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McKenna's game tonight

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kiddman32

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As I said up there, I was at the Mitty game. McKenna was dominant. 16 points, 9 boards doesn't even begin to tell the story, When she is on the floor, everything is just... easier. She made great decisions, passed the ball well when double-teamed or when a better opportunity was available for her teammate.

While it's true her teammates don't pass to her often enough when she's open in/near the basket, this is nearly always true with superstar bigs anyway.

Only one I can remember seeing that got the ball thrown to him often was Kevin Love of Lake Oswego HS in Oregon... That team really knew what side their toast was buttered on. Well, also, there was no shot clock in Oregon then, so his team always worked and worked and worked the ball to get it down to him because they had time.

These comments about her "standing around" on defense are missing the point. The real point is, other teams don't often try to run plays thru her very often, because they know what'll happen... and it ain't good. Therefore, she may look more idle than she really is.... on video. Being there in person, I can see how active she is... VERY active.

Same thing, btw, with Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian (blowout win for them last night gets the rematch for the 'ship). You try to dribble or pass in her area, and wayyyyy too often, the ball ends up not being your ball any more.

I canNOT wait for that game Saturday!

To the other main point made... Yes, she needs to get stronger, but very few come right into D1 college and have all the strength they need. McKenna will be just fine.
 
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Hawkangler

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Love that she faces the basket. Her jump shot actually is a jump shot, has great release at the pinnacle of her shot. She will work well in the high/low offense with Ava. McKenna is also a solid rebounder.

There is a reason she is the #6 player in her class.

Can't wait for her to become a Hawk.
 
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Torgeroni

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Hawkangler said:
Love that she faces the basket. Her jump shot actually is a jump shot, has great release at the pinnacle of her shot. She will work well in the high/low offense with Ava. McKenna is also a solid rebounder.

There is a reason she is the #6 player in her class.

Can't wait for her to become a Hawk.
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I am looking forward to the McDonalds All Star game on March 31st.
 
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kiddman32

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I've seen her act in All-Star games... She'll do whatever the team needs. Rebounds, putbacks, blocked shots, great passes, steals, running the floor, defensive presence. Even if she hardly ever gets a pass in the post, she doesn't pout about it and keeps moving, just affects the game in other ways.

MVP a strong possibility, even if she scores single digits.
 
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Conn53victor

Conn53victor

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The coach of Iowa’s top-10 women’s basketball program came to San Jose to watch her prized recruit compete in the CIF NorCal Open Division championship​

‘A sensational player’: Iowa coach Jan Jensen stops by to watch Mitty’s McKenna Woliczko at NorCal regional final

By Christian Babcock |
PUBLISHED: March 11, 2026 at 7:30 AM PDT

SAN JOSE — Jan Jensen was just another fan on Tuesday night at Archbishop Mitty’s Fien Gym. Sure, she’s also the coach of the No. 7 team in the country. But the leader of Iowa’s women’s basketball team was simply there to observe and celebrate McKenna Woliczko, her five-star signee and the crown jewel of the Hawkeyes’ 2026 recruiting class.

She flew in from Iowa City to see a player that many around the Iowa program have suggested could be the heir to Caitlin Clark’s throne as a transformational centerpiece for the Hawkeyes. And she did not shy away from those comparisons. “We haven’t won (a national championship),” Jensen told the Bay Area News Group. “Caitlin got the table set. A couple other All-Americans got us to the Elite Eights. So I think this is going to be a really nice piece. We get one or two other pieces around her. But I do think she can carry it. And I mean that in the greatest of ways. It’s not all on her shoulders, but I think that was part of it.”
Jensen originally planned to surprise Woliczko but decided against it with Mitty’s CIF NorCal Open Division championship on the line. She was instead greeted warmly by the Woliczko family and treated to a prime seat high atop the bleachers, where she saw the Monarchs blow out Clovis West 71-42.

As usual, Woliczko played a starring role with 16 points as Mitty made its fifth consecutive Open state championship game. And she was well aware of who was watching up in the stands. “Last night, she texted me. I was in the shower, and then I screamed,” Woliczko recalled. And then my mom was like, ‘What happened?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, Jan’s coming to my game.’ And then she was like, ‘Oh, I knew about that.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, OK, so it’s not as exciting as I thought.’ But to me, I was very excited.”

Woliczko and Jensen chatted extensively after the game, then hugged it out before Jensen departed. She even got a ride to the airport from the minivan filled with Woliczko’s family members who had come down for the game.

