LeeAnn Polowy of Blair Oaks has been selected as one of the 22 female finalists in the state to be nominated for the prestigious McDonald's All American Games that will take place April 2 at the United Center in Chicago.
Another player with local ties, former Jefferson City Jay Monique Townson, who now attends Staley, was also a finalist.
A total of 24 boys and 24 girls from across the United States will be selected for the teams at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 during a selection show on ESPNU.
Close to 1,000 players were nominated for the 2014 games by high-school coaches, athletic directors, prinicipals and members of the McDonald's All American Games Selection Committee. The complete list of nominees is available at www.mcdaag.com.
The 13th annual girls game will tip off at 6 p.m. April 2, followed by the 37th annual boys contest at 8:30 p.m. Net proceeds from the games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, as they have raised more than $10 million for RMHC since 1978.
In addition to Polowy and Townson, the other finalists include four Rock Bridge Bruins - Chayla Cheadle, Kayla Cheadle, Audrey Holt and Britnee Porter. The only other schools with multiple nominees are Incarnate Word Academy, represented by Gwen Adams, Nakiah Bell and McKenna Treese, and Lee's Summit North, represented by Imani Johnson and Erica Nelson.
The remaining nominees are: Lauren Aldridge, Marshfield; Angie Allen, Nixa; Aubrey Buckley, Springfield Parkview; Raven Bunn, Fort Osage; Hannah Cook, Ozark; Zhanesha Dickerson, Miller Career Academy; Brittany Fisher, Springfield Hillcrest; Chastity Franklin, Cardinal Ritter; Christa Reed, Bayless; Carrie Shephard, South Pemiscot; and Zoe Wallis, Parkway Central.