After Tuesday evening, the high schools of Waterford and Fort Frye each can boast of an All-Ohio first-team girls' basketball honoree.
Brooke Drayer of Waterford made the Ohio Division IV squad, while Taylor Buchanan of Fort Frye was selected to the DIII team.
But that's not all, Lady Wildcats' Emily Brown and Chelsey Paxton were All-Ohio special mention and honorable mention, respectively, while Lady Cadet Deidra Combs was All-Ohio honorable mention.
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Times file photo
Waterford junior Brooke Drayer (22) goes up for a shot against Federal Hocking.
On top of that, Fort Frye girls' basketball coach Dan Liedtke was named as one of the DIII Coaches of the Year.
Yes, indeed, it was a good night for the girls' basketball communites of Waterford and Beverly (where Fort Frye is located).
Also named to the All-Ohio teams were Belpre's Allison Flowers (DIII special mention), Shenandoah's Sami Schott (DIII honorable mention, and Monroe Central's Chelsie Tewanger (DIII honorable mention).
Fact Box
Associated Press
Girls Division IV All-Ohio team
Eds: Removes second reference to Jenna Burdette in special mention section.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The 2011-12 Associated Press Division IV All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION IV
FIRST TEAM: Tori Thompson, Cols. Tree of Life, 6-1, sr., 16.2; Karli Bonar, Shadyside, 5-7, jr., 17.2; Molly Nash, Zanesville Rosecrans, 5-10, soph., 15.9; Kayla Linkous, New Madison Tri-Village, 5-11, sr., 26.1; Amelia Recker, Arlington, 5-9, sr., 20.4; Hali Butler, Fairport Harbor, 5-9, sr., 20.8; Jenna Burdette, Reedsville Eastern, 5-9, soph., 15.0; Brooke Drayer, Waterford, 5-9, jr., 14.5; Emily Carlson, Lowellville, 5-7, sr., 14.7.
Players of the year: Kayla Linkous, New Madison Tri-Village; Amelia Recker, Arlington.
Coaches of the year: Rod Yoder, Plain City Shekinah Christian; Brad Gray, New Madison Tri-Village; Bill Tomsich, Mansfield St. Peter's.
SECOND TEAM: Kirsten Deweese, Lancaster Fairfield Christian Acad., 5-8, sr., 18.5; McKenzie Miller, Berlin Hiland, 5-10, sr., 13.0; Abby Siefker, Ottoville, 6-2, jr., 14.7; Randa Payne, Mansfield St. Peter's, 5-9, jr., 22.5; Macie Malone, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, 5-5, sr., 13.5; Tessa Haneline, Akron Elms, 5-4, sr., 14.2; Kelsey Funderburgh, North Lewisburg Triad, 5-7, sr., 28.7.
THIRD TEAM: Sarah Crowder, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep, 5-11, jr., 20.8; Taylor Tackett, Greenwich South Central, 5-9, sr., 23.5; Miranda Palmer, Arcadia, 5-6, jr., 18.1; Caitlin Kish, Kirtland, 5-7, sr., 15.2; Sarah Bonar, Kinsman Badger, 5-11, sr., 23.0.
Special Mention
Lauren Blair, Newark Cath.; Audrey Rettstatt, Worthington Christian; Julie Bilyeu, Beallsville; Jessica Hunkler, Barnesville; Anya Misko, Sugarcreek Garaway; Jenna Erwin, South Charleston Southeastern; Ricci Snell, Cin. Country Day; Tori Purk, Mechanicsburg; Emily Brown, Waterford; Allison Flowers, Belpre; Jen Arnzen, Portsmouth Notre Dame; Chandra Canaday, Crown City South Gallia; Hannah Miller, Ironton St. Joseph; Kennedy Boggs, Delphos Jefferson; Brooke Ruffer, Stryker; Monet Saunders, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; DaVonna Bradford, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Ashley Harrison, Columbiana Crestview; Mikyla Tipton, Wellsville; Sarah Cash, Warren Lordstown; Allyson Jones, Bristolville Bristol; Jessica Isler, Windham; Colleen Kennehan, Berlin Center Western Reserve.
