The Week That Was: Installment number 1

There was no red carpet, no flashing cameras, and no paparazzi clamoring for just the right photo – but opening night of the 2025–26 Minnesota high school season was definitely a show worth watching. Fifty games were on the docket statewide, but in our view Benilde-St. Margaret's vs. Monticello was the place to be. After all, it marked the varsity debut of Jayda Nobles Jayda Nobles 5'9" | PG/CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2031 MN , the 7th grader many expect to be the next big thing at BSM and beyond.

The precocious point guard did not disappoint. Benilde put on a display of entertaining basketball in a 79–53 win over a banged-up Monticello squad. As we kick off our first weekly recap of the new season, it only makes sense to begin The Week That Was installment #1 with a look back at opening night.

The Youngsters Delivered

Benilde's starting lineup is loaded. Featuring 2027 standouts Pressley Watkins Pressley Watkins 6'0" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2027 State MN , Sydney Friedly, and Alivia Bell Alivia Bell 5'7" | PG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2027 State MN , along with standout senior Mira Wismer Mira Wismer 6'0" | PF MN and talented sophomore Zaida Jenkins Zaida Jenkins 5'10" | SG/CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2028 State MN , the Red Knights have a formidable veteran core. But it's the first three players off the bench who might just steal the spotlight on a regular basis.

Freshman Kiera Willis Kiera Willis 5'8" | PG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2029 State MN , ranked No. 6 in the Class of 2029, continues to prove she's one of the state's most dynamic young guards. Fellow freshman Rose Kalscheur Rose Kalscheur 5'9" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2029 State MN , lightning quick and fearless, is making a strong case as a future D1 prospect. And then there's Nobles, a potential No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2031, who is already accomplished beyond her years. All three played a ton.

The game was tight early, with BSM up just one midway through the first half before turning up the pressure to close the opening period on a 23–8 run. Monticello, playing without starting point guard Aubrey Krienke Aubrey Krienke 5'3" | PG/SG Monticello | 2026 State MN and post Abby Ruda Abby Ruda 6'1" | PF Monticello | 2026 State MN , was dealt another blow when point guard Madelyn Barrow Madelyn Barrow 5'3" | PG Monticello | 2026 State MN went down with an ankle injury barely a minute into the game. She left the gym on crutches in a walking boot.

Benilde's pressure defense proved overwhelming as the Red Knights pulled away despite strong efforts from Concordia-St. Paul commit Addison Ruda Addison Ruda 6'1" | SF Monticello | 2026 State MN (20 points) and St. Thomas signee Samantha Voll Samantha Voll 5'9" | CG Monticello | 2026 State MN (16). For BSM, Watkins led the way with 18 points, while Jenkins (11), Fridley (10), and Bell (10) all hit double figures.

Still, all anyone wanted to talk about was the young trio – especially Willis. She went 7-for-11 from the field for 15 points, adding six rebounds and six steals while flashing her verticality, body control, and creativity with the basketball. Kalscheur played advanced on-ball defense. Nobles, meanwhile, recorded the first points of her varsity career and showed elite point guard instincts .

Coach Tim Ellefson summed it up perfectly: “Our young trio off the bench bring hustle, energy, and excitement every time they step on the floor. Kiera rebounds with toughness and always seems to come up with a game-changing play,” he said. “Rose's defense disrupts everything the other team wants to do, and she's electric in transition. Jayda's point guard skills are years ahead of her age. Her decisions, poise, and vision make her truly one for the ages. When these three come off the bench, there's no letdown – only a lift.”

Elsewhere on Opening Night

While Nobles' debut was drawing plenty of attention, 8th grader Madison Waldo Madison Waldo 5'8" | CG Rogers | 2030 MN was stealing headlines of her own by erupting for 28 points in her first varsity game for Rogers. Waldo missed her first three-point attempt, made the second and then five more after that. Madison is the daughter of Jamie (Broback) Waldo, who starred for the Gophers during the Lindsay Whalen era. Madison is fierce, physical, and relentlessly competitive. She's been a standout in summer ball with the Metro Stars and clearly lives in the gym.

Rogers came out flying against Osseo, applying full-court pressure that forced a wave of turnovers. “Our girls just cut it loose and competed very hard,” said coach Trevor Schneeberger. The Royals exploded for 63 points in the first half and rolled to a 97–62 win. Waldo wasn't the only 8th grader making noise as Harper Colligan Harper Colligan 5'5" | PG Rogers | 2030 MN added 10 points, and Rogers also unveiled a 6'1” 2030 post, Paige Fenstra Paige Fenstra 6'1" | CG/SF Rogers | 2030 MN , who we'll be watching.

The Week That Was Returns

This report marks the return of one of our most-read Prep Girls Hoops features: The Week That Was. Between now and the state tournament in March, we'll publish 17 editions of this weekly recap – a mix of analysis, standout performances, milestones, and the quirky moments that make Minnesota high school basketball what it is. We've made this first edition free so folks can sample the content that subscribers have come to enjoy. At least that's what they tell us!

We try to post every Monday, giving readers a summary of the previous week's action from our viewpoint. We'd also love your help. If you see something noteworthy – a record broken, a milestone reached, a jaw-dropping stat line, or a feel-good story – send it our way. Email gmachoops@gmail.com or message @gmachoops on X (formerly Twitter), and we'll do our best to follow up.

Shameless plug: If you'd like to become a subscriber this is the perfect time to do it. Prep Girls Hoops is offering a 50% off special for Thanksgiving. Use the discount code BlackFriday2025 at checkout. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Cold, Hard Reality

Injuries are part of the game, but that doesn't make them any easier to watch. The road to college basketball is paved with rehab routines, training setbacks, and the mental grind of starting over. Last week top-40 junior Kylie Olson Kylie Olson 6'0" | PF NRHEG | 2027 State MN of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva suffered a torn ACL. It's a devastating blow for one of Southern Minnesota's most promising players, who will now spend her junior year rehabbing instead of competing.

Milestones Reached

Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN (Providence Academy) may not have left the Breakdown Tip Off Classic with a win over Hopkins, but she reached a remarkable milestone by becoming the first player in state history to record 1,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. The Kentucky commit continues to rewrite the record books. Tori Oehrlein Tori Oehrlein 5'11" | CG Crosby-Ironton | 2026 State MN (Crosby-Ironton), a University of Minnesota commit, is on pace to hit that same benchmark soon.

Brooklin Hinze Brooklin Hinze 5'7" | SG St. Clair | 2026 State MN (St. Clair) opened her senior year by eclipsing 2,000 career points. The Wisconsin–Eau Claire commit and top-75 senior is also her school's all-time scoring leader.

Three players reached the 1,000-point milestone at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic:

The Week Ahead

We're working diligently to assemble full coverage from the Breakdown Tip Off Classic. Early this week we'll catch a couple more games before a brief break for Thanksgiving. Then the action picks back up with Thanksgiving tournament, including two we'll be covering:

See you in the gym!