2012 All-Area girl's basketball team includes, from left, Tanner Tripp, Mill Valley, Megan Bonar, De Soto, coach Cliff McCullough, Ottawa, Lynn Robinson, Free State, Amber Moore, Santa Fe Trail, Stephanie Lichtenauer, Mill Valley, Jordan Baldwin, Ottawa.

Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Free State

Player of the year

Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Free State junior

A 5-foot-10 guard who already has committed to play for the NCAA Division I Green Bay Phoenix — who went 31-2 this season and were ranked No. 10 in the nation headed into the NCAA Tournament — Kirkpatrick led the Firebirds to their most regular-season victories (15) in program history. Her ability to drain three-pointers or drive to the bucket made her difficult to stop as FSHS finished the season one win away from state.

Coach of the year

Cliff McCullough, Ottawa

Under McCullough’s direction, the Cyclones went unscathed (12-0) in the Frontier League, won the Goodland Topside Tipoff championship, took second at the Basehor-Linwood Invitational and secured a 4A sub-state title on their way to their third consecutive state-tournament berth. Ottawa defeated Wellington and Bonner Springs at state to take third place and finish the season 23-3.

First team

Jordan Baldwin, Ottawa — The All-Frontier League senior guard did it all for Ottawa, contributing 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 2.6 assists in the Cyclones’ 23-3 season.

Megan Bonar, De Soto — Though only a freshman, Bonar helped direct the Wildcats to an 14-7 season with averages of 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 37-percent three-point shooting.

Maggie Bones, Ottawa

Maggie Bones, Ottawa — The 6-foot senior was one half of the Cyclones’ 1-2 punch, scoring 10.8 points to go with 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals for Class 4A’s third-place team.

Alexa Gaumer, Seabury Academy

Alexa Gaumer, Seabury Academy — Named her team’s most valuable player, the junior guard helped the Seahawks to their first winning record (10-8) in program history while averaging 17.9 points, 4.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 steals.

Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Free State — The junior Firebirds guard scored 17.9 points while contributing 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.4 steals for FSHS (16-6).

Stephanie Lichtenauer, Mill Valley — The junior forward, named MVP of the El Dorado Wildcat Classic, did plenty for the 18-4 Jaguars, averaging 12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

Amber Moore, Santa Fe Trail — Averaged 9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in her sophomore year, helping SFT to a 17-6 record, with three of those losses coming to 4A state-tournament qualifiers Holton (twice) and Ottawa.

Lynn Robinson, Free State — The 5-foot-7 senior guard served as her team’s defensive stopper on the perimeter and averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.4 steals.

Tanner Tripp, Mill Valley — The junior guard served as the Jags’ go-to shooter and scored 14.4 points to go with 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.0 assists.

Jenny Whitledge, Tongonixie

Jenny Whitledge, Tonganoxie — The athletic junior Chieftains forward led THS with 12.3 points and 8.6 rebounds and contributed 2.3 steals and 47-percent shooting.

Honorable mention

Natasha Carver, Perry-Lecompton; Chelsea Casady, Free State; Kionna Coleman, Lawrence; Shelby Dahl, Santa Fe Trail; Madison Hess, Perry-Lecompton; Courtney Hoag, Seabury Academy; Monica Howard, Lawrence; Katie Jones, Baldwin; Katie Kehl, Baldwin; Hannah Kemp, Tonganoxie; Kailyn Smith, Baldwin; Paige Williams, De Soto.