Who made a major impact on opening weekend?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the rubber hits the road, and they toss the basketball up in the air for real, that's when the top performers on every team tend to rise to the fore. We certainly saw that over Thanksgiving as the Minnesota high school season opened at the Hamline University Pat Patterson Invitational tournament and the Twin Cities Thanksgiving Tipoff. We have already cited a number top performers – [player_tooltip player_id='148338' first='Grace' last='Counts'], [player_tooltip player_id='108324' first='Drew' last='Johnston'], [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], [player_tooltip player_id='322999' first='Jocelyn' last='Land'] and more – in our <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/the-week-that-was-1-turkeys-tourneys-on-tap/">Week That Was</a></strong> recap. We also covered some more impressive performers – [player_tooltip player_id='362575' first='Callie' last='Oakland'], [player_tooltip player_id='215971' first='Lydia' last='Lakanen'], [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'], etc. – in our <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/who-raised-their-stock-over-thanksgiving/"><strong>Thanksgiving Stock Risers</strong> </a>story. Now we bring you a dozen more impact performers who delivered in a big way on opening weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOST VALUABLE PLAYER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='461340' first='Hali' last='Savela'] – Nobody did more for her team than the 2024 guard from Mountain Iron-Buhl. She was everywhere on consecutive days on both sides of the ball. Savela (banner photo) scored 21 points in a win Friday over Stewartville and followed up with 26 more on Saturday in a narrow loss to St. Croix Lutheran. Hali isn't the quickest horse in the race, and she won't dazzle you with her ball-handling or finesse, but man does she ever know how to get the job done. Savela is uber-physical, with a compete level that is completely off the gauge. She fights for every last inch, isn't afraid of any type of physical heat you want to bring, and she knocks down three-pointers at an impressive clip with a super-smooth stroke. Savela made countless big plays for the Rangers on opening weekend and will be a difference-maker in college. Coaches: If your program is at the D3 or NAIA level, and your school has a nursing program, this is a prospect you need to be on. Pronto.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":506958,"width":512,"height":342,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/09/Lanelle-Wright.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-506958" width="512" height="342"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5 IMPACT PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='252383' first='Lanelle' last='Wright'] – One player's injury can be another's opportunity. That is the situation in Minnetonka where elite guard [player_tooltip player_id='215958' first='Tori' last='McKinney'] is unfortunately out until February. That has elevated Wright's role and the 9th grade point guard took advantage of her opportunity in a big way on opening weekend at Hamline University. Lanelle (photo above) moved the ball with poise and precision, defended with passion and skill, and put the ball in the basket, as well. Wright averaged 17 points per game to lead the Skippers in scoring as they recorded wins over Madison Memorial of Wisconsin and DeLaSalle of Minneapolis. Lanelle is the #3-rated prospect in the Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='148327' first='Haylie' last='Strum'] – The savvy point guard from Stewartville has been around the block a time or two. I remember the first time I saw the senior at a showcase in Rochester and was blown away by the little 8th grader with the top-shelf skillset. Her game has only grown over the years and so has she to the point where Strum can consistently dictate the flow of the game, run the Tigers' offense with patience and pace, all while making everyone around her that much better. Last winter Haylie averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Her numbers this weekend were similar. Strum is a true leader with a package of assets that will serve her well at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='108348' first='Nunu' last='Agara'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='108298' first='Taylor' last='Woodson'] – The dynamic duo from Hopkins, a pair of high-end forwards with an endless supply of ability, has built a reputation for excellence that is second to none. That's why Agara has signed with Stanford and Woodson with Michigan. This weekend they certainly showed why. In the Royals opening game the pair were tasked with guarding gigantic center Audi Crooks of Bishop Garrigan (Iowa), one of the premier posts in the region and an Iowa State commit. With one defending in front of Crooks and the other behind, Nunu and Taylor got the job done to score a convincing victory. Woodson had 28 points until going down late in the game with an ankle injury that will keep her sidelined for the next couple of weeks. Nunu had 16 points and 6 rebounds on Friday and followed with 15 and 8 on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='108316' first='Taryn' last='Hamling'] – The senior guard from Grand Rapids came out firing on Friday against St. Croix Lutheran, staking her team to a big margin in the early going. Hamling, who committed early to North Dakota State, is one of the smoothest shooters from distance in the Class of 2023 where she is the 13th-rated prospect. Taryn finished a perfect 10-for-10 from the field in that game. She followed with 15 more points against a tough Holy Angels squad and 28 more Tuesday versus Hibbing. Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, Hamling was outstanding as we anticipated she would be. We've come to expect nothing less.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":338445,"width":512,"height":342,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/44-Kendall-Barnes.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-338445" width="512" height="342"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MORE IMPACT PLAYERS OF NOTE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215968' first='Kendall' last='Barnes'] – The junior guard from Roseville (above photo) brings so much to the table for her team. Yes, she can score (Barnes had 12 in Roseville's Friday win over Eastview) and distribute and use her speed to put defenders on their heals. It is on the defensive side of the ball where she really excels, which is a big reason why the Raiders went undefeated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='178263' first='Laura' last='Hauge'] – The junior guard from St. Croix Lutheran was bombing threes all weekend, scoring 19 points against Grand Rapids and 26 more versus Mountain Iron-Buhl as the Crusaders scored a pair of victories. Hauge is a Top 10 prospect committed to the University of St. Thomas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='148315' first='Emily' last='Christenson'] – East Ridge is a veteran team with a ton of talent but the Raptors rely heavily on Emily to put the ball in the basket. She made a statement on opening day, nailing 7 three-pointers and scoring 32 points in a decisive victory over Totino-Grace. The 5'11 guard is a pure shooter and Top 30 prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='178269' first='Liv' last='McGill'] – The junior guard from Hopkins is one of the very best prospects in the country in the Class of 2024. She is highly skilled, very intelligent, super strong and extremely physical. McGill, who holds high major offers, scored 4 points, had 9 assists and 4 steals on Friday. On Saturday she posted 12 and 7 with 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='296515' first='Hope' last='Counts'] – The long and lanky post from Providence Academy has had a breakout year and on Friday she showed us a new aspect of her game – long-distance shooting. Defensively she is a dangerous weapon. On Friday against LaCrosse Aquinas Hope had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. On Saturday she guarded Audi Crooks and lived to tell about it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":287813,"width":512,"height":469,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/Audi-Crooks-1024x938.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-287813" width="512" height="469"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NON-MINNESOTA STANDOUTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our primary focus, as always, is on Minnesota prospects and this weekend's events were no different. We would be seriously remiss, however, if we didn't pay homage to some of the outstanding athletes who did great work at St. Thomas Academy on behalf of their teams from Iowa and Wisconsin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Audi Crooks</strong> – The behemoth center from Bishop Garrigan High School in Iowa is a handful. Several handfuls, actually. On Friday she did battle with two of the best in the business in Agara and Woodson. On Saturday it was the twin towers from Providence Academy – [player_tooltip player_id='148338' first='Grace' last='Counts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='296515' first='Hope' last='Counts']. Crooks (photo above), who is committed to Iowa State, scored 69 points in two games against two quality opponents. Her teammate <strong>Molly Joyce</strong> also deserves a shoutout, as well. The Truman State commit impressed all weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ava Zediker</strong> – The 2025 point guard from Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines, Iowa, made an impact with her explosiveness, speed, ball-handling and on-court savvy right from the get-go. Ava scored 30 points Friday against Holy Family. She got to the hoop at will, taking contact, drawing a ton of fouls and giving the Fire fits. Zediker, who plays AAU for All Iowa Attack, is destined for Division 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Macy Donarski</strong> – The senior point guard from Aquinas of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, is strong, athletic and super-duper skilled. Macy is the daughter of Aquinas coach Dave Donarski, and the younger sister of Iowa State standout <strong>Lexi Donarski</strong>, so it should come as no surprise that the University of Montana commit can ball a little. Macy put up 36 points against Providence at Friday, followed with 28 more on Saturday, and was a ton of fun to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->