Tony's Takes: Diving into Week 12

Week 12 of the girls basketball season is where everything starts to tighten up. Milestones are being reached, with players climbing scoring lists and etching their names into school history. Every bucket feels bigger this time of year. You can sense the urgency. Conference races are coming down to the wire, and every possession matters. Teams aren't just playing for wins anymore. They're battling for seeding, pride and momentum heading into sections. The intensity has picked up, and the margin for error is shrinking.   At the same time, underclassmen are stepping into the spotlight. Freshmen and sophomores aren't waiting their turn. They're knocking down big shots, guarding the other team's best player and proving they belong. Week 12 isn't about potential anymore. It's about production when it matters most. Lets dive into some of the best that week 12 had to offer.   Alexa Guetzlaff - 2027 guard - Red Wing   Guetzlaff has a strong handle, plays with good pace, and gets downhill with purpose. She kept pressure on the Northfield defense all night, staying aggressive and attacking gaps. That approach paid off early, as she poured in nine first-half points, including a deep three that swung momentum. She finished with a game- and season-high 21, never letting up. On the defensive end, her quickness and instincts stood out right away. Just three minutes in, she jumped a passing lane for a steal and turned it into a clean finish at the rim. The junior guard is averaging just under 12 points per game and looks comfortable running the show. That steady guard play has been a big reason Red Wing sits at 21-4 and holds a one-game edge over Northfield in the Big Nine.   Delilah Benjamin - 2026 guard - Lake City   Benjamin stepped up when Lake City needed her most. Coming into the matchup with Kasson-Mantorville, the Tigers had dropped four straight, including a hard road loss to Goodhue. Benjamin had already shown what she could do, scoring 20 in that game, and she matched it again to help snap the skid. Points were hard to find early, and the offense looked tight. That changed when Benjamin came from the week side for a sneaky steal and converted the breakaway layup. That bucket seemed to settle things down for the Tigers. She followed it with strong footwork in the paint, finishing through traffic and scoring seven of the Tigers' first nine points. The senior guard finished with a game-high 20, taking control and setting the tone in a much-needed win.   Brainerd vs. Alexandria   In a battle between two of the top three teams in the Central Lakes Conference, this one lived up to the billing. Before tip-off, both programs paused for a special presentation honoring active and retired military. It was a classy moment that set the tone for a big night of basketball.   Once the ball went up, it felt like a boxing match early. Both teams jabbed, feeling each other out. Then the haymakers started flying. Shot making was on full display. [player_tooltip player_id='1090111' first='Riley' last='Beyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer'] combined for seven threes in the first half, four coming from Riley to pace the Cardinals. For Brainerd, 1,000-point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='665719' first='Addison' last='Bjorklund'] led the way. She hit the milestone on a smooth drive and finish and went into the break with 14.   The second half brought more fireworks. [player_tooltip player_id='502537' first='Kate' last='Hennessy'], [player_tooltip player_id='786203' first='Bethany' last='Black Lance'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1090111' first='Riley' last='Beyer'] traded threes in a stretch that had the gym buzzing. After scoring eight in the first half, [player_tooltip player_id='643749' first='McKinley' last='Hoelscher'] erupted for 21 after the break, finishing with a game-high 29. Brainerd briefly grabbed a 51-50 lead, but Alexandria closed strong, outscoring the Warriors 32-21 down the stretch to secure an 82-72 win and even the season series at 1-1.   Alexandria had four players in double figures. Hoelscher led with 29, [player_tooltip player_id='1090111' first='Riley' last='Beyer'] added 19 and was lights out from deep, [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer'] finished with 16, and Hennessy chipped in 12, including 10 in the second half. Bjorklund, a North Dakota commit, poured in 26 for Brainerd. [player_tooltip player_id='881084' first='Macy' last='Castle'] flirted with a triple double finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while 8th grader [player_tooltip player_id='1244270' first='Ellie' last='Berg'] was perfect from the field, going 4-for-4 and 3-for-3 from deep for 11 points. It was a tight conference battle that could have major implications when it's all said and done.   [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] - 2027 guard - Providence Academy   With so much attention on her teammate [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] chasing down the state's all-time scoring record, Millerbernd has quietly handled her business. She's been a lockdown defender and a straight assassin from deep. The Lions have now won 13 straight, including a high-scoring road win at Hill-Murray where the 5'9 junior guard finished with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists. What stood out most was her ability to do more than just spot up. She put the ball on the deck, attacked gaps and finished at the rim through contact. To close the week against Waunakee (Wisconsin), she led the Lions in scoring with 30 points, knocking down six triples, while adding five boards and six assists. That's something that probably hasn't happened much since Greenway has been in the program. As sections approach, teams will sell out to slow Greenway. That's where Millerbernd becomes even more important. She's more than a shooter. She's a difference-maker on both ends.

Week 12 of the girls basketball season is where everything starts to tighten up. Milestones are being reached, with players climbing scoring lists and etching their names into school history. Every bucket feels bigger this time of year. You can sense the urgency. Conference races are coming down to the wire, and every possession matters. Teams aren't just playing for wins anymore. They're battling for seeding, pride and momentum heading into sections. The intensity has picked up, and the margin for error is shrinking.