Four area girls earn all-state honors

DES MOINES — A handful of area girls basketball players enjoyed outstanding seasons on the court.

Their efforts in helping their teams to strong seasons has drawn attention throughout the region and from across the state.

Mount Ayr senior Kelcie Shields, Interstate 35 senior Gracey Griglione, and Central Decatur sophomores Emma Atwood and Alli Masters have all earned spots on this season’s Class 2A all state teams released today by the Iowa Newspaper Association.

Shields and Griglione each earned first-team honors, while Masters was second team and Atwood was third team.

Shields returns to all-state team

Shields earned first-team all-state honors for the second tim. She was a first-team pick in Class 1A as a junior.

Shields was a force on the low blocks for the Raiderettes.

Her lower body strength allowed her to be effective on both ends.

“I don’t think people realized how strong she is in her legs,” said Mount Ayr coach Thad Streit. “She posts up and drops steps and get what she wants.”

Shields used her strong hands as a weapon to shoot 61 percent from the field as a senior, 141-for-229.

“Her hands are like fly paper. She caught everything,” Streit said. “She has strong hands.”

Shields showed her toughness as well.

“She gets the right amount of English, spin on it,” Streit said. “She understood angles.”

Shields was a focal point of the Raiderette offense the past three seasons, leading the team to state as a junior and a regional final appearance this season.

“That’s a heck of a weapon,” Streit said. “It was almost money if Kelcie got the ball.”

Shields has wrecked havoc on opposing offenses, thanks to her strong leaping ability. She rearranged shots effectively, while not fouling at the same time.

“She has great leaping ability from her volleyball skills,” Streit said. “She never swatted at the ball. She did a great job tipping it. She did a great job of staying out of foul trouble that way. She was a true shot blocker. She did what she could to get her hand on the ball.

“It was nice having a rim protector back there.”

As a senior, Shields led the Raiderettes with 16.1 points points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game in 21 contests.

For her career, Shields finished with 1,171 points, 682 rebounds and 201 blocked shots. She shot 60 percent for her career, 519-for-860.

Shields was held back the first few weeks while fighting an illness. It went along with missing several games her sophomore season with a broken foot.

“I’d like to know how good her stats would’ve been,” Streit said.

Shields, who has not decided officially on her college plans yet, was thankful for her teammates the past four seasons.

“Kelcie would say it’s a team effort,” Streit said. “She’s a very caring individual, cares about her teammates, cares about the team.”

Storied career for Interstate 35’s Griglione

Gracey Griglione’s numbers tell the story of an impressive season and career.

The Creighton University signee for basketball capped her career with her third straight first team Class 2A INA selection.

Roadrunners coach Jamie Smith has seen quite the transformation from Griglione over her four years — becoming a player that’s one of the state’s best and earned the attraction of Division One coaches.

“She’s had quite a four years statistically and recognition-wise, also on a growth level, maturing from a freshman to a senior,” Smith said. “She’s someone who’s going to make waves not just at the college level, but hopefully contribute in the big scheme of things basketball. Some of the things she learned will help her later in life.”

As a senior, Griglione averaged 18.4 points per game, scoring 423 points this season. She averaged 11.5 rebounds a game, grabbing 264 this season. She also blocked 93 shots.

For her career, Griglione finished with 1,653 points, 936 rebounds and 412 blocked shots, among the state’s all-time best.

“She’s not just one of the better players in the POI (Pride of Iowa Conference) or I-35, but she’ll go down as one of the better players in the state of Iowa,” Smith said.

Smith noted Griglione is one of only six players in the 5-player era to amass over 1,600 points, 900 rebounds and 400 blocked shots for a career.

“When you start putting that together, she’s pretty special,” Smith said.

Griglione fits the mold of what Smith wants in a basketball player at Interstate 35

“She works hard. She respects the game. She plays hard, is smart, has fun,” Smith said.

Griglione’s work ethic has driven her so far and will continue to do so in Omaha.

“She’s motivated by being the best,” Smith said. “That’s a lot of five in the morning type of deals, shooting, getting better. Is it paranoia? Maybe, that someone’s working harder. All good players have a little paranoia in them.”

What Griglione will have to adjust to playing for the Bluejays and in the Big East Conference is how fast the game goes.

“I don’t care how good you are at the high school level, it’s a different step for her,” Smith said. “It’s going to be adjusting to the speed of the game. Skillwise, I don’t think there’s a lot of difference. The speed of the game is something she’s going to have to get used too.”

Sophomore standouts at Central Decatur

Sophomores Masters and Atwood each played key roles in the Cardinals second straight trip to the state tournament.

Both played integral roles in helping the Cardinals go 24-1 overall and win the Pride of Iowa Conference.

“It’s good for both of them,” said Central Decatur coach Curtis Boothe. “It shows how athletic they are, the good seasons they had.”