Honorable Mention
Jill Blacksten, Newark Cath.; Haley Kirby, Delaware Christian; Brenna McCullough, Delaware Christian; Dana Parkman, Gahanna Christian; Annelise Rohrer, Plain City Shekinah Christian;
Hayley Holenka, Shadyside; Olivia Bower, Bowerston Conotton Valley; Nicole Smolenak, Bridgeport; Cassidy McCullough, Hannibal River; Kloie Johnson,. Zanesville Rosecrans; Nicki Cregan, Strasburg-Franklin;
Shelby Carpenter, Day. Miami Valley School; Emily Sheridan, Cedarville; Lauren Weems, Cin. Seven Hills; Brooke Richard, Jackson Center; Destinee Maynard, Cin. Lockland;
Chelsey Paxton, Waterford; Shannon Curley, Portsmouth Clay; Kiersten McGraw, New Boston Glenwood; Jordan Parker, Reedsville Eastern; Ellie Bostic, Crown City South Gallia; Brittany Reader, Latham Western; Rhyanna Day, Beaver Eastern; Brittany Mounts, Beaver Eastern; Hannah Rideout, Manchester;
Kaylee Patton, Waynesfield-Goshen; Margaret Wuebker, Maria Stein Marion Local; Chelsea Makeever, Crestline; Morgan Keeterle, Holgate; Brooke Scherger, New Riegel; Nancy Rumpf, Tol. Ottawa Hills; Lindsay Kaatz, Sandusky St. Mary;
Alexa Hart, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Kayla Weber, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian; Molly Walsh, Newbury; Sydney Clark, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Jenny Velota, Newbury;
Jessica Frew, Akron Elms; Taylor Stanley, McDonald; Lauren Lee, Warren JFK; Brooke Dawson, Cortland Maplewood; Caitlyn Isler, Windham; Stacy Coblentz, Kidron Central Christian; Taylor Hvisdak, Lowellville; Ashley Moore, Lowellville; Dari Heller, Windham.
Associated Press
Girls Division III All-Ohio team
COLUMBUS - The 2011-12 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION III
FIRST TEAM: Kiyanna Black, Cols. Africentric, 5-7, sr., 15.9; Taylor Buchanan, Beverly Ft. Frye, 5-11, jr. 15.4; Natalie Billing, Anna, 5-11, jr., 16.8; Lauren Langenderfer, Metamora Evergreen, 5-8, sr., 24.3; Caitie Craft, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 5-8, sr., 21.4; Alexis Guy, Shaker Hts. Laurel, 5-8, sr., 18.0; Terra Stapleton, Proctorville Fairland, 6-4, soph., 21.9; Hannah Plybon, Orrville, 5-9, jr., 19.9.
Players of the year: Caitie Craft, Findlay Liberty-Benton; Lauren Langenderfer, Metamora Evergreen; Kiyanna Black, Cols. Africentric; Natalie Billing, Anna.
Coaches of the year: Mike Miller, Smithville; Dan Liedtke, Beverly Ft. Frye; Jon Rossi, Middletown Madison.
SECOND TEAM: Ashley Ohler, Mt. Gilead, 5-4, sr., 22.1; Jessica Kinney, Martins Ferry, 5-8, jr., 24.5; Ashton Lovely, Jamestown Greeneview, 5-9, soph., 13.1; Cassidy Wyse, Archbold, 5-10, soph., 13.1; Abby Deckard, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad., 6-0, sr., 15.1; Amanda Ruffner, Chesapeake, 5-11, sr., 23.4; Tara Schaffter, Smithville, 6-1, sr., 176.3.
THIRD TEAM: Taylor Moore, Baltimore Liberty-Union, 5-10, sr., 16.0; Bre Nauman, Richwood N. Union, 6-0, jr., 13.0; Kayla Tedrick, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 5-6, sr., 17.9; Cierra Brady, Bucyrus Wynford, 5-5, sr., 18.5; Deanna Lewis, Cuyahoga Hts., 5-10, sr., 16.9; Jess Janota, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad., 6-3, soph., 16.7; Tori Leader, Portsmouth West, 5-9, jr., 23.0; Jamie Willis, Atwater Waterloo, 5-3, jr., 21.8; Mackenzie Kiser, Warren Champion, 6-0, jr., 17.3.
Special Mention
Jordy Ute, Marion Elgin; Allie Hinton, Newcomerstown; Madison Richards, Cadiz Harrison Central; Cori Medley, Belmont Union Local; Brittany Shields, Middletown Madison; Alexis Murphy, Carlisle; Makala Rosselot, Fayetteville-Perry; Whitney Bear, Lucasville Valley; Jenny Grigsby, Frankfort Adena; Alex Southworth, Piketon; Emily Fite, Seaman North Adams; Breanna Butler, Oak Hill; Taylor Hale, Oak Hill; Theresa Jackson, Collins Western Reserve; Melissa Caraballo, Brooklyn; Jenna Stegmaier, Cuyahoga Hts.; Brooke Barreca, Newton Falls; Megan McKean, West Salem Northwestern; Courtney Powell, Youngs. Ursuline; Alexis Naples, Canfield South Range; Hannah Lindesmith, Canton Central Cath.; Kylie Frizell, Smithville.
