Breakout Performers at the Class 2A State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A State Tournament concluded on Saturday, with Providence Academy taking home their fifth consecutive championship title. While players like [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'], and [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'] dominated the headlines from the event, there were plenty of other prospects who stood out to us. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For instance, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='502604' first='Kaia' last='Anderson'] (SW Minnesota State), [player_tooltip player_id='502563' first='Lauren' last='Hust'] (St. Cloud State) and [player_tooltip player_id='927227' first='Cairin' last='Berger'] (UM-Crookston) also closed out their high school careers. We highlighted their performances yesterday on our Prep Girls Hoops All-Tournament teams. For today's coverage, we've opted to take a look at some lesser-known players from across the field that broke out in one way or another, many of them stepping into the limelight for the first time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='669145' first='Lily' last='Sabers'] – 2027 Guard, Providence Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Friday's semifinal matchup between Providence Academy and Perham, Sabers (pictured above) gave a performance that was downright electric. While the Lions had built a healthy lead thanks to a run early in the second half, it was Lily who stepped up to the plate and pushed the team over the top. The 5'5 guard crashed the boards hard to score off put-backs, finished through contact on drives to the rim, and knocked down momentum-shifting shots from beyond the arc. A long-time role player for the Lions, Sabers has put the work in, allowing her to step up to the plate in one of the biggest games of the season. She finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in the win over the Yellowjackets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1445604' first='Melanie' last='Carlson'] – 2030 Guard, Duluth Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fiery 8th grader from Duluth Marshall has been a core member of the team's rotation all season, providing a crucial spark off the bench for the Hilltoppers. That was no different this past week, when Carlson made her State Tournament debut. The 5'5 guard was particularly impactful in Friday's semifinal matchup against New London-Spicer. Mel's sharpshooting abilities came in handy down the stretch, when Duluth Marshall held a narrow lead over the Wildcats. With a bit of space on the perimeter, she let it fly, knocking down a timely shot that fueled a larger run for her team. Add in her relentless motor and commitment to excellence on defense, and Carlson looks to be a high-quality collegiate prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1795662' first='Lauren' last='Gjerde'] – 2028 Forward, Perham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite dealing with an injury at the State Tournament, Gjerde found ways to make an impact for Perham in their postseason run. In the semifinal matchup against Providence Academy, the 6'0 forward looked for her shot immediately. Lauren used her strong, muscular frame to seal off her defender in the paint, assuredly catching post-entry passes from the perimeter and finishing at the rim. The Yellowjackets forward embraces contact in the lane, earning her multiple trips to the charity stripe on Friday. A recent addition to the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028 rankings, Gjerde has continued to level up her game over the course of her sophomore season. She will play for the Fargo-based division of Sanford Sports Academy this spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612422' first='Claire' last='Pilgrim'] – 2031 Guard, Perham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As one of the youngest players to see the floor at this year's Class 2A State Tournament, Pilgrim turned plenty of heads with her fast-paced, no-fear style of play. Against Providence Academy, the 5'7 guard immediately made her presence known. Claire attacked the basket, looked for her shot, and handled the ball under immense pressure without any regard to who her defenders were. On the other end of the floor, the Perham 7th grader turned up the intensity even more. With lightning quick feet and active hands, Pilgrim showed off her gritty attitude, and a willingness to go head-on with some of the toughest competitors in the state. She will be with [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] in the upcoming AAU season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1802883' first='Paycen' last='Rutgers'] – 2030 Guard, New London-Spicer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We highlighted the New London-Spicer 8th grader last month, evaluating her standout performance at the Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic. As predicted, Rutgers played a pivotal role for her team at the State Tournament. The 5'8 guard provided significant minutes off the bench, aiding the Wildcats with her reliable, high-energy defense, skilled post-entry passing, and calm demeanor. On offense, Paycen exploded off the dribble, getting downhill to finish at the rim. And while her usually reliable perimeter shots weren't falling, she continued to let the ball fly when she had an open look from long range. Like Pilgrim, Rutgers will don a [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] jersey this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->