Class 3A All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player

Ever since she first entered the Benilde-St. Margaret's varsity rotation, junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='567389' first='Sydney' last='Friedly'] has been able to come up with big shots at opportune moments. That was no different in Saturday's Class 3A State Championship game, where Friedly took over when her team needed it most. A Top 25 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027, Sydney's performance in the big game propelled the Red Knights to their fourth consecutive state title, and earned her the title of Most Valuable Player. Here is a look at our selection for MVP, as well as the rest of the PGH Class 3A All-Tournament Team.   FIRST TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='567389' first='Sydney' last='Friedly'] – 2027 Guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's   Things were neck-and-neck for a large portion of Saturday's championship matchup between top seeds Benilde-St. Margaret's and Stewartville. In the second half the Red Knights had built a small cushion, but the Tigers were quickly closing in. That's when Friedly really stepped up to the plate. The junior guard hit a flow state, making one three and then another, then a bucket in transition, putting her team squarely in control of the game. Sydney's efficiency, as well as her ability to read the defense to find the most open looks, were crucial. On the other end of the floor, the 5'9 guard played smart basketball, forcing mistakes and altering shots without picking up fouls. When it was all said and done, Sydney had tallied a team-high 24 points, plus 5 boards and 5 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='786398' first='Zaida' last='Jenkins'] – 2028 Guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's   Jenkins came up with a variety of big plays throughout the entirety of the State Tournament. Whether the Red Knights needed her to crash the offensive glass and fight for rebounds, hit catch-and-shoot threes, or draw contact at the rim and make free throws, Zaida was there to get the job done. On a team where any player can lead on any given night, Jenkins' Swiss Army Knife style proved to be incredibly valuable. The #21-ranked prospect in the Class of 2028, Jenkins versatility, quickness, and raw athleticism showed themselves all week, ending her sophomore campaign on a high note.   [player_tooltip player_id='458305' first='Audrey' last='Shindelar'] – 2026 Guard, Stewartville (South Dakota State)   While the result of Saturday's championship game didn't end the way she hoped for, Shindelar certainly earned the First Team selection. A crafty, dynamic scorer and a gifted athlete, Audrey led the way for the Tigers throughout the tournament, averaging nearly 24 points a game over three games. The #7-ranked prospect in the PGH class of 2026, Shindelar ends her high school career with over 2,000 points, as well as a selection as one of the six finalists for Miss Basketball. She is signed to play for the Summit League champion Jackrabbits of South Dakota State this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='589276' first='Taleigha' last='Bigler'] – 2026 Guard, Marshall (Southwest Minnesota State)   Bigler found plenty of ways to make an impact for the Tigers in her third and final trip to the State Tournament. While the shots weren't falling in the quarterfinals, the Marshall senior cleaned up on the boards, grabbing 14 rebounds against Totino-Grace. In the semifinals Taleigha found her stride. Using her quick hands and gritty defense, Bigler tallied 8 steals, turning several into transition buckets. She finished with 21 points in the loss to the Red Knights. As a Top-20 prospect in the senior class, Taleigha will continue her basketball career close to home at Division 2 Southwest Minnesota State.   [player_tooltip player_id='897060' first='Madeleine' last='Hamiel'] – 2029 Guard, Cretin-Derham Hall   Hamiel left her mark at the State Tournament for the second year in a row, turning plenty of heads along the way. The Raiders freshman left it all out on the floor, making big plays on both ends of the court. In Cretin's quarterfinal matchup against Hill-Murray, Madeleine scored a season-high 34 points on 11-22 shooting. She slashed to the basket, pushed the pace in transition, and made numerous trips to the charity stripe, where she made 12 of 14 attempts. With a young core group at the helm, we won't be surprised if Hamiel and the Raiders make their way back to Williams Arena in the coming years.   SECOND TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='1303730' first='Mira' last='Wismer'] – 2026 Wing/Forward, Benilde-St. Margaret's    No matter who they faced at the State Tournament, Wismer was a major X-factor for the Red Knights. At 6'1, Mira's length, highly skilled footwork in the paint, soft touch, and ability to catch any pass thrown her way were instrumental for Benilde-St. Margaret's. The Top-40 ranked senior locked down the paint, snagging 34 rebounds and blocking 9 shots over the course of the tournament. Though she has decided to not play in college, Wismer's contributions undoubtedly helped her end her career with a win.   [player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] – 2027 Guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's   With a red-hot 15-2 start to the game, Benilde's offense could not be contained in their semifinal matchup against Marshall. Leading the way for the Red Knights was Watkins, who couldn't seem to miss from long range. Dropping 21 points in the win over the Tigers, the junior guard shot an efficient 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. On the other end of the floor, Pressley put pressure on the perimeter, using her length to get in passing lanes and create headaches for her opponents.   [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] – 2027 Guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's   After making the transfer over from Hopkins, it wasn't long before Bell settled into her role with the Red Knights. This week at the State Tournament, the junior guard showed what a valuable addition she was. Averaging around 10 points and 4 assists a game this season, Liv's ability to explode off the bounce, hit crafty turnaround jumpers, and find cutters with a backdoor pass were instrumental in Saturday's championship game against the top-seeded Tigers.    [player_tooltip player_id='339214' first='Jayci' last='Rath'] – 2026 Forward, Stewartville (St. Thomas)   The St. Thomas commit shot the lights out in Thursday's semifinal matchup against Cretin-Derham Hall, going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. With a narrow lead at halftime, things were neck and neck for much of the game. But after the halftime intermission, Rath couldn't seem to miss. She knocked down four shots from long range in the second half, including a dagger at the 2-minute mark that closed the deal for the Tigers, earning them a trip to the championship game.   [player_tooltip player_id='991231' first='Danika' last='Shindelar'] – 2028 Guard, Stewartville   With a D1-bound older sister, it's easy to be overshadowed. But in their final time on the court together, the younger Shindelar took a major step into the limelight. Throughout her sophomore campaign Danika has gotten taller, stronger, faster, and more assertive. All of that showed on Saturday when the Stewartville sophomore fought tooth-and-nail to keep the Tigers in the game. She attacked the basket with a full head full, delivered high-precision passes, and battled for rebounds. Danika finished with 18 points against the Red Knights.   HONORABLE MENTION   [player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'] – 2029 Guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's   [player_tooltip player_id='1194474' first='Reese' last='Drake'] – 2026 Guard, Marshall (Southwest Minnesota State, Volleyball)   [player_tooltip player_id='502586' first='Maria' last='Radabaugh'] – 2026 Guard, Totino-Grace (Concordia St. Paul)   [player_tooltip player_id='923286' first='Ashlee' last='Wilson'] – 2030 Guard, Hill-Murray   [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'] – 2027 Guard, Hill-Murray

Ever since she first entered the Benilde-St. Margaret's varsity rotation, junior guard Sydney Friedly Sydney Friedly 5'9" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2027 State MN has been able to come up with big shots at opportune moments. That was no different in Saturday's Class 3A State Championship game, where Friedly took over when her team needed it most. A Top 25 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027, Sydney's performance in the big game propelled the Red Knights to their fourth consecutive state title, and earned her the title of Most Valuable Player. Here is a look at our selection for MVP, as well as the rest of the PGH Class 3A All-Tournament Team.