By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
For three area athletes they proved they were some of the best in their conference.
The end of the girls basketball season brought out awards for All-Conference players. The South Iowa Cedar League announced their All-Conference teams with three area athletes making the first two teams.
Two Sigourney players, senior Josephine Moore and freshman Brynn Clarahan were both named to the first team list.
English Valleys sophomore Ava Gehrking was named to the second-team list.
Sigourney was able to advance to the regional finals this year before they ultimately fell to Springville. Two of the players that helped Sigourney advance to that game were Moore and Clarahan.
Moore was named to the All-Conference list as an unanimous selection. She was one of six players that earned a unanimous selection to the first-team list.
Moore led her team with 451 total points throughout the year. She also grabbed a total of 278 rebounds, which also was a team-leading stat for her. She had 48 steals, which was the most on her team. She had 11 blocks which tied her for the most on the team. Additionally Moore added 23 assists and 48 steals.
Moore’s ability to rebound the basketball on either end of the floor was one thing that made her stand out throughout the season.
The senior finished with 154 total defensive rebounds. She was also fierce on the offensive glass with 124 rebounds which she helped turn into second chance points.
Moore led the conference in most points scored. She finished with nearly 100 more rebounds than any other player in the conference. She also sank 159 total free throw shots, which was another conference-leading stat.
Just 26 points behind Moore in total points scored this season was freshman Brynn Clarahan. Clarahan had a breakout freshman campaign, which led her being named to the first-team list.
Clarahan scored 425 total points this season. She was second on her team, and in conference scoring with that mark.
In her freshman season Clarahan showed how skilled she was. Not only was she able to score the ball she was also able to generate offense with her defensive efforts. The freshman had 153 steals this season. That led her team, and the conference in that number.
Clarahan proved that she could shoot from just about anywhere. She made 165 total field goals this season which led her conference in that number. Overall Clarahan shot 40 percent from the floor this season.
The freshman added 154 total rebounds with 71 on offense, 83 on defense. She had 109 assists. She led her team in assists and was second in the conference for assists this season. She also had five blocks on the year.
English Valleys sophomore Ava Gehrking was named to the second team All-Conference list. She led her team in scoring with 259 total points throughout the year.
Gehrking was a bit of a do-everything player for the Bears this season. She brought in 165 total rebounds, which led her team. She had 64 offensive rebounds and 101 rebounds on the defensive side of the floor.
Gehrking added 60 blocks, which led her team and the conference. She also had 63 steals, and 19 total turnovers. With 101 total defensive rebounds Gehrking ranked in the top-5 for most defensive rebounds in the conference.
The SICL also named several players to the honorable mention list.
Keota freshman Cameron Haifley made the honorable mention list. She finished her year with 260 total points scored. That led her team.
Haifley also had58 total rebounds, 20 assists, 53 steals and nine blocks on the season.
Teammate Emily Conger was another Keota player that was named to the honorable mention list. She finished the season with 233 total points. Along the way she had 84 rebounds, 29 assists, 43 steals and one block.
Sigourney had two players named to the honorable mention list as well.
Senior Ava Fisch scored 144 total points this season. She had 61 rebounds with 53 assists, 36 steals and five blocks. Fisch was best known for ability to shoot the three. She finished with 46 three pointers made this year, just one behind Clarahan.
Another Sigourney senior named to the honorable mention list is McKinley Chittick. Chittick scored 157 total points this year. She had 93 rebounds, 36 steals, 32 assists and six blocks.
Two English Valleys players were named to the All-Conference list.
Aubrey Achenbach is a sophomore. She scored 173 total points for the Bears this season. Overall she brought in 54 rebounds, 43 steals, 30 assists and a block.
Addison Achenbach was also named to the honorable mention list. The Bears sophomore had 161 points, 58 rebounds, 35 steals, 31 assists and a block this year.
