Class A All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player

As the top-ranked prospect in Class A basketball, [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] was always going to make headlines of some sort at the Minnesota high school State Tournament. Ranked #9 by Prep Girls Hoops in the Class of 2027, she is the ‘It Girl' of small-school competition. As of Saturday, Mathiowetz is also a state champion with a performance that earned her our Most Valuable Player selection. Here's a look at Morgan's performance at State along with the rest of the PGH Class A All-Tournament Team.   FIRST TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – 2027 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (North Dakota State)   The super-smooth point guard came out of the gate firing on Thursday against Mayer Lutheran. After spotting the Crusaders a 6-0 lead, she scored her team's first 10 points and 18 of the the first 20.  Mathiowetz never left the floor while scoring 41 on 8-for-16 shooting from the field, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-7 at the free throw line. That set the table for a 31-point game in a 53-47 win over Central Minnesota Christian on Friday. In Saturday's championship matchup, it was more of the same as Mathiowetz scored 27 to lead her team to the title in convincing fashion over Mountain Iron-Buhl. Numbers don't tell the whole story but, in this case, they do serve as evidence of excellence.   [player_tooltip player_id='1216140' first='Olivia' last='Schieffert'] – 2028 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's   We've come to expect a lot of the 5'9 sophomore. She's ranked #61 in the Class of 2028, which makes her a solid Division 2 prospect. The way she played at the State Tournament, we may need to rethink her ultimate ceiling at the next level Olivia was outstanding. In Saturday's championship game, she went 10-for-15 from the field and 5-for-8 at the free-throw line in a 25-point performance with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.  She is one of the best defenders among the 2028s, a versatile guard  with a solid frame, good quickness, and the type of  toughness you cannot teach.   [player_tooltip player_id='659121' first='Anna' last='Neyens'] – 2027 guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl   The championship game did not go how the Rangers would have wanted, but the fact is MIB wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for Anna's performance in the semifinals on Friday. The Top-30 junior lit it up against Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in a 78-56 win with a 30-point performance that included 8 three-point baskets on 11 attempts. In a unique Saturday double, Neyens was on the court in at halftime of the second game in more formal attire to receive the prestigious ExCel Award for excellence in community, education and leadership.   [player_tooltip player_id='766677' first='Sienna' last='Duininck'] – 2027 guard, Central Minnesota Christian   The high school State Tournament marked the first time that many in attendance or watching at home became aware of Duininck. In Class A basketball there just isn't much exposure for small-school kids not playing in big events. For Prep Girls Hoops readers, however, news of Duininck's abilities is old hat. The Top-30 junior is highly skilled and tough as nails, and she showed off both of those assets against a physical Northome/Kelleher squad. Sienna had 30 points in the hard-fought win on 11-for-13 shooting with 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 8 steals.  For the season she averaged 24 and 7 with 179 steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] – 2030 guard, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy   Hello world! Whenever an 8th grader takes the State Tournament by storm, folks always seem stunned that such a young player can make such a significant impact. In reality Elin was turning heads in 7th grade. Leading up to State she was on fire. When play opened on Thursday, the big guard wasted no time showing off her skills with a 31-point performance against NRHEG, going 9-for-18 from the field (including 4-for-7 from three) and 9-of-12 at the free throw line. She was dominant on both sides of the ball. Retzlaff followed with a 29-point game against MIB. She'll probably be a Top 10 in the 2030 class.   SECOND TEAM   [player_tooltip player_id='764223' first='Paige' last='Norman'] – 2027 Forward, Mountain Iron-Buhl   The big post player is hard to miss when she steps on the floor for the Rangers, even though it is a guard-centric squad dominated by the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='659121' first='Anna' last='Neyens'] and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/izzy-wiita/">Izzy Wiita</a>. At State, Norman's role was more high-profile than usual as she averaged 12 points and 8.7 rebounds over the course of three games, showing off her improved footwork down low and her ability to step outside and shoot.   [player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff'] – 2028 guard, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy   With little sister Elin getting most of the shine at the State Tournament, big sister Elsa did what she always does – whatever it takes for her team to be successful. A Top 20 prospect in Minnesota's Class of 2028, Elsa opened the tournament with an 18-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist performance against NRHEG that also showcased her rather substantial defensive abilities. Elsa does so many things well.   [player_tooltip player_id='653851' first='Ella' last='Knutson'] – 2026 guard, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (Northwestern IA)   With Elin in a starring role and Elsa earning accolades of her own, it always seems to be Ella doing the dirty work that ensures success for the Comets, a team that finished the year with a record of 29-4. Ella is the backbone of the squad, the veteran leader with a steady presence – and the ability to make the big play and say the right thing at just the right moment. Nobody has better intangibles than she does.   [player_tooltip player_id='1175103' first='Morgan' last='Rysdam'] – 2027 guard, Braham   The Bombers were in trouble early against Mountain Iron-Buhl but you can't contain one of the most dynamic players in Class A forever. We've covered Rysdam's meteoric rise from unknown to Top 35 prospect in great detail, and she lived up to the hype at State. Morgan had 24 second-half points, 32 in all. She was 10-for-16 from the field, 4-of-7 from three, with 9 rebounds.    [player_tooltip player_id='782558' first='Kate' last='Thayer'] – 2026 guard, Kelliher/Northome   Thayer's extraordinary high school career came to a close this weekend in Minneapolis, a journey that has seen her lead a resurgent small school co-op to the biggest stage in the state. She scored over 3,000 career points and earned Top 75 status in the Class of 2026. Kate had one last run Thursday in a remarkable performance with a triple-double on 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 steals plus 6 assists.   HONORABLE MENTION   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='560398' first='Aniyah' last='Thomas'] – 2026 guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl (UW-Superior)</li>   <li>Brynne Ibberson – 2027 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1048130' first='Izabelle' last='Keaveny'] – 2026 guard, Mayer Lutheran</li>   <li>Emmi Braem – 2026 forward, Central Minnesota Christian</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1174708' first='Quinn' last='VanMaldeghem'] – 2026 guard, NRHEG</li> </ul>

As the top-ranked prospect in Class A basketball, Morgan Mathiowetz Morgan Mathiowetz 5'8" | PG Sleepy Eye St. Mary's | 2027 State MN was always going to make headlines of some sort at the Minnesota high school State Tournament. Ranked #9 by Prep Girls Hoops in the Class of 2027, she is the ‘It Girl' of small-school competition. As of Saturday, Mathiowetz is also a state champion with a performance that earned her our Most Valuable Player selection. Here's a look at Morgan's performance at State along with the rest of the PGH Class A All-Tournament Team.