3A Sub-State Watch, the Hoisington Sub-State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KSHSAA released the brackets for the eight class 3A sub-state tournaments on Wednesday. In this article I share a look at players to watch in the Hoisington sub-state. Be sure to review the previously covered <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/post-season-watch-5-key-3a-western-kansas-players/">Holcomb</a>, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/3a-sub-state-watch-the-chapparal-sub-state/">Chaparral</a>, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/3a-sub-state-watch-the-caney-valley-sub-state/">Caney Valley</a>, and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/3a-sub-state-watch-the-southeast-of-saline-sub-state/">Southeast of Saline</a> sub-states. Central Kansas League rivals Haven and Hoisington, the two lone teams in the sub-state with winning records (13-7), are the top two seeds. By virtue of a heads up win the Wildcats received the top spot. The team hosts CKL foe Lyons at home in a quarterfinal game. The Cardinals host Kingman in their first round game. Fellow CKL teams Larned and Nickerson, seeded fourth and sixth respectively, are also in the field. Kingman is the lone Central Plains League team. Ellsworth (9-11), out of the North Central Activities Association, is seeded third. Russell (7-13) from the brutal Mid-Continent League travels to Larned for a tough #4 v #5 first round match-up. Winners of three of their last five, the Broncos have made strides after only collecting two wins last season. There are several players who will be keys to their team's play. Take a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='453780' first='Anna' last='Thielen'], 5'5", PG, Russell, 2024 - Thielen was impactful in 2024 after transferring in from now closed Wilson. Strong and fast with the ball she finishes at speed in transition against challengers. She is also a consistent three point shooter off the catch as well as the dribble up. A Northern Plains all-league selection the past two season Thielen is feisty floor leader who averaged 15.3 points in 2023. She is also a box-out monster with quick feet. She would be a quality pick up for JUCO and NAIA schools looking for a point guard with upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kylee Hahn</strong>, 5'10", PF, Hoisington, 2024 - A Central Kansas League second team selection in 2023 Hahn is an imporatnt piece of the Cardinal puzzle. She leads the team in scoring at 11.7 points per contest and is pulling down 5.3 rebounds as well. She has also collected 3 assists and 2 steals per game. Hahn, while not prolific, is shooting the three at a 31% clip. What she is doing is getting to the line. At well over 100 attempts she is hitting 73%. Hahn, is athletic and has good bounce. She is a solid shot blocker and jump shoots with a quick release. The Cardinals can run the table to go to state the team needs her to stay out of foul trouble, rebound like a mad girl, and score. With her length, quickness, and perimeter shooting schools looking for a quality stretch four candidate need to take a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taeten Reynolds</strong>, PG, Larned, 2027 - Reynolds is point guard that is going to cause havok in the years ahead. The small, solidly built point guard is a stop on a dime ball handler. She also defends well all over the floor, including inside, and is a perimeter shooting threat. Fast with the ball she has spin-the-defender around shiftiness in transition and finishes at speed. The Indians are generally a young team that will be a tough out. The team has some size and an athletic scorer in Aklielah Collins but to make it all work Reynolds is the key. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='231277' first='Sadie' last='Estill'], 5'10", PG/SF, Haven, 2024 - Behind [player_tooltip player_id='544003' first='Avery' last='Brawner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='616756' first='Sienna' last='DeFrain'] the Wildcats fought their way through a tough schedule and put themselves in a position to capture the top seed in the sub-state. But the return of Estill from a mid-summer injury has elevated Haven to a new level. In years past Estill could be found working her magic with post moves, good hands, and rebounding. Now she's running the point and excelling. The KBCA and Varsity Kansas 3A all-state selection shows strong leadership running the show. She is fast, has nearly returned her lateral quickness to pre-injury levels, and handles the ball well in a variety of situations. Teams cannot forget she can score too. But the key to the Wildcats' success is her leadership, size, handles, and an ability to shut opponents down defensively. Having Estill back just makes her teammates that much more difficult to handle. A high caliber prospect with a choice of sports to play at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544021' first='Lainey' last='Peschka'], 5'6", SG, Ellsworth, 2026 - Peschka, a North Central Activities Association first team selection last season, is what my colleague Adrian Maloney calls "a match-up nightmare." She has a quick first step and is very difficult to guard. A hard working, terrific shooter, Peschka moves well into space and finishes well around the rim. Her athleticism and quickness are also evident defensively. Quick hands, quick feet, and good anticipation spells turnovers. The Bearcats lost many close games to quality opponents. That experience will server them well as the three seed and Peschka's shooting and leadership could this dark horse team to the state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='822639' first='Adaylee' last='Morel'], 5'6", PG, Nickerson, 2025 - The undersized Panthers have themselves a real gem who stepped into the point guard role. Her stability, handles, and confidence enabled [player_tooltip player_id='649347' first='Destiny' last='Ponds'] to move to forward position where she can use her hops, quickness and athleticism inside. She creates opportunities for her teammates with the ball and shoots it well too. Her ability to lead the team, shoot the ball, and get Ponds, post [player_tooltip player_id='817390' first='Kalyse' last='Abernathy'] and others involved makes her the key to the Panthers success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->