Photo courtesy of KG Photography
The 2016-17 Thumb Sportswriters Association All-Thumb Girls Basketball Team has a taste of everything, from guards to forwards/centers. There’s something for everyone on the first team. Members of the Thumb Sportswriters Association selected a Player of the Year from the talented pool of players and after deliberation, Brown City’s talented sophomore Kendal Muxlow took home the title of being the top female hoops player in the Thumb this season. The 5-8, sophomore guard led the entire Thumb in scoring with 20.4 points per game. and she was also a force to be reckoned with on the glass, grabbing 8.2 rebounds per game and averaging 3.9 steals and 2.8 assists. Muxlow had eight games of 20 or more points and had 31 against GTC-East champion Sandusky.
Team of the Year honors went to the undefeated Sandusky Redskins who finished the regular season 20-0. The Lady Redskins earned the honor for the first time since 2006. Their coach, Al DeMott, garnered Coach of the Year honors. DeMott is closing in on the 700-win plateau and seems a cinch to reach the lofty place in history early next season. He led his squad to the program’s 25th league championship and their 19th district title.
Joining Muxlow on the first team are Sandusky’s Haley Nelson, Croswell-Lexington’s Rebecca Oden, Bad Axe’s Breyton Meeks, Millington’s Hannah Hall and Harbor Beach’s Jenna Arndt. Nelson, a 5-10 junior forward was an important factor in Sandusky’s undefeated regular season, tossing in nearly 12 points a game and grabbing seven boards a game. Oden, a 5-8 senior post player, turned in an outstanding season for Cros-Lex.
She led the team in scoring (13.0) and rebounds (6.6), while averaging three steals per contest.
Meeks, a 5-11 senior center, was dominant in the post and is one of the most versatile players. She was the only player in the Greater Thumb Conference to average a double-double, with 16.6 points per game and 11.9 rebounds. Hall, a 5-11 junior forward was solid in the post for Millington, averaging almost 16 points and nine boards per game. Arndt, a senior forward, helped lead the Pirates to their first district championship since 2010, scoring 13 points and hauling in eight boards per game.
Making All-Thumb Second Team were: Cros-Lex’s Claire Knapp, Marlette’s Emily Schaub, Reese teammates Taylor Findlay and Madi Thompson and Sandusky teammates Jess Kursinsky and Madysen Jensen.
Earning honorable mention were: Bad Axe’s Hannah Young, Brown City’s Becki Krause, Cass City’s Sayge Cuthrell, Cros-Lex’s Calli Townsend, Deckerville’s Madisyn Guza, Harbor Beach teammates Mae Woodke and McKenna Wolschleger, Kingston teammates Lily Lyons and Camryn MacGuire, Millington’s Haley Trickey, North Huron’s Paige Woodke, Peck’s Samantha Bissett, Reese’s Carlee Selle, Sandusky’s Gabby Gough, Ubly’s Janelle White and USA’s Lauren Adam.
