Just as in years past, today’s Republican Eagle print edition just lists the names of the athletes chosen for the all-area girls basketball honorable mention team. What follows is a little bit more information about each of the 12 girls.
Marah Boyer, sophomore guard, Plum City
She averaged 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Boyer also made 25 3-point baskets during a season in which she was named all-conference honorable mention.
“Very versatile ballplayer,” Blue Devils coach Jason Glampe said. “One of the top perimeter shooters and defenders in the Dunn-St. Croix (Conference).”
Ashley Brooks, senior guard, Red Wing
Wingers coach Kraig Ulveling called her the most improved player on the team.
“Terrific aggressiveness and toughness,” Ulveling said. “Really improved her offensive skills as the year progressed.”
Brooks averaged 7.9 points per game and made 47.4 percent of her field-goal attempts.
Kayla Christopherson, senior forward, Ellsworth
She was Ellsworth’s second leading scorer (220 points) and rebounder (115 rebounds). Christopherson guarded the opposing team’s top perimeter player each game and led the Panthers in steals. She started for three years and was named all-conference honorable mention this season.
“Kayla is a high-energy player that makes things happen on the court,” Panthers coach Dave Berg said.
Caitlin Coombs, senior center, Pepin-Alma
“Caitlin is a hard-working player who is constantly on the move,” Eagles coach Larry Grisen said. “As the point of our press, it was her job to make the offense uncomfortable against the trap.”
Coombs, who plans to play at Wisconsin-Stout next year, grabbed 137 rebounds this season. She led P-A in both total rebounds and offensive rebounds (85).
Makenzie Franklin, sophomore center, Cannon Falls
In just her third year playing organized basketball, Franklin led the Bombers in scoring (9.1 points per game) and field-goal percentage (44 percent). She also tied for the team lead in blocked shots (52) and ranked third in rebounding (5.6 boards per game).
“She improved her defense substantially during the season,” Cannon Falls coach Chuck Benda said. He added: “She has a lot to learn yet, but she’s a terrific athlete with great quickness and leaping ability and (she) has a great upside.”
Franklin was named to the All-Hiawatha Valley League team.
Macy Kelly, sophomore forward, Red Wing
Kelly was Red Wing’s third-leading scorer, averaging 10.6 points per game. She knocked down 47.9 percent of her shots.
“(She) really improved her offensive skills this year, especially her shooting and ball-handling skills,” Wingers coach Kraig Ulveling said. “(Her) future looks bright. (She) will be one of the area’s top players the next two years.”
Taylor Koller, sophomore center, Lake City
Koller was named all-conference in her first season on the varsity after averaging 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
“Taylor was a nice surprise and addition to the team this year,” Tigers coach Stewart Talbert said. “She proved to be a hard worker and a young player with a strong desire to get better. She is willing to work on her game in the offseason and should make significant strides towards an improved game for next year.”
Mikayla Miller, freshman guard, Goodhue
Miller was the second-leading scorer on an experienced Wildcats team that made its third straight trip to the Class A state tournament. She averaged 9.8 points per game and tied Chanel Robert for the team lead with 12 points in the state tournament quarterfinal loss to Hancock.
Miller also led Goodhue in rebounds (seven) and steals (four) against Hancock. She averaged 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game this season.
Taylor Murphy, senior guard, Ellsworth
Murphy was the Panthers’ third-leading scorer (214 points) and their second-leading 3-point shooter (22 treys).
“Taylor made a number of big baskets for us in close games over the course of the season,” Ellsworth coach Dave Berg said.
Like teammate Kayla Christopherson, Taylor was a three-year starter who was named to the 2010-11 All-Middle Border Conference honorable mention team.
Sophia Reidt, junior guard, Pepin-Alma
Reidt was P-A’s second-leading scorer during the regular season, averaging 12.1 points per contest.
“While Sophia can take the ball to the basket, she also can spot up and knock down the open trey,†Eagles coach Larry Grisen said.
In fact, Reidt had a better shooting percentage behind the 3-point arc (32.3 percent) than inside it (24.8).
The all-conference honoree also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game during the regular season.
Jamie St. Marie, senior guard, Zumbrota-Mazeppa
St. Marie averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game. She was named the team’s Co-Most Valuable Player with Amber Jentsch.
“She did a nice job of running the team when we needed her to fill that role,†Z-M coach Scott Paukert said.
St. Marie also made 34 3-pointers this season, pushing her career total to 61 3-pointers. She now ranks fourth in program history in career 3-point baskets.
Heather Von Holtum, sophomore forward, Plum City
Von Holtum averaged 7.8 rebounds per game. That was good for second place in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference. She also contributed 8.2 points and 1.2 steals per game en route to being named all-conference honorable mention.
Blue Devils coach Jason Glampe called her a “quick and athletic post player.â€