Honorable Mention
Natalie Carpenter, Johnstown-Monroe; Kadi Conteh, Cols. Horizon Science; Taylor Dickson, Baltimore Liberty Union; Marley Hill, Cols. Africentric; Emily Williams, Fredericktown;
Katlynn Dunlap, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley; Sami Schott, Sarahsville Shenandoah; Amy Graham, Zanesville West Muskingum; Deidra Combs, Beverly Fort Frye; Kelsey Miller, West Lafayette Ridgewood; Chelsie Tewanger, Woodsfield Monroe Central;
Casey Carter, Georgetown; Kara Gerbus, Hamilton Badin; Trina Current, Casstown Miami East; Josey Harding, Middletown Madison; Morgan Prescott, Cin. Hills Christian Acad.;
Ashley Adkins, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant; Kelsey Riley, Proctorville Fairland; Erica Schmidt, Wheelersburg; Peighton Williams, Portsmouth; Kelsey Dunkle, Chillicothe Zane Trace; Sidney Pell, Peebles; Allison Prine, Sardinia Eastern Brown; Taylor German, Crooksville; Jordan Davis, Wellston; Brooke Hertlein, Lynchburg-Clay; Lakin Caudill, Oak Hill;
Ciara Reed, Milan Edison; Hannah Cox, Millbury Lake; Alexa Salsbury, Delta; Sara Feasby, Haviland Wayne Trace; Allie Hawkins, Bucyrus;
Kelsea Brown, Andover Pymatuning Valley; Kayla Byler, Burton Berkshire; Carenda Czirr, Brooklyn; Katie Kaifez, Shaker Hts. Laurel; Brittney McNamara, Elyria Cath.;
Ashleigh Pickens, Rootstown; Taylor Smith, Hanoverton United; Ashlee Stubbs, Leavittsburg LaBrae; Lindsay Swipas, Warren Champion; Rachel Ellis, Newton Falls; Audrey Metzger, Dalton; Alexis Van Horn, Loudonville; Brooke Schrieber, New Middletown Springfield; Aurielle Irizzary, Youngs.Ursuline.
"My kids worked really hard, and are deserving of all-state honors," said Waterford head coach Jerry Close of Drayer, Brown, and Paxton. "It's really nice for them to be recognized for their efforts."
Even nicer for Close, Drayer and Paxton will be returning next season. Brown, though, is scheduled to graduate this spring.
Drayer, a 5-foot-9 junior, averaged almost 15 points per game as a point guard this winter. An all-around basketball player, she also averaged nearly four assists and five rebounds a contest.
From behind the arc, Drayer drained over 30 triples.
Oh, yes, Drayer was also DIV District 13 Player of the Year.
"Brooke was my second leading scorer this season," Close said. "She plays basketball year-round, and that's what it takes to be good."
Drayer's older sister (Jessi) is currently playing at the collegiate level at Waynesburg, and her mom (Jandy) is a former all-state volleyball player from Fort Frye.
Waterford's leading scorer was Brown, a 5-9 swing player and 1,000-plus point career scorer. She averaged nearly 19 points per game, hitting the 30-plus mark in a couple of games during the season.
"Emily can play inside or outside," Close said. "A lot of times, she was forced to play out of position."
Paxton was Waterford's unsung hero underneath, often guarding an opponent's big player. She was also a threat to score.
"Chelsey really stepped up for us this season," Close said, "and did a nice job for us defensively."
As a team, the Waterford girls posted their sixth consecutive 20-win campaign with a 20-4 mark.
Another 20-plus win girls' team in the area, just across the Muskingum River in Beverly, was Fort Frye with a 22-3 mark.
Guiding the Lady Cadets, of course, was Liedtke, who was unavailable for comment for this story.
This winter, the Pioneer Valley Conference champion Fort Frye girls cagers advanced to the regional semi at the Ohio University Convocation Center, where they bowed out to Columbus Africentric.
Pacing the Fort was the 5-11 Buchanan, who averaged a team-leading 15 points per game. She was also the DIII East District Player of the Year.
Like Buchanan, the 5-11 Combs is also a junior. She averaged 11 points per game.
