By Bobby Narang
The 35th Annual Coach Kipp Hoopsfest had several outstanding performances in the two-day shootout that concluded Monday night.
The annual event is always filled with elite teams and players from throughout the state, including several teams from Indiana in past years.
Waubonsie Valley High School’s Danyella Mporokoso had a game to remember in of the best individual performances in the storied history of the shootout. The junior guard exploded for 40 points in a 69-47 victory over Hersey, Monday night.
The high-scoring Mporokoso lit up the scoreboard for 27 points in the first half, finishing the game with six three-pointers and a game-best 11 rebounds and four assists. She scored 14 points in the first quarter to help the Warriors jump out to a 19-8 lead, building the advantage to 38-21 by halftime.
“She was playing really on instinct,” Waubonsie Valley coach Brett Love said. “Coming down, pulling up, out of rhythm, things like that, making good decisions. I’m really proud of her being aggressive. Last year, we didn’t have time to prepare against Fremd, but we prepared for this one and she came out and did a great job.”
The Warriors (19-1) are on track toward another run to the Class 4A state tournament after finishing in fourth place last season. Also, in the Kipp Hoopsfest, Nazareth Academy shot 61% from the floor and knocked off Montini, 67-33, Monday. Allia von Schlegell canned seven threes for a game-best 24 points and Stella Sakalas had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Roadrunners (19-2). Montini (14-8) was led by Missouri recruit Nikki Kerstein’s 12 points.
In another big game at the MLK Showdown in Batavia, Batavia senior Kaidyn King sparked her team to a 52-50 win over Naperville North. King scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bulldogs (16-6) to a big win.