The 2015-16 Journal-World All-Area Girls Basketball Team, from left: E'lease Stafford, Lawrence; Tori Huslig, Veritas; Madeline Neufeld, Baldwin; Mariah Grizzle, De Soto; Coach of the Year Ryan Robie, De Soto; Player of the Year Madison Piper, Free State; Kyna Smith, Baldwin; Sydney Dwyer, Wellsville; Kamryn Shaffer, Ottawa; Chisom Ajekwu, Lawrence. Not pictured: Catie Kaifes, Mill Valley.

Player of the Year Madison Piper, Free State

A two-time Sunflower League Player of the Year, Piper was among the league leaders with 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The 5-foot-10 junior, who was constantly face-guarded by defenders, became Free State’s all-time leading scorer during the season (1,132 career points), and is one of the five finalists for the DiRenna Award.

Coach of the Year, Ryan Robie, De Soto

In his first year as head coach at De Soto, Robie led the Wildcats to a 14-9 record and their first state tournament berth since 1984. Led by All-Frontier League selections Mariah Grizzle, Julia Johnson and Kristen Saucerman, the Wildcats beat Eudora and Atchison in the postseason.

The 2015-16 Journal-World All-Area Girls Basketball Team, from left: E'lease Stafford, Lawrence; Tori Huslig, Veritas; Madeline Neufeld, Baldwin; Mariah Grizzle, De Soto; Coach of the Year Ryan Robie, De Soto; Player of the Year Madison Piper, Free State; Kyna Smith, Baldwin; Sydney Dwyer, Wellsville; Kamryn Shaffer, Ottawa; Chisom Ajekwu, Lawrence. Not pictured: Catie Kaifes, Mill Valley.

First team

Chisom Ajekwu, Lawrence — The 6-foot-3 freshman led the Sunflower League in rebounding, averaging 9.6 boards per game. Helping the Lions host their first sub-state game since 2008, Ajekwu improved on offense throughout the season on her way to 10 points per game, earning third-team all-league honors.

Sydney Dwyer, Wellsville — A talented point guard with an ability to dribble around full-court pressure, Dwyer helped the Eagles to a 14-8 record by scoring a team-high 12.2 points per game. The 5-foot-5 sophomore was a first-team All-Pioneer League selection, adding 4.6 steals, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists each night.

Mariah Grizzle, De Soto — One of the big reasons the Wildcats made it to the state tournament for the first time in 32 years was Grizzle’s strong presence on the court. Earning second-team All-Frontier League honors, the 5-foot-11 Grizzle averaged a double-double with 13.7 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Tori Huslig, Veritas — Huslig has an ability to score points in a hurry, grabbing steals with full-court pressure and using her strong shooting from behind the three-point line. The junior guard lifted the Eagles to fifth place in the KCAA state tournament, posting 20.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 4.0 assists per game.

Catie Kaifes, Mill Valley — When Kaifes is playing at her best, she makes all of her teammates better. The 5-foot-11 senior forward helped the Jaguars win 15 straight games on their way to a spot in the Class 5A state tournament. Kaifes averaged 17.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game — the second straight year she’s led the team in points and rebounds.

Madeline Neufeld, Baldwin — Leading the Bulldogs to a 19-4 record and a spot in the Class 4A-II state tournament, Neufeld was dominant defensively with a team-best 3.5 steals per game. The 5-foot-6 senior guard earned first-team All-Frontier League honors, averaging 10.8 points and 2.0 assists.

Kamryn Shaffer, Ottawa — The only returning starter for the Cyclones this season, Shaffer led her team to a 9-13 record and was chosen first-team All-Frontier League. The 5-foot-8 sophomore averaged a team-best 12.9 points and 9.0 rebounds, completing a double-double in six games.

Kyna Smith, Baldwin — Smith, a first-team All-Frontier League selection, scored at least eight points in all but one game this season, averaging a team-high 14.1 points by shooting 41 percent from deep. The 5-foot-4 senior guard helped the Bulldogs with her strong defensive instincts (2.9 steals per game) and passing (2.4 assists).

E’lease Stafford, Lawrence — A first-team All-Sunflower League selection, Stafford ranked fifth in the league by averaging 12.6 points per game. The 5-foot-10 sophomore, who can frustrate defenders by scoring off the dribble, added 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists each game before tearing a ligament in her left knee in the regular-season finale.

Honorable mention

Skylar Drum, Lawrence; Ashlyn Hendrix, Mill Valley; Julia Johnson, De Soto; Taylor Lee, Tonganoxie; Olivia Lemus, Lawrence; Abby Ogle, Baldwin; Karly Patton, Wellsville; Kristen Saucerman, De Soto; Cameryn Thomas, Free State; Peyton Workman, Santa Fe Trail; Regan Zaremba, Seabury.