Granite City Classic: Newcomers who impressed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breakdown's annual Granite City Classic is one of the best basketball events of the season and is always one we look forward to. With six sites around the St. Cloud area, there is plenty of basketball to watch. As mentioned in our most recent top performers post, a bout of illness unfortunately kept me at home this year, but thanks to Breakdown's livestreaming option, I was able to catch games from all of the sites. Here is my review of the ample amount of fresh talent there was to see at Granite City. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246851' first='Aza' last='Baartman'] – 2029 Forward, Goodhue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although she's not a household name, Baartman (pictured above) is one of the most complete forwards in the freshman class. Standing at 5'11, she has a large, muscular frame, plenty of athleticism for the collegiate level, and a work ethic that is unmatched. At the Granite City Classic, Aza showed some added versatility on the offensive end. The Goodhue freshman has extended her game to the perimeter, exploding past defenders on drives to the basket and hitting several shots from beyond the arc. Her shot mechanics are smooth and efficient, and her ball handling has seen major improvements. On the defensive end, Baartman did what she always does – used her length, physicality, and basketball IQ to grab rebounds, alter shots, and make a big impact for the Wildcats. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='939005' first='Haley' last='Schoenrock'] – 2030 Forward, St. Francis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior forward Emily was not the only one of the Schoenrock sisters that made a strong impression at Granite City, 8th grade forward Haley also excelled. Standing at 6'2, Haley possesses an immensely long and lanky frame. She moves quite gracefully considering her age and height, and plays with an endless motor. Despite some foul trouble in Saturday's matchup against Foley, Schoenrock made valuable contributions on the glass, defending the paint, and at the free throw line. The Fighting Saints forward finished the contest with 8 points, 9 boards, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. There is no question as to whether we'll be watching Haley (and her 6'4 twin sister, Sophie, who is coming off of an injury) in the near future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598893' first='Harper' last='Bigalke'] – 2031 Guard/Forward, St. Michael-Albertville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Bigalke has been making an impact for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] for a couple of years now, the Granite City Classic was our first chance to get an extended look at her game since joining the St. Michael-Albertville varsity squad. The 5'11 seventh grader entered Saturday's contest against Orono shortly after the tip, earning extended minutes all game. Guarding Spartans senior [player_tooltip player_id='717668' first='Evelyn' last='Miller'], Harper showed no fear and held her own in the highly physical matchup. She was relentless on the boards, used her length on the defensive end, and brought the energy all game long. It will take some time for Bigalke's offense to develop at the varsity level, but from what we saw over the weekend, the Knights' newcomer is right on track.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lauren Alberts – 2029 Guard, Bloomington Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providing a spark off the bench, Alberts made an impact early in Bloomington Jefferson's matchup against New Ulm on Friday afternoon. The Jaguars freshman is a quick, crafty guard that brings energy to every possession. With a fast, snappy release, Lauren excels as a three-point shooter, but she can just as easily get downhill to the rim. She has a tight handle and is crafty with the ball, but still keeps the offense moving when the ball is in someone else's hands. On the defensive end Alberts creates havoc on the perimeter, using her quick lateral movement and active hands to create turnovers and transition scoring chances. She finished Friday's game with 10 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A few more fresh faces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aubrey Brustad </strong>– 2030 Guard, New Ulm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1311189' first='Chloe' last='Waterworth'] – 2029 Guard, St. Francis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1259899' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] – 2029 Guard/Forward, St. Michael-Albertville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='918677' first='Josie' last='Van Vooren'] – 2028 Forward, Waconia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->