4A Great 8 Standouts Who Set the Tone

The 4A Great 8 games brought out the best in some of the state's most impactful players, with several girls stepping up when their teams needed it most. Whether it was knocking down big shots, controlling the paint, or doing the little things that don't always show up in the box score, each of these players left their mark. Here's a closer look at the standouts who helped define the round.    [player_tooltip player_id='471064' first='Tiana' last='Guzman'] played a huge role in helping her team punch its ticket to the next round stretching the floor and making Colorado Academy pay from the perimeter. She went 5-for-9 from three-point range and every make felt like a momentum shifter. Colorado Academy had no real answer for her outside shooting and her willingness to space the floor ended up being the difference maker.     Sam dominated the paint and did everything she could to keep her team alive even though it wasn't enough to advance. She finished with a game-high 19 rebounds limiting the opposing team to one shot while controlling the glass. On offense she got what she wanted inside using her presence to anchor her team in the paint.     In my first time seeing Karsyn in person what stood out was her aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. She battled for loose balls, protected the rim with blocks and still showed the ability to operate on the perimeter when needed. When the defense collapsed in the paint she saw the mismatches and got her teammates involved.     Gracie was too much for Sterling to handle offensively playing with pace and keeping the defense on its heels. She heated up from three in the second quarter, and that stretch ultimately created the separation her team needed. Her ability to score in rhythm and control the tempo made her one of the biggest difference makers of the night.     Austin recorded an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double in a performance that helped move her team into the Final 4. Even though she didn't have it going offensively the way she wanted, she never let that affect her impact on the game. She controlled the glass and made her presence felt in other ways that don't always show up in the scoring side of the book.     [player_tooltip player_id='1803987' first='Bobby' last='Jo Marvel'] did a little bit of everything for her team when they needed it. She helped on the glass and on the defensive end, forcing turnovers that turned into extra possessions. On top of that she was able to knock down a couple of shots, showing her ability to impact the game wherever she is needed.     In the game of the night Maddie came up with timely baskets when her team needed them most by staying active around the rim on offense. She found ways to finish through traffic and on second-chance opportunities in big moments. Defensively, she anchored the paint as a help-side presence while also being willing to step out and defend on the wing, showing her versatility on that end of the floor.     [player_tooltip player_id='1804159' first='Audrina' last='Knorr'] put pressure on the defense from start to finish. When she didn't have it going from the outside she adjusted by attacking the rim and getting herself to the free-throw line. She also made it a point to get others involved in transition and in the half court, creating open looks from three and easy finishes in the paint for her teammates.

The 4A Great 8 games brought out the best in some of the state's most impactful players, with several girls stepping up when their teams needed it most. Whether it was knocking down big shots, controlling the paint, or doing the little things that don't always show up in the box score, each of these players left their mark. Here's a closer look at the standouts who helped define the round.