Shay Straughn

Senior, John Marshall

“She is the best player I have ever coached.” That sums up what John Marshall coach Brock Melko thinks of this year’s Big School captain Shay Straughn. The senior amassed 1,455 career points at JM in three seasons after transferring from Bishop Donahue. Straughn wrapped up an outstanding high school career with 24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 2.5 assists a game in her final campaign. The Monarchs’ top scorer drained 67 3-pointers with a 73 percent mark from the free-throw line and was 42 percent from the field to secure first team all-state honors. Straughn’s 22 points in the regional final against University came while playing on a severely sprained ankle. It’s that talent and determination that finds her on the All-Valley team for the third consecutive season.

Makayla Abram

Steubenville

It was a season to remember for Makayla Abram and she is looking to put together two more just like it. Abram was a breakout star for Jeff Lombardo’s Big Red squad. Her tenacity and hard-nosed play made a fan favorite with the Steubenville faithful. In her sophomore campaign, Abram earned third team all-state and first team All-OVAC as she garnered 16.4 points a game, while averaging eight rebounds and two steals.

Hope Bowman

Brooke

Hope Bowman made double-doubles a nightly routine at Brooke this season. The senior center averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks this year for the Bruins and finished her outstanding career with 1,102 points. This is Bowman’s third consecutive appearance on the All-Valley team. She kicked off her senior campaign in thrilling fashion with 24 points and 20 rebounds in a 45-32 victory over Oak Glen.

Emily Holzopfel

Buckeye Local

Buckeye Local coach Tom Figurski watched history unfold before his eyes this year. Senior Emily Holzopfel became the eighth girl in OVAC history to reach 2,000 career points.

She also nearly averaged a double-double with 26.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. Holzopfel added 3.4 steals and 2.6 assists a game.

“Emily is a leader both on and off the court,” Figurski said. “She is always leading through example for the younger players. I cannot wait to see her play at the next level.”

Kylie Kiger

Indian Creek

The future is bright at Indian Creek. With a trio of talented sophomores ready to roll, 5-foot-9 guard Kylie Kiger leads the group.

Her 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.1 assists a game helped her collect first team All-District 5, first team All-OVAC and second team All-Eastern District honors this season. She also accounted for 65 deflections.

“Kylie does a little bit of everything for us,” Indian Creek coach Steven Eft said. “She really stepped up and emerged as one of our leaders by the end of the season. She works really hard on her game and puts a lot of time in.

“The future is bright for Kylie and we are counting on her to be one of our leaders going forward.”

Jenna Riccardo

Beaver Local

Double-double machine Jenna Riccardo could not be contained this year. The junior out of Beaver Local recorded 19 double-doubles, averaging 23 points and 14 boards a game to earn third team All-Ohio accolades. She also reached the 1,000-point plateau and became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,261 points. She was named MVP in leading the Beavers to a OVAC Class 4A title.

Sydney Starr

Harrison Central

Sydney Starr was exactly that this season. A star. The 5-foot-10 forward averaged a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds a game. Her 10 double-doubles were highlighted by a 21-rebound performance in one game. The senior recorded 13 double digit rebound games and added two steals a contest for the Huskies.

Shanley Woods

Wheeling Park

Shanley Woods made a comfortable living behind the 3-point line this year. The junior shot 46 percent from beyond the arc and drained 88 3-pointers in helping Wheeling Park reach the state tournament for a third straight season. Also fearless driving to the basket, Woods averaged 17.8 points a game and knocked down 90 percent of her free throws on her way to being named second team all-state and first team All-OVAC.

Small School

Lauren Flannery

Senior, River

Lauren Flannery has made her home on the All-Valley first team. It’s her third straight appearance on the squad after a stellar senior campaign. The River point guard earned first team All-Ohio honors and collected District 12 Player of the Year accolades with her outstanding play. She can now add All-Valley Captain to that list. She garnered 23 points, 4.5 assists, four rebounds and four steals a game in leading the Pilots to their second consecutive OVAC 2A title. Flannery finished her prep career with 1,724 points and was a candidate for Ohio’s Ms. Basketball Award. She was also selected to the Ohio North/South All-Star Game, the District All-Star Game, the BACF All-Star Game and the OVAC All-Star Game, where she led the Ohio squad with 14 points.

Katrina Davis, Bellaire

In her junior season, Katrina Davis supplied team-highs of 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds a game on her way to an All-Valley selection. She also dished out 4.8 assists and collected 3.8 steals a game this year to lead the Big Reds to an OVAC 3A championship. Davis also garnered third team All-Ohio honors and first team All-Eastern District accolades.

“Katrina is a constant competitor,” Bellaire coach John Farrier said. “She competes in every drill, every practice and every game.”

Eden Gainer

Wheeling Central

Another successful season and another trip to the state tournament has landed Eden Gainer back on the All-Valley squad for a third straight season. The Wheeling Central junior eclipsed 1,000 points this year, while averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals a game. Her achievements also earned her first team all-state honors and All-OVAC for Coach Penn Kurtz’s Maroon Knights.

Kaylin Nixon, St. John

What couldn’t Kaylin Nixon do on the basketball court? She averaged a double-double this year with 20.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game, giving her 1,184 career points and 614 career boards, which rank sixth and fourth, respectively in school history. This is Nixon’s second straight appearance on the All-Valley squad. Her 2.4 blocks a game adds up to 77 over the last four years and ranks fourth in school history. Nixon bucketed a career-high 43 points against Shenandoah, drained 25 3-pointers and shot 72 percent from the free-throw line in her final campaign. Nixon was a two-time All-Ohioan, two-time All-OVAC first teamer and was named first team all-district twice.

