Nine area players earned all-state honors when the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association announced its basketball teams today.
Just two of the players came in the state's two biggest classes, as Jefferson City's O.G. Anunoby was a second-team selection in Class 5 and Helias' Isiah Sykes got a first-team nod in Class 4.
Anunoby racked up 21.3 points per game this season to help lead the Jays, who made it to a district title game before losing to Hickman, which went on to finish second in the state. The junior also averaged 9.9 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Sykes, meanwhile, dropped in a team-high 20.1 points per game while leading the Crusaders to a third-place finish in the state. The junior also recorded team highs in assists (3.0 per game) and steals (2.4).
The only Class 3 boy to make the team was Eugene's Cody Shaw, as the senior made the first team. While guiding the Eagles to the quarterfinals, where they gave eventual state champion Cardinal Ritter its closest game of the playoffs, Shaw averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per contest.
Among the Class 3 girls, Blair Oaks' LeeAnn Polowy and Fatima's Morgan Brandt were first-team honorees.
Polowy, a Missouri State signee, racked up 20.5 points per game and added 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals.
Brandt, meanwhile, tossed in 21.0 points per contest and also had 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.8 steals while leading the Lady Comets to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Ash Grove, which eventually took second in the state.
The heaviest concentration of area players came in Class 1, where one boy and three girls earned honors.
On the boys side, Tuscumbia's Zane Humphreys made the second team after averaging 17.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.
St. Elizabeth's Allie Heckemeyer and Chamois' Paige Nolte were first-team picks on the girls team.
Heckemeyer amassed 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Her efforts helped the Lady Hornets reach the sectional round, where they lost to eventual state champion Walnut Grove by just 18 points. The Lady Tigers went on to win their ensuing playoff games by 34, 61 and 35 points. Nolte, meanwhile, dropped in 19.5 points per game while grabbing 8.3 rebounds.
The remaining selection was Tuscumbia's Kendra Vaughan, who made the second team. She had averages of 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.8 steals per game for the Lady Lions, who lost to St. Elizabeth in overtime in the district championship game.
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