman. Lauryn did all the little things right — jump-stopping with two feet in the lane, pivoting strong on the pickup, finding open players on the double-team, and more. I also loved her hesitation + re-attack attempt in the first half. In the second, she showed more patience with a solid step through teardrop finish and a pivot between two defenders for two more points. I really liked [player_tooltip player_id='1224378' first='Lauryn' last='Hough']'s game and she played beyond her age tonight.     [player_tooltip player_id='880904' first='Ellie' last='Sievers'] was a force to be reckoned with tonight. The sophomore guard scored at an efficient rate (11-20), was a monster on the boards (finishing the game with 13), and showed her ability to score both in the paint and behind the arc. I loved Ellie's aggressiveness from the jump. Don't let her size fool you — she's a freight train with the ball in her hand and knows how to finish the rock. Aside from sprinting ahead for kick-ahead finishes, Sievers' game featured a blow by for a floater, a polished finish off of two feet, and solid footwork on her step-through. If her looks at the rim weren't enough to impress you, she also drained two big three pointers in the second half. I really enjoyed watching Ellie play tonight and thought her energy was a catalyst for the #1-ranked Mustangs.     It was an easy choice to select [player_tooltip player_id='1238114' first='Quinn' last='Sievers'] as my X-Factor from tonight's game. The freshman point guard came in off the bench and immediately brought a jolt of electricity with her. With lightning-quick speed and impressive handles, Quinn brought flare and form to her Mustangs squad when they needed it. She looked to distribute early by drawing defenders in the lane and her unselfish passing led to a number of open finishes for Newell-Fonda's bigs. Finishing with a game high 7 assists, the freshman also showed a high-level scoring skillset. Included in these skills were a feathery-touch floater, and two of my favorite plays from the game — a between the legs + hesitation + crossover for an open layup, and a nothing-but-net half court heave to finish the third quarter. In short, this Sievers sister knows how to make momentum-building plays — her efforts tonight were definitely a difference-maker.

My Tuesday night featured another ranked matchup out of North Western Iowa, with 1A 10th-ranked GTRA entering enemy territory against 1A top-ranked Newell-Fonda. Don't let the small class size fool you...these girls can hoop. From high-energy heat checks in the first half to lockdown defense in the second, this matchup was a game of two halves and finished with Newell-Fonda coming out on top to protect their home floor. Continue reading to see which playmakers stood out to me with their skill and composure in this Primetime showdown.