All in a day’s work for Jensen, who praised Mitty’s program and “godlike” coach Sue Phillips while expressing excitement to take in the proceedings at the Monarchs’ “storied” home gym. But she was there to see Woliczko, and it sounds like she can’t wait to get her on campus. “She is a sensational player,” Jensen said. “But more importantly, she and her family are just terrific, and they’ve committed to us. And I was supposed to come out here last year before she got hurt, and then that also took the AAU away. I wanted to show her our commitment. I don’t even think any of them cared or needed it. But I just wanted them to know she’s going to be an integral part of what we want to continue to do, and I want her to feel that love.”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/03...y-mckenna-woliczko-cif-norcal-regional-final/
 
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Kceasthawk@77

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Conn53victor said:

The coach of Iowa’s top-10 women’s basketball program came to San Jose to watch her prized recruit compete in the CIF NorCal Open Division championship​

‘A sensational player’: Iowa coach Jan Jensen stops by to watch Mitty’s McKenna Woliczko at NorCal regional final

By Christian Babcock |
PUBLISHED: March 11, 2026 at 7:30 AM PDT

SAN JOSE — Jan Jensen was just another fan on Tuesday night at Archbishop Mitty’s Fien Gym. Sure, she’s also the coach of the No. 7 team in the country. But the leader of Iowa’s women’s basketball team was simply there to observe and celebrate McKenna Woliczko, her five-star signee and the crown jewel of the Hawkeyes’ 2026 recruiting class.

She flew in from Iowa City to see a player that many around the Iowa program have suggested could be the heir to Caitlin Clark’s throne as a transformational centerpiece for the Hawkeyes. And she did not shy away from those comparisons. “We haven’t won (a national championship),” Jensen told the Bay Area News Group. “Caitlin got the table set. A couple other All-Americans got us to the Elite Eights. So I think this is going to be a really nice piece. We get one or two other pieces around her. But I do think she can carry it. And I mean that in the greatest of ways. It’s not all on her shoulders, but I think that was part of it.”
Jensen originally planned to surprise Woliczko but decided against it with Mitty’s CIF NorCal Open Division championship on the line. She was instead greeted warmly by the Woliczko family and treated to a prime seat high atop the bleachers, where she saw the Monarchs blow out Clovis West 71-42.

As usual, Woliczko played a starring role with 16 points as Mitty made its fifth consecutive Open state championship game. And she was well aware of who was watching up in the stands. “Last night, she texted me. I was in the shower, and then I screamed,” Woliczko recalled. And then my mom was like, ‘What happened?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, Jan’s coming to my game.’ And then she was like, ‘Oh, I knew about that.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, OK, so it’s not as exciting as I thought.’ But to me, I was very excited.”

Woliczko and Jensen chatted extensively after the game, then hugged it out before Jensen departed. She even got a ride to the airport from the minivan filled with Woliczko’s family members who had come down for the game.

All in a day’s work for Jensen, who praised Mitty’s program and “godlike” coach Sue Phillips while expressing excitement to take in the proceedings at the Monarchs’ “storied” home gym. But she was there to see Woliczko, and it sounds like she can’t wait to get her on campus. “She is a sensational player,” Jensen said. “But more importantly, she and her family are just terrific, and they’ve committed to us. And I was supposed to come out here last year before she got hurt, and then that also took the AAU away. I wanted to show her our commitment. I don’t even think any of them cared or needed it. But I just wanted them to know she’s going to be an integral part of what we want to continue to do, and I want her to feel that love.”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/03...y-mckenna-woliczko-cif-norcal-regional-final/
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Excellent job by Jan. We've all learned that the first key to success in the portal era, is to KEEP your key players. Keep your arms wrapped around Mckenna Jan, she's going to be special.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

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Today, 8 PM CT



 
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Conn53victor

Conn53victor

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Is there any chance of watch the whole No. 1 Ontario Christian vs. No. 2 Archbishop Mitty game? As entertaining as highlights are, a complete game shows so much more.

DISCLAIMER: I often don't know what I am talking about. I feel right at home on this forum.
 
Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
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2432Hawk

2432Hawk

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Conn53victor said:
Is there any chance of watch the whole No. 1 Ontario Christian vs. No. 2 Archbishop Mitty game? As entertaining as highlights are, a complete game shows so much more.

DISCLAIMER: I often don't know what I am talking about. I feel right at home on this forum.
Click to expand...
$13.99 for a monthly subscription

www.nfhsnetwork.com

2026 CIF Open Div. Girls Basketball State Championship Ontario Christian vs. Archbishop Mitty - 03/14/2026 | Live & On Demand

Watch the 2026 CIF Open Div. Girls Basketball State Championship Ontario Christian vs. Archbishop Mitty - 03/14/2026 live and on demand online on the NFHS Network
www.nfhsnetwork.com www.nfhsnetwork.com
 
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HawkFan10

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The Miitty coach isn't very impressive at all. To alll the guards to play all that hero ball and not run your office through Mckenna is just a really dumb decision.. If they run through McKenna all game they win that game yesterday. But to many of the Mitty guards were more worried about getting their "own" than they did about winning the game.
 
