Tony’s Takes: Breakdown Fall League at Jefferson

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was plenty to take in at the Breakdown Fall League on Sunday at Jefferson High School in Bloomington. We were on the hunt for players who might've flown under the radar, and a few up-and-comers who'll be household names soon enough. And of course, the veterans got their shine, too. Let's get into it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345576' first='Jasmine' last='Mata']</strong> <strong>–</strong> <strong>2030 guard, Forest Lake</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mata (pictured above), affectionally known as "Jazzy" has that “it” factor you can't teach. The 8th grader looked calm and in control at Jefferson, running the Forest Lake offense with confidence. At just over 5 feet, she might not stand out physically, but once the ball is in her hands, she owns the floor. Playing for the top [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2030 squad has clearly sharpened her game – she blew past defenders, finished creatively at the rim, and knocked down threes with ease. Defensively, she brought the same energy, proving size doesn't define impact. Forest Lake's guard rotation is deep, but Mata's time is coming – maybe sooner than expected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Slayia Hambrick</strong> <strong>–</strong> <strong>2031 guard, Robbinsdale Cooper</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper will be young this season, with much of the roster made up of freshmen and below, but one name to look for is the 7th grader Hambrick. Coach Ebony Rich says she'll have every chance to compete for the starting point guard job, and she's earned it. The Diamond Elite guard showed flashes at the Breakdown, using her quickness to slice through defenses and finish through contact. There's still plenty to learn, but her heart and competitive spirit set her apart. The experience she gains this season will be invaluable as she continues her rise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='991090' first='Peyton' last='George']<strong> <strong>–</strong></strong> <strong>2028 post, Roseville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10 forward from Roseville was a force in the paint at the Breakdown, carving out space and finishing strong with her left hand. She uses her body well, sets solid screens, rebounds hard, and runs the floor with intent. The sophomore looks ready for an expanded role this season, pairing nicely with guard [player_tooltip player_id='658914' first='Mira' last='Jackson'] to form a balanced inside-out attack. Her physical style and toughness bring back memories of <strong>Bella Sutch</strong> from Spring Lake Park – a true throwback post who does the dirty work and takes pride in it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502564' first='Landis' last='Williamson-Andrews'] <strong>–</strong> <strong>2026 &nbsp;guard, Two Rivers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Sunday's Breakdown games were any indication, Williamson-Andrews has quickly become the go-to player for the Warriors. Playing alongside the lightning-fast [player_tooltip player_id='999548' first='Aniyrah' last='Gorman'], she'll benefit from plenty of open looks – and she knows what to do with them. Gorman shot it exceptionally well from deep and showed great poise attacking off the bounce when defenders closed out. Confident, composed, and playing with rhythm, this could be the season Williamson-Andrews puts it all together and takes her game to another level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players that impressed:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='589280' first='Lyric' last='Singleton'] <strong>(2026) and</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1090092' first='Demi' last='Holman'] <strong>(2029), guards, Park Center</strong> – This one-two punch kept defenses guessing – Singleton attacking the rim with relentless determination, and Holman knocking down tough shots from the perimeter with confidence and touch.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Leeana Winge</strong>, <strong>2027 guard, Two Rivers</strong> – Winge consistently took on the toughest perimeter matchups and held her ground. Her defensive grit and competitiveness make her a key piece in the Two Rivers rotation this season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kenia Arnold, 2027 post,</strong> <strong>St. Paul Como Park </strong>- The 6-foot junior for Como is still developing, but her soft hands and touch around the rim stand out. As she continues to grow her game, she'll be a key factor in Como's success this season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='502583' first='Sofia' last='Ordaz'], <strong>2026 guard, Washburn </strong>- The 1,000-point scorer from Washburn was locked in at the Breakdown, making winning plays all over the floor and showing exactly why she's one of her team's most dependable scorers.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='927228' first='Amaya' last='Pahl'], <strong>2026 wing, Lakeville South</strong> – Pahl was a force on both ends, dominating the glass, protecting the rim, and showcasing her expanded range by confidently knocking down shots from beyond the arc.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->