File Photos The 45th All-Valley Girls’ Basketball Team is captained by, from left, Wheeling Park’s Alexis Bordas, Union Local’s Torre Kildow, Cameron’s Ashlynn VanTassell and Monroe Central’s Kalista Friday. All four delivered outstanding 2022 seasons and not only shined individually on the court but helped lead their teams to successful years, as well.

Big School

Alexis Bordas

Wheeling Park, Captain

Bordas introduced herself to the Ohio Valley loud and clear in her freshman season. She made her presence felt with a 50-point performance early on in the campaign and was a force to be reckoned with from that point on. On her way to earning first team all-state honors and leading the Wheeling Park girls to the state tournament, Bordas recorded 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. In her first state tournament game, Bordas recorded a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Jefferson. She was also first team All-OVAC.

Torre Kildow

Union Local, Captain

In only her junior season, Kildow cemented her legacy at Union Local. She was named first team all-state after leading the Jets to the Division III state tournament and a Final Four appearance for the first time in school history. She turned in 18 points and six rebounds per game and surpassed 1,000 points for her illustrious career in the process. She also amassed 2.3 assists and secured Eastern District Co-Player of the Year, All-OVAC, All-Buckeye 8 and All-District 12 accolades. Kildow also shined in a thrilling game against Wheeling Park where she turned in a season-high 43 points.

Kaitlyn Blake

John Marshall

On her way to securing All-OVAC honors, Blake averaged a double-double for coach Brock Melko and the Monarchs. She turned in 13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest, while shooting an impressive 47.2% from the floor. Blake recorded 13 double-doubles this year and was named an all-state honorable mention for her performance.

Ava Bolen

Brooke

This Brooke star averaged a double-double this season of 13 points and 12 rebounds a game. In fact, she turned in a remarkable 13 double-doubles during the 2022 campaign. Bolen was rewarded by being named first team All-OVAC and an all-state honorable mention. One of Bolen’s highlight performances came in a win against Weir where she netted 34 points.

Natalie Daugherty

Wheeling Park

Daugherty showcased her sharp-shooting skills in the state semifinal as she knocked down four 3-pointers and finished the game with a team-high 16 points. She secured all-state honorable mention accolades this year, along with first team All-OVAC honors, while averaging 12.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.2 assists per game for coach Ryan Young.

McKayla Dunkle

Harrison Central

Dunkle wrapped up a stellar career with third team all-state accolades and averaged a double-double of 17.7 points and 11.2 rebounds a game. She was named All-Buckeye 8, All-District V, All-Eastern District, All-OVAC and secured a spot in the OVAC All-Star Game. She set new school career records for rebounding average (10.3) and total rebounds in a career (926).

McKenna Scott

Indian Creek

Although the student section may have chanted, ‘She’s a freshman!’ she certainly didn’t play like it. Scott averaged 11.9 points, 2.9 steals, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game to help guide a talented Indian Creek squad. For her efforts, Scott was named first team All-OVAC and will be looking to build off of her breakout campaign next year, as well.

Reagan Vinskovich

Union Local

Vinskovich drained the game-winning shot in the regional final to send UL to the state tournament for the first time in school history. She averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on her way to earning third team all-state, first team All-OVAC, All-Eastern District, All-District 12 and All-Buckeye 8. She also reached 1,000 career points.

Lala Woods

Wheeling Park

The lights were never too bright for this freshman standout who hit clutch shot after clutch shot. She averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals per contest on her way to earning second team all-state accolades. She was crucial in the team’s run to the state tournament this year and was named second team All-OVAC for her achievements.

Small School

Kalista Friday

Monroe Central, Captain

Friday? More like everyday. The Monroe Central senior standout never took a night off as she averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 assists, 5.4 steals and 5.3 rebounds per game on her way to earning first team All-Ohio. She also shot 51% from the field and 79% from the line, while becoming the school’s all-time leading female scorer with 1,569 career points. She also established new school records with 535 career assists and 535 career steals and was named All-OVAC and named an OVAC All-Star. Friday accumulated a trio of triple-doubles.

Ashlynn VanTassell

Cameron, Captain

Ice in her veins doesn’t begin to describe VanTassell. With 4 seconds left in the state championship game, she stepped to the line and buried two free-throws to tie the game before the Dragons captured the crown on a remarkable last-second play. She also broke the all-time single-game rebounding record for all classes in the state quarterfinal game and was named captain of the all-state team after averaging 18.3 points and 14 rebounds per game. She was named All-OVAC and was chosen as the MVP of the OVAC Championship Game after the Dragons upended Beallsville.

Vanessa Alatis

Madonna

Alatis wrapped up her illustrious high school basketball career with a very strong finish. The senior Blue Don standout averaged 18 points a game and secured a spot on the all-state team as an honorable mention. Alatis was also selected to play in the OVAC All-Star Game and was named All-OVAC for her outstanding 2022 campaign.

Kenzie Clutter

Cameron

This point guard never wavered. Clutter made every play to put her team in position to win and the Dragons did just that. Coach Holly Pettit says, “She is the team leader and she sees the floor extremely well.” On her way to a state championship, Clutter averaged 10 points and four assists and was named second team all-state and first team All-OVAC.

Paige Gorby

Shadyside

Accolades abound for Gorby this year as she secured All-OVAC honors and was selected to play in the OVAC All-Star Game. She also took home first team All-Eastern District, District 12 and MOVL honors. In the process, the forward averaged 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists per contest and drained 162 of 274 free throws.

Carleigh Grimm

Linsly

This senior was on her game all season long for coach Rebecca Upton and the Cadets as she averaged a double-double of 12.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. She also added 2.3 blocks per contest on her way to securing first team All-OVAC accolades and a spot in the OVAC All-Star Game where she had another strong performance with 10 points.

Maci Neely

Cameron

Neely’s life changed forever when she hit ‘The shot heard around the state’ to win the state championship at the buzzer for the Dragons. The shot made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays and will be talked about forever. However, she also had a great season with 11.7 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. Neely earned an all-state honorable mention and All-OVAC honors.

Katie Zatta

Steubenville Catholic

Zatta reached 1,000 career points and she led her team to the school’s first OVAC title in 33 years, in which she was named the game’s MVP. She tallied 21.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.7 assists per game. She was named first team All-OVAC, All-Eastern District and All-District 5, while being selected to play in the OVAC and District 5 All-Star Games.

Zaniah Zellous

Linsly

The year of the freshmen wraps up with Zellous. The 6-foot-1 forward was spectacular for the Cadets this year as she averaged a double-double of 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. She was also named All-OVAC and is well on her way to a remarkable career. In fact, she has already received a college scholarship offer from Pitt.