Duel For the Dynasty 2026: The 13U Sharpshooters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 13U bracket this weekend, Team Kidd and Kingdom Hoops set themselves apart as the best shooting teams in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Buzzsaws: Team Kidd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Team Kidd shooters operated like a buzzsaw. They were on point both offensively and defensively throughout the game.&nbsp; Their mid-range and three-point shooting shredded the opposing defense, leaving little room for recovery as they cruised to victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bumblebees: Kingdom Hoops Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, the Kingdom Hoops team utilized a "death by a thousand stings" approach. These young ladies were like bumblebees; their relentless outside shooting punished every single defensive lapse by the opponent.&nbsp; Their ability to stretch the floor and knock down mid and three-point shots made them one of the most exciting teams to watch in the 13U bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both programs looked like well-oiled machines. The discipline, court sense, and situational awareness displayed by these student-athletes made it clear that they are an exceptionally well-coached basketball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1845972"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa0ea965f2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The first saying that I thought of after the game ended was ‘get it out of the net'! When a shooter gets into a rhythm like that, the defender might as well start heading back on defense before the ball even clears the rim.&nbsp; I was on the edge of my seat every time she touched the ball; Madi displayed exceptional offensive touch and a level of confidence that made every shot feel like a guaranteed make. Simply put: get it out of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1849512,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"KJ Baker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Team Kidd","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa104158696"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A truly high-IQ basketball player. While she shot the ball exceptionally well from both midrange and beyond the three-point line, it was her 'feel' for the game that caught my attention. She consistently demonstrated elite decision-making—knowing exactly when to take the shot, when to pass the ball, when to facilitate offense, and how to position herself perfectly on both ends of the court.&nbsp; It's rare to see a player who so consistently makes the right play at the right time, most of the time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1798753"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa117405285"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nadia's off-court dedication to work and improve her game is clearly paying off! After talking to her coach about her relentless work ethic to improve her outside jumper, it was great to see her hard work pay off in the tournament.&nbsp; Nadia scored 15 points, knocking down a pair of 3's and several mid-range jumpers, while also proving she can finish strong at the basket through contact. What's even more impressive—and what I value as a coach and a scout—is her elite defensive presence; she is a tenacious on-ball defender who can pressure opponents for all 94 feet without picking up cheap fouls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1847154"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa12aa4e677"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Autumn put on a shooting clinic in the last game as she knocked down several midrange jumpers and three pointers from beyond the arc. What really set her apart, though, was her poise in transition. While others struggled to finish, Autumn consistently converted contested layups after initiating the break with her own steals.&nbsp; By staying aggressive and keeping the defense guessing all night, she helped her team win the game and finished with 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1798446"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa1304b60cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kooper is the ultimate spark plug and the Energizer Bunny off the bench! As the prototypical 6th player, she changes the game the moment she steps on the court. What she lacks in height, she more than makes up for with heart and hustle. She's a two-way threat that smothers opponents with defensive pressure and exploits them on the other end. In her last game of the tournament, she kept the defense honest by knocking down a three-pointer and attacking the defender in the zone with a floater.&nbsp; She finishes with a solid 7 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1810625"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69fa135a4fbe1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Originally, I planned to recognize Annistan in the honorable mention article, but I moved her to this feature for one vital reason: unselfish players who prioritize the extra pass are far too often overlooked. Annistan is the heartbeat of her team, consistently delivering high-level assists that translate directly into points. What stands out most is her humility and poise on offense. Additionally, her tight ball-handling allows her to remain patient under pressure until an opportunity opens up for a teammate. She is a rock-solid point guard, and if she continues to put in the work outside of practice, she is going to surpass many of her peers at the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->