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Trio of captains headline All T-L Girls Hoops

The girls basketball season yielded some impressive stats, performances and an extended tournament run.

With the season now a few weeks in the past, The Times Leader is announcing its All Times Leader Girls Basketball Team.

The annual honor recognizes players from throughout the T-L coverage area and is chosen by the sports staff with the help of area coaches.

Leading the way for the team is a trio of captains. Shadyside’s senior duo of Tory Hendershot and Baylee Wach as well as Union Local’s Reagan Vinskovich are the top honorees.

Here is a capsule look at the entire team:

TORY HENDERSHOT, Shadyside — This senior standout put the finishing touches on a brilliant four-year career with another sensational campaign for Coach Serge Gentile’s squad.

Hendershot poured in 14.3 points a game to go along with an impressive six rebounds, six assists and five steals. Along with this accolade, Hendershot was named Co-Eastern District Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio. She was also named All-District 12 and will play in that all-star game. She was selected All-MOVL.

“Tory is an amazing player with high energy, who never seems to get tired,” Gentile said. “She truly stuffs the stat sheet.”

BAYLEE WACH, Shadyside — This senior had a career that will be long remembered in Tiger Town.

Wach finished with a 14 points per game average. She also posted four rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.5 steals a contest.

Wach — for the second time in her career — was named to the All-Ohio team. She was on the third team. She was also First Team All-Eastern District, All-District 12 and All-MOVL.

REAGAN VINSKOVICH, Union Local — This talented Jets sophomore had another season to remember in the post.

Vinskovich was the Jets leading scorer and rebounder, finishing with a 21.7 points per game average, which was best in the T-L coverage area. She also collected 12 rebounds a contest.

Vinskovich was recognized as Second Team All-Ohio for the second straight season after earning First Team All-Eastern District and District 12. She was also named to the All-Buckeye 8 team.

“Reagan is just beginning to tap into her potential,” UL head coach Rob Barr said. “Her biggest assets, beyond her size and strength, are the way she runs the floor and her ability to catch the ball. She has an unbelievable set of hands and players who possess the strength and skill that Reagan has are very rare.”

CASEY KILDOW, Union Local — The consummate leader. That’s exactly what this senior was for the Jets this season.

Kildow was the ultimate floor general for the Jets. A pass-first post point guard, who still averaged 11 points game and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career. She averaged some six assists a game and finished second in career assists at UL.

Kildow also earned All-Eastern District, All-District 12 and All-Buckeye 8. She will also play in the District 12 All-Star Game.

“Casey was the true leader of our team,” Barr said. “There isn’t much of anything she can’t do on the floor. She’s unselfish to a fault almost. She will be sadly missed and difficult to replace.”

TORRE KILDOW, Union Local — This Jets sophomore can impact the game in a lot of ways and did just that for the Jets this winter.

Kildow averaged 17.1 points and six rebounds a game. She was also high on the UL assist leaderboard.

“Torre is a prolific scorer, who can shoot and finish at the rim,” Barr said. “She, too, is only beginning to tap into her potential. A six-foot guard who can handle the point as well as play in the paint is quite a skillset. She’s truly a gifted athlete.”

MCKAYLA DUNKLE, Harrison Central — This junior was a double-double machine for the Huskies and Coach Nick Yourkovich’s squad.

En route to earning Second-Team All-Ohio in Division III, Dunkle led the rejuvenated Huskies with 17.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

She posted 14 double-doubles, including 11 consecutive to end the season. She also had eight games of scoring 20 points or more.

“McKayla was a dominant force and key component during our turnaround,” Yourkovich said. “She’s developed into a great leader for our program. She’s put in a tremendous amount of time to improve her all-around game. It’s great to see her recognized for her hard work and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her next season.”

KALISTA FRIDAY, Monroe Central — This junior filled up the stat sheet every night out for Coach Troy Baker’s team this past winter.

Friday led the Seminoles in every stat category except for blocked shots this season. She checked in at 18.1 points a game, five rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.3 steals. She earned All-Eastern District, All-MOVL and All-District 12.

“Kalista does everything and does it all well,” Baker said. “She’s a scorer, but she also knows the importance of getting her teammates involved.”

PAIGE GORBY, Shadyside — This Tigers junior took a big step forward and was a key third option for her team’s run to the Elite 8 last month.

Gorby averaged 10.6 points for the season, but from January on, she scored at a 15-points per game clip. She also added six rebounds, two assists and 2.5 steals per game.

“Paige really expanded her game this season,” Gentile said. “She was a force for us down the stretch during our tournament run.”

MARIA CLARK, Martins Ferry — This junior put forth an impressive season and one that head coach Dave Reasbeck believes she will build on.

Clark was one of the go-to-players for the Riders. She averaged 14 points and six rebounds en route to second team All-Eastern District honors and Honorable Mention All-Ohio.

“Maria is a true leader by example,” Reasbeck said. “This season was a stepping stone to hopefully a monster season (as a senior).”

HALLE MARKOVICH, Barnesville — This sophomore shined throughout the season for Coach Jason Perkins Shamrocks.

Markovich was among the team leaders in every offensive category. She led her club in scoring at 11 points a game and was second in rebounding by yanking down seven a night. She also passed out two assists and recorded two steals a game.

“Halle stepped up in some games when we needed her to,” Perkins said. “She has a lot of potential in the future to be a great player if she puts her mind to it.”

SHAE BROOKOVER, St. Clairsville — This junior put forth an impressive campaign for Coach Stacey Agnew’s club.

Brookover served as the Red Devils point guard and averaged 10 points and four assists per game. She also shot 86.8% from the foul line, which was best in the immediate area.

“Shae did a great job of taking over the ball-handling responsibilities when Macy (Malin) went down (with injury),” St. C. head coach Stacey Agnew said. “Shae is a tireless worker and we’re looking for great things from her next season.”

LIZZIE MCANINCH, Bellaire — This sophomore put forth a solid campaign as she developed into one of the Big Reds go-to-players.

McAninch averaged seven points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 steals as she did a little bit of everything for Coach John Farrier’s squad.

“Lizzie has worked very hard to improve her overall game,” Farrier said. “She puts in a lot of extra time in the gym and it’s starting to pay dividends. She always pushes herself and is a physical defender. She is self motivated and determined. She’ll be a major asset for us the next couple of years.”

MAKENNA PHILLIPS, Beallsville — This senior put all of the distractions aside and put forth an impressive campaign for Coach Tori Jarrett’s club this winter.

Phillips — a 5-10 center — shined night in and night out for the Blue Devils, averaging 11 points, six rebounds.

Along with this accolade, Phillips was named second-team District 12 and All-Eastern District as well as Honorable Mention All-Ohio.

“This season was a test with everything going on, but Makenna stepped up and played well every game for us,” Jarrett said.

EMILY SMITH, River — The Lady Pilots’ lone senior’s contribution went far beyond the stat sheet, according to head coach Rick Isaly.

Smith averaged just five points and five rebounds per game, but she was the team’s top defender and a leader for a relatively young roster.

“Emily was a very hard worker and set a really good example for the younger girls,” Isaly said. “She was a part of two OVAC championship teams as a freshman and sophomore. She will be missed.”

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