Denton Record-Chronicle
2018 All-Area Girls Basketball MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
FIRST TEAM Maci Turkoly
Sanger, G, Sr. A first-team District 9-4A all-district selection, Turkoly was Sanger’s top offensive threat during a magical run to the regional tournament. She finished her senior year averaging 12.3 points per game and showed her grit in the paint while pulling down an average of 4.1 rebounds per game. She added 2.6 assists per game.
Kathimae Dow
Aubrey, G, So. Dow was an electric leader in the backcourt for the Lady Chaparrals and she built on what was an impressive freshman campaign last season. Dow was the district’s Offensive MVP after averaging 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals and she will be one of the area’s top returners next season.
Kylie Scott
Denton, G, Sr. Scott had a no-mercy attitude on the hardwood this year. When her team needed her, she flipped a switch and took over. Scott led the team in scoring with 16.8 points per game and added six rebounds and three assists per game. She was voted District 5-5A’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Jamie Means.
Kaia Saylor
Aubrey, F, So. Saylor gave the Lady Chaparrals an inside presence all year and again paired with Dow to create a formidable duo in District 11-4A. She made an impact all over the floor for Aubrey, averaging 11.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.0 blocks and was named to the first team all-district team.
Jamie Means
Gabby Standifer
Argyle, F, Sr. It’s hard to imagine capping off a high school career in a more emphatic way than Standifer did this season. As a senior, she guided a young Argyle team to its fourth consecutive state championship with a fiery competitiveness and leadership the Lady Eagles desperately needed. The Fresno State signee averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while drawing a team-high 54 charges on the season. Her versatility made it tough for opponents to match up against her all year. She was the District 9-4A co-MVP, a TABC All-State selection, ended her career with a 138-15 record and was 25-1 in the playoffs. It was a dominant ending to a dominant high school career and the senior will now hand the reins of the program to younger sister Sydney Standifer.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rhett Robinson
Krum, F, Sr. Robinson is one of the top volleyball players in the area and quickly translated that dominance into success on the basketball court. Robinson, who signed with North Texas for volleyball, was the area’s leading scorer at 18.9 points per game. She averaged six rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game on her way to earning District 9-4A Co-MVP honors alongside Argyle’s Gabby Standifer. Robinson led Krum to the first round of the playoffs before falling to Wilmer-Hutchins.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sanger, G, Jr. Rollins was a veteran centerpiece to a three-headed attack for Sanger. The nimble point guard was the cooffensive player of the year in a tough District 9-4A that included eventual state champ, Argyle. She finished her junior year averaging 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and three assists per game.
Aminah Hall
Braswell, G, So. Hall was a major factor in a historical run for the Lady Bengals. She helped lead the charge in becoming Braswell’s first ever team sport to make the playoffs. The sophomore led the team in points per game with 10.1 and added an average of 4.3 rebounds, earning first team all-district honors in District 5-5A.
Jade Thompson
Sydney Standifer
Argyle, PG, Fr. It didn’t take long for the youngest Standifer to develop into one of the top players in the area. A tenacious defender and dynamic point guard, Standifer led Argyle in scoring with 15.4 points per game and also dished out an average of 4.6 assists to earn TABC All-State honors. She exploded for 22 points in the Class 4A state final, giving the Argyle faithful a whole lot to be excited about for the next three years.
Kaia Williams
Ponder, G, Jr. Williams was a game changer for the Lady Lions, helping on both ends of the floor as the team’s point guard and a stifling defender. She was named Defensive MVP of District 9-3A, averaging 12.8 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals per game. With most of Ponder’s roster returning next season, Williams will be a key building block for coach Jim Avery as the Lady Lions shoot for a deep playoff run.
Chloe Malone
IMPACT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Guyer, F, So. It took Guyer some time to find its footing in District 6-6A, but Thompson helped lead the Lady Wildcats to four straight wins to end the year. She was district’s Newcomer of the Year and averaged 10.4 points and 6.0 rebounds. She’ll be the leader for coach Aimee Kilgore and the Lady Wildcats heading into next season.
Brooklyn Carl
Argyle, G, So. Carl was the most underrated Argyle player during the Lady Eagles’ run to the state title. The sophomore led the team with 5.2 assists per game and complemented Sydney Standifer and Rhyle McKinney nicely in the backcourt. Her calm presence as a returner from last year’s team was key on a roster full of new contributors.
Tija Burns
Ryan, F, Sr. Burns helped the Lady Raiders make the playoffs despite their inexperienced lineup by providing some leadership in addition to her offensive and defensive prowess. Burns averaged 10.5 points and was named the District 5-5A Defensive Player of the Year while adding 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals.
Kylie Green
Ponder, F, Sr. Green was the offensive leader for Ponder and scored 11 points per game on her way to first team all-district honors. She also tallied four rebounds, three steals and two assists per game to guide the Lady Lions to the area round of the playoffs before falling just short of an upset against Sunnyvale.
Morgan Helixon
Lake Dallas, F, Sr. Helixon was the lone Lady Falcon on District 11-5A’s first team in her final season with the program. The senior captain used her speed and quickness to find ways to the hoop, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game as Lake Dallas fell in the bi-district round of the playoffs to state power Frisco Lone Star.
COACH OF THE YEAR Chance Westmoreland
Argyle There was little doubt about the strength of Westmoreland’s resume when he took over the program from the legendary Skip Townsend. Westmoreland had won two state championships as a head coach at Brock but was taking over a team that had won three straight state titles. He extended the streak to four when few gave the young team a chance to do so. Westmoreland molded the roster into a contender at the right time and has a lot of talent back going into next season.
Brooke Rollins
SECOND TEAM
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sanger, G, Fr. It was a banner season for the Lady Indians, who won a program-best 31 games and advanced to the region tournament before falling to eventual state champ, Argyle. None of that success would have been possible without Malone. The freshman was a huge presence inside for Sanger and proved she wasn’t afraid of varsity competition while averaging 7.6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 1.1 blocks. Malone was voted the District 9-4A Co-Defensive MVP and will fill a bigger role next season with Maci Turkoly gone to graudation.
Denton, G, Sr. Means was the catalyst for everything the Denton Lady Broncos did in 2017-18. The Lady Broncos relied on Means’ height and physicality while finishing runner-up in District 5-5A before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs. Means averaged 15.7 points, 8 rebounds and two blocks per game.
THIRD TEAM Rhyle McKinney
Argyle, G, So. McKinney was the most consistent scorer during Argyle’s run through the playoffs and she seemed to come up big whenever the Lady Eagles needed it most. Her buzzer-beater to knock off Dallas Lincoln in the area round may have been the play of the year and McKinney was also the team’s best twoway player on a regular basis. She averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals to earn TABC All-Region honors.
Name, school Pos. Year Notable Payton Oltrogge, Liberty Christian F Jr. Averaged 10.7 points. Morgan Yarbrough, Argyle F Sr. Averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds. A’Lexxis Benton, Guyer G Sr. Averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals. Tatum Whitewood, Sanger F Sr. Averaged 4.1 rebounds and shot 42.2%. Kanessia Holbert, Ryan F Jr. Averaged 10.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Feature photo of Gabby Standifer by Jeff Woo/DRC; action photos from DRC files Section 5
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