Who Made Noise at the Western Conference Tournament

The Western Conference Tournament brought together four of the top programs in the Tampa area with Bloomingdale claiming the championship, Steinbrenner finishing as the runner-up, Sumner placing third, and Chamberlain rounding out the field in fourth. The top three finishers are all ranked inside the Top 5 in Tampa, while all four teams sit comfortably within the Top 10. This made for a very competitive event from start to finish and allowed me to see some of the 813's best. The tournament featured a strong mix of familiar names and emerging talent, and several players took full advantage of the stage. Here are the players who made the most noise:    Kniya has a long, athletic frame that immediately stands out on the court. She uses her length and timing well to block shots and consistently alter attempts around the rim. She is very active on the glass, especially on the offensive end where she creates second-chance opportunities for her team. Her length and athleticism make her a mismatch for smaller guards as she can shoot over them or attack space effectively. Kniya runs the floor hard and fast in transition which puts pressure on the defense. She also shows a smooth, reliable stroke from deep that allows her to spread the floor and add value as a perimeter threat. KK will be a definite stock riser in the next rankings udpate.     Avery made a major impact on both ends of the floor, highlighted by several monster blocks that are rare for her position. Offensively, she showed strong touch with the ability to knock down floaters and runners in the lane. She displayed good vision in transition by consistently finding open teammates and making the right reads. She has a polished offensive bag, featuring a smooth step-through and an effective spin move. Her motor and athleticism stood out as well as she followed her own miss for a tip-in. In the championship game, she stepped up in a big way by hitting multiple deep-range three-pointers and scoring key baskets early to keep her team alive and tame the crowd.     Ellayna was very impressive with her overall game and poise on the floor. She has a clean shooting stroke and showed solid range by knocking down deep twos and three-pointers with confidence. E finishes well around the basket with either hand and consistently plays under control. She opened the game against Steinbrenner by scoring the first seven points, setting the tone early. She has good handle and feel for the game, and she created offense from defense by jumping passing lanes for steals and converting those opportunities in transition. Her performance made her a clear stock riser in the 2027 class.     Mariia brings impressive size and the ability to stretch the floor with one of the best shooting strokes you'll see from the forward position. Her back-to-the-basket game is effective, highlighted by a smooth spin over her left shoulder for a bucket. From the mid-post and FT line, she did a nice job of facing up and rising from around 15 feet before knocking down those shots with confidence. She also delivered from beyond the arc by hitting timely three-pointers, including a big one at the end of the third quarter in the championship game that gave Bloomingdale much-needed momentum.     Sarah delivered strong performances in both games and consistently made her presence felt on the offensive end. A lefty by nature, she is comfortable using both hands and finishing through traffic. She is always a threat from long range which forces defenders to stay attached to her on the perimeter. Sarah showed a clean spin move that flowed smoothly into a right-handed runner. She was also effective on the glass, converting solid offensive rebound putbacks and creating extra scoring opportunities for her team.     Aydan brought consistent toughness on the defensive end by applying strong ball pressure throughout the tournament. With a high basketball IQ, she read the offense well and deflected numerous passes and turned those reads into steals over the two games. Offensively, her ability to see the floor stood out as she made smart reads and delivered passes with good timing and angles. In the championship game, she finished well in transition by converting several big buckets that helped swing momentum.     Jada shows significant promise with her size and frame and uses her strength and body effectively to create space inside. She consistently positions herself well on the glass when generating numerous second-chance opportunities through offensive rebounds. Her physicality and awareness make her a tough matchup in the post and a valuable presence around the basket.     Kateline had a strong showing in the semifinal game by displaying her scoring ability as a quick, agile guard. Her shot comes with a high release which makes it difficult for defenders to contest. She can knock down three-pointers or use a shot fake to create space for a pull-up jumper. With good elevation on both her jumper and floater, she consistently finishes over defenders while showing poise and speed in transition.     Avi is a true floor leader, and her teammates clearly trust her to make plays. A difference-maker on both ends, she attacked the rim with smart drives and finished well, especially in the championship game. Her court vision allows her to create for others when delivering timely passes on drives for high-quality looks. She can also knock down the three-pointer when given time and space. Along with her scoring and playmaking, she consistently rebounds on both ends by showing effort and awareness that elevate her team.

The Western Conference Tournament brought together four of the top programs in the Tampa area with Bloomingdale claiming the championship, Steinbrenner finishing as the runner-up, Sumner placing third, and Chamberlain rounding out the field in fourth. The top three finishers are all ranked inside the Top 5 in Tampa, while all four teams sit comfortably within the Top 10. This made for a very competitive event from start to finish and allowed me to see some of the 813's best. The tournament featured a strong mix of familiar names and emerging talent, and several players took full advantage of the stage. Here are the players who made the most noise: