State Finals: Class 1A/2A Potential Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='624882' first='Addison' last='Smith'] (2026) of Eastern High School (Pekin, Indiana).</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The IHSAA Indiana girls' basketball state tournament has reached the end of the road. This weekend, just 8 teams remain, seeking 4 state championships. By the end of Saturday's action, those winners will be known. Below is a quick look at six players...a potential standout for each of the 4 teams in Class 1A &amp; 2A, plus a wildcard candidate for each game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751063"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956ad41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grace will likely be one of the most entertaining players you will see throughout the day's action. She is quick, fast, and explosive, she can get downhill and put a ton of pressure on a defense, but she can also consistently bury shots from the perimeter. Defensively, she can get out and pressure the ball, plus she's strong enough to knock someone off their line and keep them out of the paint. My only concern for her Saturday is Borden's length &amp; size, but she has played against bigger kids her whole life, especially during the Spring &amp; Summer grassroots seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956adb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Riley has had a big season for Borden, and with teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486522' first='Ava' last='Wheeler']</strong> missing most of it injured, she needed to become a more dominant scorer and not just a facilitator. She took on that challenge and now the Lady Braves are even more dangerous offensively because of it. Riley has always been a nice, long, fluid, and athletic wing who can play a variety of roles. She also stands out defensively, because she can defend guards on the ball or affect passing lanes with her length. I'm not really sure who on Fremont's team is going to be able to contain her and Wheeler together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751110"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956adff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>CLASS 1A WILDCARD:</strong> I chose Mya to fill this category, because the Lady Eagles are going to need everyone to step up, and she's the next option after Scharlach (<em>above</em>) who has a chance at scoring 30 points or pulling in 15 rebounds. She is extremely long &amp; wiry, fluid, and she continues to improve with age. She can get downhill or hit shots from the perimeter, plus I think she'll be able to take on either Wheeler or Rarick (<em>above</em>) defensively by herself. I think Mya could have as much value defensively as offensively by limiting one of those Lady Braves on the scoreboard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1678159"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956ae44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'm not sure any of the 7 other teams on Saturday will have an offensive post presence anywhere near the quality of Brianna. She forces you to make adjustments and change your gameplan. She has good size, strength, length, and even solid all-around athleticism. She can demand the ball on the block and bury her defender in the post, or she can step out to the elbows and force them to come out and guard. And defensively, she does a really nice job of clogging the lane, boxing out with physicality, and then getting the ball outletted to her guards to push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["624882"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956ae86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Addison is going to be critical to Eastern's success for a few reasons. First, she will need to be her typical self offensively. She leads them in scoring, she can shoot/score it from all three levels, plus she can get into the paint and finish. She's a nice all-around athlete, and she can even handle and facilitate for the Musketeers. Second, and more importantly, defensively, she'll need to pressure and bother the Oak Hill guards, making it difficult for them to feed their strong interior players. If Eastern and Smith can limit Oak Hill's post touches, I think it benefits them greatly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834938"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a10d956aeca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>CLASS 2A WILDCARD:</strong> I feel like Katie could be the wildcard in this game, simply because of her height, her length, and her fluidity. Eastern isn't blessed with a ton of size or interior play. However, Katie is tall enough and extremely long, therefore she could be utilized in a role where she helps to either defend or double the post, plus she will be key if she's playing the passing lanes as Oak Hill perimeter players try to get the ball inside. Additionally, Katie is a nice guard offensively, and if she comes out and gives them 10 to 12 points, 5 to 6 rebounds, and a couple of steals, watch out!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->