Sophomore Difference Makers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday the calendar flipped to February. That means the conference races are heating up and the march to state is on. Over the next few articles, I will highlight some Sophomores that I see as potential difference makers down the stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992492' first='Ellie' last='Pudelko']</strong>-Tosa East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Raiders, last season's D2 champions, have made a seamless jump to the top of the Division 1 rankings in large part to the play of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='992492' first='Ellie' last='Pudelko']. On a senior-dominant team, the 5-11 Pudelko has been a difference maker putting up a respectable 9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds (1 of 5 players on team to average 5+ rebounds), 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 51% from the floor, 40% from three, and 77% from the free-throw line in leading Tosa East to a 19-0 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='936786' first='Leah' last='Awe']</strong>-SPASH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to find a player that has made such a meteoric jump, from her freshman season to her sophomore season than the 6-2 Awe. Scoring almost 10 points per game higher, she is averaging 18.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.0 spg, and 2.3 bpg while shooting 46% from the floor and 70% from the free-throw line. Awe helps form a dangerous 1-2 punch, with recent Iowa commit [player_tooltip player_id='764935' first='Jada' last='Seubert'], and has the Panthers sitting at 15-3 with a "prove-it" game coming up, February 21st vs undefeated reigning D3 champ Oostburg. That game should help SPASH gauge where they sit as they prepare for a tough Sectional 1 field that includes defending D1 champion Kimberly and powerhouses Notre Dame and Bay Port.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874389' first='Kailynn' last='Thompson']</strong>-Bay Port</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bay Port, winners of nine straight including a 55-50 win, last night at De Pere, is one of the hottest teams going and a big reason is the play of the 6-1 Thompson. 10.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.8 spg, and 1.6 spg while providing a defensive presence, in the paint, as well as the ability, with her improving outside touch, to draw out the defense, has helped open up the Pirate offense and provided better shot opportunities for teammates [player_tooltip player_id='736760' first='Melia' last='Lemorande'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874380' first='Olivia' last='Williams']. After a 1-2 start, the return of Thompson, back into the lineup, has paid dividends with Bay Port sitting at 17-4 and a firm threat to emerge from a tough Sectional 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359856' first='Soraya' last='Benton']</strong>-Oostburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the Ketterhagen's (rightfully so) seem to get all of the notoriety, the 5-11 Benton has quietly been a difference maker, all season, for the 19-0 Lady Dutchmen. Providing a physical inside presence, that has helped pull defense pressure off of the trio, Benton has been solid all season averaging 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and a block per game and has shown a developing outside shot shooting 33% for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->