Top Performers: Friday Dec. 17

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">With 157 games played on Friday, plenty of players had good nights. I’ll highlight four players who had an excellent Friday around the state and discuss their games a little. I love when I get a chance to dive in and discuss some players who may not get as much shine as others during the season. For this piece, I only go by the information I have available. If there’s no box score, I can’t mention players. However, I have a few players I’d like to discuss.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Eve Gricius-5’5 G-’24-Oconomowoc: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The younger Gricius has quietly put together an excellent start to her sophomore season. On Friday, Gricius recorded her third 20 point game of the season, with a 21 point game against Muskego. Gricius has been very up and down to start the season, but her highs have been excellent. For instance, in the Racoons game against Mukwonago on Dec. 10, the sophomore connected on seven 3’s. Although her consistency isn’t where it needs to be yet, the sophomore can be a game-changer.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="329558" first="Kailey" last="Wozniak"]-5’10 G/F-’23-Pius XI: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I believe Wozniak has a chance to be a good college player. After scoring 19 points against Wisconsin Lutheran, this is a good excuse to discuss her game. The junior is a lefty who plays with as much composure as anyone. I believe she has a chance to be an above-average shooter, even though her 3-point shooting doesn’t look all that good at the moment. What impresses me most is that she gets to the basket at will. The junior isn’t the quickest or best ball handler I’ve seen, but she has more than enough craft to make up for it. Wozniak uses angles well and can even create some that don’t seem possible. I’m not sure where her recruitment stands, but she is a next-level talent.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="209604" first="Ellie" last="Demet"]-5’8 G-’24-Watertown: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">It was very nice of Ellie to give me another reason to talk about her by scoring 24 in a win at DeForest. The Gosling thinks ahead of her defender, Demet plays with an idea of how to get by her defender. I’m not sure what she’s shooting percentage-wise this season, but her jumper is a threat that defenses should respect. After a difficult start for the season for the Goslings as a team and Demet personally, the Goslings are on a six-game winning streak largely thanks to Demets’ play.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="132394" first="Sidney" last="Scruggs"]-5’6 G-’22-Milwaukee Riverside: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Scruggs is one of the kids who lost an entire high school season due to COVID. However, the senior has played well to start her final season as a Lady Tiger. On Friday, Scruggs put together a 24 point performance against Milwaukee Vincent. I don’t know how she’s shot the ball, but a 72% free-throw percentage is solid enough for me to think she is a respectable shooter. To add, Scruggs and a stepback jumper go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Tiger is very comfortable taking tough jumpers. That said, her high release helps her comfortably get her shot up and make it look easy.</span>