Boothe expects more of these types of honors to come for both in the future.

“It’s a good start to the honors they’ll be receiving the next few years,” Boothe said.

Masters averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 145-of-276, 525 percent. She led the Cardinals in rebounds, averaging 7.1 per contest. She had a team-high 97 assists and a team-best 95 steals.

“She’s capable of doing a lot of things on the floor for us,” Boothe said. “It’s a tribute to her versatility.”

Atwood led the Cardinals in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game, while shooting 66 percent, 181-of-275. She had 71 assists and 66 steals, while averaging 5.8 rebounds a game.

Atwood came back this season stronger than ever after missing most of her freshman season with a serious knee injury.

“She can score,” Boothe said. “She is a good athlete where she can handle the ball a lot.”

Both were impact players for a team that dominated every game up to the state tournament.

“They’re just good kids. They work hard. They don’t have to be told twice what to do,” Boothe said. “They listen well enough the first time. They’re willing and eager to learn every day.”

Both will step into different roles this season as the Cardinals graduate key seniors Raegan Boothe and Lily Simon, along with Jentri Hullinger.

“They’re definitely going to take on different roles,” coach Boothe said. “They’ll be captains. They know what’s expected. They’ll be the expected to be the example to set for everyone else.”

The future looks bright for Atwood and Masters.

“Hopefully they’ll put in the time in the offseason, work hard,” coach Boothe said. “Hopefully we’ll see some bigger and better things from them next year.”

Class 2A All-State team

First team

Name School Grade Pos.

Ashtyn Verbeek Western Christian Jr. FL

Gracey Griglione Interstate 35 Sr. FL

Kelcie Shields Mount Ayr Sr. FL

Mary Crompton IC Regina Jr. BC

Kelsey Hora, Highland, Riverside Sr. BC

Mackenzie Rogers Mediapolis Jr. BC

Brianna Mensen Maquoketa Valley Sr. UTIL

Second team

Ashley Tull North Linn Jr. FL

Madelyn Deitchler Treynor Jr. FL

Alli Masters Central Decatur So. FL

Mackenzie Roberts Va Meter Sr. BC

Kaylee Parks Central Springs Jr BC

Konnor Sudmann Treynor So. BC

Sarah Lehman IC Regina Sr. UTIL

Third team

Erika Feenstra Western Christian Sr. FL

Maci Gambell Pekin Jr. FL

Emma Atwood Central Decatur So. FL

Taylor Rodenburgh West Sioux Jr. BC

Kenzie Cunard Logan-Magnolia Jr. BC

Emma Staudt Rockford Sr. BC

Alex Wiese IC Regina So. UTIL

Class 3A

First team

Lexi Toering Sioux Center Jr. FL

Jasmine Harris Assumption Sr. FL

Grace Meter Pocahontas Area Sr. FL

Elle Ruffridge Pocahontas Area Sr. BC

Payton Slaughter Cherokee So. BC

Ellie Friesen Crestwood Jr. BC

Emily Snelling Clear Lake Sr. UTIL

Second team

Maddie Miller Algona Jr. FL

Allison Wooldridge Center Point-Urbana Jr. FL

Kaitlyn Volesky Mount Vernon Sr. FL

Isabelle Gradwell West Marshall Jr. BC

Faith Meyer Pocahontas Area Sr. BC

Paityn Hagberb Cherokee Jr. BC

Hannah Anderson Forest City Jr. UTIL

Third team

Shannon Pisney Crestwood Jr. FL

Courtney Schnooor Camanche Sr. FL

Jessica Musgrave South Tama Co. So. FL

Regan Freland PCM, Monroe Fr. BC

Jordyn Van Maanen Sioux City Jr. BC

Anna Brown Spirit Lake So. BC

Logan Ehlers Shenandoah Sr. UTIL

Class 4A

First team

Megan Holt Lewis Central Jr. FL

Lexi Noonan Xavier Sr. FL

Lexy Koudelka Nevada Jr. FL

Katie Vander Molen Pella Sr. BC

Chloe Rice Marion Jr. BC

Karli Rucker North Scott Sr. BC

Agatha Beier Carlisle Sr. UTIL

Second team

Alexis Westercamp Oskaloosa Sr. FL

Madison Drickman LeMars So. FL

Claire Sandvig Boone Jr. FL

Kayla Laube Marion Fr. BC

Nichole Buch Fairfield Jr. BC

Megan Meyer Mason City So. BC

Morgan Pitz Sr. Western Dubuque UTIL

Third team

Sienna Durr Grinnell Jr. FL

Kiara Bradley Pella Sr. FL

Keely Petzenhauser Spencer Jr. FL

Abby Wisecup Sergeant Bluff-Luton So. BC

Madison Wilkins Grinnell Sr. BC

Grace Marburger Perry Sr. BC

Katie Harken Waverly-Shell Rock Sr. UTIL