Tony's Takes: Standouts From the Thanksgiving Tip Off

The Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off gave us another early read on who's ready to make noise this season. This serves as a follow-up to my first piece highlighting the dynamic duos from the event, but this time the spotlight is on the individuals who stepped up and made their presence felt. The weekend was loaded with energy and tight games, and several players showed they're already playing at a high level. Some emerged as leaders, some delivered their best basketball of the young season, and others confirmed why their names were already on the radar. What they all shared was the ability to impact winning – scoring in big spots, making hustle plays, and setting the tone for their teams. Here are the players who stood out with strong showings heading into December.   [player_tooltip player_id='659117' first='Delaney' last='Dumermuth'] - guard 2027 - Mahtomedi   Dumermuth benefits from the attention [player_tooltip player_id='667779' first='Grace' last='Prose'] commands, and she's learning how to use that to her advantage. During the Thanksgiving Tip Off, she played heavy minutes and made them count, showing why she's becoming such an important piece for Mahtomedi. She chipped in across the board, rebounding in traffic, starting the break, and knocking down clean looks when defenses lost track of her. What stood out was how steady she stayed. She didn't rush. She just played her role and trusted her impact. As she gets more comfortable being a bigger part of the Zephyrs offense, her numbers should rise. The key for her is staying confident and staying aggressive, because if she plays that way, Mahtomedi will be better for it.   [player_tooltip player_id='498663' first='Madison' last='Ohm'] - guard 2026 - Byron (Marist)   Ohm has come out firing to start her senior year, and she looks every bit like a D1 Marist commit playing with purpose. With heigh and length, she's a tough matchup because she scores in so many ways. Smaller guards can't keep her out of the paint, and when teams back off, she's confident enough to step out and hit from the perimeter. She's smart with the ball, uses her frame to draw contact, and lives at the free-throw line because she refuses to settle. Against Visitation, she did most of her work early, dropping 15 points in the first half with a pair of three-pointers that set the tone. Right now she's playing with poise and edge, and it's clear she wants her senior season to be something people remember.   Chloe Theissen - guard 2026 - White Bear Lake   White Bear Lake came out a little flat in their opener, but day two was a different story thanks to the senior guard. When both teams struggled to score early, Theissen stayed patient and waited for her moment. After halftime, she completely changed the tone of the game. Theissen (pictured above) poured in 16 points in the second half, knocking down four threes and giving the Bears the spark they had been missing. Every shot mattered, especially down the stretch as White Bear Lake held off Mahtomedi 52-48 to secure their first win of the season. Her poise and shot-making under pressure set the standard for the group, and it's the kind of performance the Bears can rally around moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1279505' first='Teagan' last='Jacobs'] - guard 2029 - Cretin-Derham Hall   Cretin-Derham Hall has one of the strongest freshman groups in the state, and Jacobs is already proving why she belongs in that conversation. In the first two games, the talent was clear, but the numbers didn't quite match. That changed in game three, when she finally connected her skill with steady production. Jacobs attacked downhill with purpose, finished through contact, and knocked down a three to keep the defense honest. Her effort on the defensive end stayed consistent, where she takes pride in making things tough for her matchup. With fellow freshman standout [player_tooltip player_id='897060' first='Madeleine' last='Hamiel'] drawing a lot of attention, Jacobs staying aggressive is going to be key. The Raiders have big goals this season, and Jacobs looks ready to play a real part in helping them chase those expectations.   [player_tooltip player_id='658914' first='Mira' last='Jackson'] - guard 2026 - Roseville   Jackson is as steady as they come, and that's what makes her so dangerous. She isn't out there trying to put on a show – she just plays smart, efficient basketball. If you lose track of her, she's already at the rim finishing with either hand. Her size makes her easy to overlook, and she uses that to her advantage by slipping into gaps and pushing the pace before defenses can react. At the Tip Off, she kept the offense humming, moved the ball with purpose, and set the tone on both ends as Roseville jumped out to a 2-0 start. Defensively, she gives her matchup nothing easy, forcing them to think about her pressure every trip. Through two games she's averaging 15 a night and leading a tough, scrappy Roseville group that no one will want to see when the postseason rolls around.

The Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tip Off gave us another early read on who's ready to make noise this season. This serves as a follow-up to my first piece highlighting the dynamic duos from the event, but this time the spotlight is on the individuals who stepped up and made their presence felt. The weekend was loaded with energy and tight games, and several players showed they're already playing at a high level. Some emerged as leaders, some delivered their best basketball of the young season, and others confirmed why their names were already on the radar. What they all shared was the ability to impact winning – scoring in big spots, making hustle plays, and setting the tone for their teams. Here are the players who stood out with strong showings heading into December.