Emma Townsley Emma Townsley 5'7" | PG Benton | 2024 State IA has been an exciting prospect to watch grow over these past 3-4 years. She has always been a player that made things happen for her teams but this previous high school season told me a lot about her game. With her Benton program lossing their big-time producer from the past 3 years, it was time for someone else to step up each game this Winter and that was Townsley. She did a great job of leading her offense with the ball in her hands on every possession. Defensively, she works hard in both the full and half court, always trying to cause a tip of deflection for her squad. After she graduates, Townsley will be talking her talents to Wartburg to join up with that program for her foreseeable future on the hardwood. I’m not sure where she is going to fit into their system but I’m sure she is going to fine her niche and kill it.

Leader on the floor. Good ability to handle, especially under pressure. Is a combo guard in my perspective with how versatile she can be. Fundamental jump shot with good decision making as to when to attack the hoop and score VS pass to a teammate. Team player in more ways than one.

Emma Townsley Emma Townsley 5'7" | PG Benton | 2024 State IA was the other guard that the Benton Wildcats needed this season for them to be able to put together the season they did, making it to the state championship. Townsley, a quick stepping guard, did a little bit of everything for her Benton Wildcats during the state tournament and more-so throughout the entireity of the year. She was mainly put in charge of bringing up the ball or playing the 2 position at the state tournament but in reality could move to the three to help spread the floor if need be. With that being said, it is worth mentioning that she is no liability on the offensive end. She can shoot, score, and get to her spots just as well as the next guard, if not better. Coming up this fall Townsley will be the unquestionable leader of her Benton team, with the goal of making it back to the state tournament for one more big run before her high school career comes to an end and she takes her talents to college.

Benton Community and Vinton-Shellsburg were tied 24-24 at halftime of their semi-final game but Jenna Twedt Jenna Twedt 5'8" | SG Benton | 2023 State IA and Emma Townsley Emma Townsley 5'7" | PG Benton | 2024 State IA took over in the second half, leading them to a narrow victory and onto the state championship. Townsley, a quick point guard, controlled the pace of the entire game in the second half as she led her team to victory. This team gets a lot of credit for winning because of Jenna Twedt Jenna Twedt 5'8" | SG Benton | 2023 State IA and rightfully so but Townsley has clearly showed this week that she makes this team go just as much as Twedt, if not more in crunch time. She has done a great job showing off to everyone what she can do and the type of leader she is. Looking forward she is going to have a chance to bring home the ship in a day or two with her Bobcats team as the starting point guard, a job she is not going to take lightly. I can’t wait to see how she plays in the biggest spotlight the girls high-school season has to offer here in Iowa.

Townsley impressed me with her ability to run the show and keep Benton in the game while Twedt was sitting in foul trouble during the first half. She handles the ball well and accelerates by defenders regularly. She’s shows excellent court vision and is a tenacious on-ball defender.