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Hawkangler

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HawkFan10 said:
The Miitty coach isn't very impressive at all. To alll the guards to play all that hero ball and not run your office through Mckenna is just a really dumb decision.. If they run through McKenna all game they win that game yesterday. But to many of the Mitty guards were more worried about getting their "own" than they did about winning the game.
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I've watched a fair bit of video on Mitty and it is always the same. McKenna will do very well on the Iowa team where sharing the ball is important. That's what I love about Chit Chat, Taylor and Addie. They share the rock.
 
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NORTHSTAR

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Oct 1, 2001
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HawkFan10 said:
The Miitty coach isn't very impressive at all. To alll the guards to play all that hero ball and not run your office through Mckenna is just a really dumb decision.. If they run through McKenna all game they win that game yesterday. But to many of the Mitty guards were more worried about getting their "own" than they did about winning the game.
Click to expand...

I noticed the guard play in the only game I watched weeks ago. After seeing the score and McKenna with 19 points I wondered how many shots she actually took. I'd be interested in the stats if anyone has them.
 
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Hawkangler

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HawkFan10 said:
The Miitty coach isn't very impressive at all. To alll the guards to play all that hero ball and not run your office through Mckenna is just a really dumb decision.. If they run through McKenna all game they win that game yesterday. But to many of the Mitty guards were more worried about getting their "own" than they did about winning the game.
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It is only going to get worse with the NIL $ out there. High School players will want to pad their stats, not to mention I read where some states are going to allow HS kids to get NIL.
 
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Zach Jump

Zach Jump

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HawkFan10 said:
The Miitty coach isn't very impressive at all. To alll the guards to play all that hero ball and not run your office through Mckenna is just a really dumb decision.. If they run through McKenna all game they win that game yesterday. But to many of the Mitty guards were more worried about getting their "own" than they did about winning the game.
Click to expand...

A two time national coach of the year is not impressive to you?

You must be part of the fire Jan club since Jan speaks so highly of her.
 
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TopHawkeye

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Zach Jump said:
A two time national coach of the year is not impressive to you?

You must be part of the fire Jan club since Jan speaks so highly of her.
Click to expand...
Do you think their Nat'l Coach of the Year made good use of MW's talents in that game? MW generally seemed to be the last resort in their offensive plays rather than the focus. MW was very impressive when she actually got the ball, but so often it was instead the guard show with no real effort or plays run to utilize their best player.
 
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Zach Jump

Zach Jump

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TopHawkeye said:
Do you think their Nat'l Coach of the Year made good use of MW's talents in that game? MW generally seemed to be the last resort in their offensive plays rather than the focus. MW was very impressive when she actually got the ball, but so often it was instead the guard show with no real effort or plays run to utilize their best player.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what is going on their huddle.

I tell you what, when you get elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame I will trust your coaching expertise over a coach that McKenna drives an hour each way to play for.

Sue Phillips – Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

wbhof.com wbhof.com
 
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TopHawkeye

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kiddman32

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Yup... Phillips gets bashed by local fans and forum posters here in NorCal all the time... She gets the hate because Mitty can't seem to win the big one (5 straight Open final losses since Covid). They always say things like she has the most talent and yet can't win. It's total crap, imho... The top Socal teams have even more quality talent and athleticism.... and also great coaching.

I was at the game... They had the same yesterday. Ontario Christian is LOADED. Two 5-stars vs. Mitty's one, and probably at least a couple who might be high 4-stars. More talent and depth otherwise also. This with just eight players, available, and one of the best freshmen in the country out of the game on concussion protocol. And they're young... I'll be amazed if they don't repeat next year.

To the Iowa point, since that's why we're here... McKenna is utterly FANTASTIC. GREAT team player who does what is needed by the team as well as she can. Bashing coach Phillips is silly, and worrying about any weaknesses you might see in McKenna's game isn't needed.

Now... If Jan can somehow nab Kaleena, watch out in a couple years!!
 
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HawkFan10

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Zach Jump said:
A two time national coach of the year is not impressive to you?

You must be part of the fire Jan club since Jan speaks so highly of her.
Click to expand...
Not impressive at all,, to allow lesser players to play hero ball instead of running your offense through your best player......just stupid I am guessing your impressed with all the hero ball she allows over actually trying to run a good offense through her best player?
 
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