Kyndra Pilant, Magnolia

To score 1,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds in a career is an amazing accomplishment. Kyndra Pilant did it in her first three years. A two-year captain, the junior from Magnolia accomplished the feat, while averaging 17.5 points, 17.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.2 blocks and 2.1 steals per game. Her 19 double-doubles helped lead the Blue Eagles to their second straight state tournament. She was named second team all-state and first team All-OVAC.

Kaylee Reinbeau

Wheeling Central

Kaylee Reinbeau owned the paint this year. On her way to second team all-state and first team All-OVAC honors, the Central junior averaged a double-double with 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. She also garnered 2.8 assists and 3.4 steals in helping to lift the Maroon Knights to a state tournament run. It’s the second straight year Reinbeau has been selected first team All-Valley and All-OVAC.

Baylee Wach, Shadyside

A trip to the state tournament made this season one to remember for the Shadyside Tigers. Sophomore guard Baylee Wach certainly left her mark throughout the memorable journey. Wach turned in 18 points, three steals and two assists a game for Coach Serge Gentile’s squad. Wach drained 75 3-pointers this season, including five in the state semifinals — a state tournament record in Division IV. She also earned third team All-Ohio, first team All-District 12 and first team All-Eastern District in Division IV.

Mady Winters

Magnolia

It’s hard to believe the remarkable career of Mady Winters is only halfway through. In only her sophomore campaign, Winters has already reached the 1,000 point plateau. In her second consecutive state tournament appearance, Winters set a school record with 45 points in a single game, breaking the mark previously held by former Blue Eagles standout Mallory Chapman. That landed her on the all-tournament team. She averaged 23.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game this year, earning her second team all-state accolades, as well as first team All-OVAC.

Big School

First Team

Makayla Abram, Steubenville

Hope Bowman, Brooke

Emily Holzopfel, Buckeye Local

Kylie Kiger, Indian Creek

Jenna Riccardo, Beaver Local

Sydney Starr, Harrison Central

Shay Straughn, John Marshall (captain)

Shanley Woods, Wheeling Park

Second Team

Bella Abbernathy, Wheeling Park

Abby Blake, John Marshall

Madison Cline, Beaver Local

Alaire Destifanes, Buckeye Local

Maggie Kovalcik, Oak Glen

Mackenzie Orban, Indian Creek

Emily Pavlic, Wheeling Park

Katie Strama, St. Clairsville

Third Team

Alexa Andrews, Oak Glen

Madison Ging, Martins Ferry

Kieran Johnson, Wheeling Park

Casey Kildow, Union Local

Lexee McAfee, Harrison Central

Sophia Mikula, Weir

Rileigh Simpson, St. Clairsville

Richella Spielvogel, Martins Ferry

Honorable Mention

Brooke: Chloe Fox, Chrissy Byers

Buckeye Local: Morgan Donley

Edison: Lauren Ferralli

Harrison Central: Marina Miller, Jara Madzia

Indian Creek: Taylor Scott, Kacie Vandeborne

John Marshall: Kaitlyn Groves, Anna Blake

Martins Ferry: Sidne Sidon, Jaden Stalder

Oak Glen: Reece Enochs, Kaylee Travis

St. Clairsville: Keri Klinkoski

Steubenville: Madison Fields

Union Local: Hannah Porter, Allison Loase

Weir: Isabella Aperfine, Gia Fuscardo

Wheeling Park: Abby Snedecker

Small School

First Team

Katrina Davis, Bellaire

Lauren Flannery, River (captain)

Eden Gainer, Wheeling Central

Kaylin Nixon, St. John

Kyndra Pilant, Magnolia

Kaylee Reinbeau, Wheeling Central

Baylee Wach, Shadyside

Mady Winters, Magnolia

Second Team

Andrea Alimario, Madonna

Maci Crozier, Bellaire

Tory Hendershot, Shadyside

Josey Jones, Tyler Consolidated

Ashlie Louden, Beallsville

Hannah Loy, Paden City

Natalie Stoner, Bellaire

Julia Zatta, Steubenville Catholic

Third Team

Charlie Allison, Linsly

Rachel Boniti, Madonna

Sydnie Destifanes, Shadyside

Christine Dombrowski, Steubenville Catholic

Kalista Friday, Monroe Central

Ashley Howell, Beallsville

Jordyn Hughes, Cameron

Carsyn Reynolds, River

Honorable Mention

Barnesville: Annie Carpenter, Paige Morgan

Beallsville: Olivia Muncy

Bellaire: Michaela Flaherty

Bridgeport: Angela Sommer, Jaren Tucker

Cameron: Lili Neely, Madge Lucey

Hundred: Katherine Henderson

Linsly: Josie Purpura, Carleigh Grimm

Madonna: Kennedy Martin

Magnolia: Aquera Cabral

Monroe Central: Amy Bettinger, Sydney Yoho

Paden City: Abbe Stackpole

River: Candace Caldwell, Riley Lollathin

Shadyside: Jaycee Mayeres

St. John: Jayden Lowe

Steubenville Catholic: Bella Oliver

Toronto: Jo’Zaeyah Jordan

Tyler Consolidated: JoLee Walton, Peyton Kocher

Valley: Caitlyn Underwood, Jenna Dallison

Wheeling Central: Marissa Horan, Hannah White