Five on first, three on second-team for all-POI girls basketball

Thirteen girls were picked for the 2020-21 all-Pride of Iowa girls basketball team, the conference announced last week.

On first team, both girls selected by unanimous decision, were TJ Stoaks of Lenox and Maddax DeVault of Nodaway Valley.

Stoaks, on a Regional final Tigers club, tied teammate Cassidy Nelson for third in the conference in scoring with 355 points.

As a two-way guard and forward, Stoaks grabbed a team-leading 185 rebounds (sixth in the POI) and 77 assists (third in the POI). She was also second in the Pride of Iowa in steals with 112, trailing Nelson.

After missing nearly all of her junior season with a knee injury, she did not receive any all-conference honors last season. Stoaks was an Honorable Mention for the 2018-19 season, the only Tiger to be named that year.

DeVault, playing for the Class 2A state semifinal Wolverines, finished in second with the third most points in the state at 585.

She shot 46.6% from the field, grabbing 123 rebounds, 39 assists and 90 steals (fifth in the conference). This is the second straight season DeVault was a unanimous selection to the first-team for the POI.

Also cracking the first-team was Nelson from Lenox, Lindsey Davis of Nodaway Valley and Rachel Sobotka from Mount Ayr.

Nelson’s season saw her share the lead in scoring on her team with fellow first-teamer Stoaks. Nelson had the third most attempts from the field, good for 37.5%, and hit 37 3-pointers (fifth most in the conference). Her first-team selection is an improvement from her postseason accolade last season, where she was named as an honorable mention

Nelson finished tied for 11th in the conference with 45 assists and led the POI in steals with 123, a result of Lenox’s fast-paced pressure defense.

Davis, a budding freshman out of Nodaway Valley, quickly became a necessary part of a one-two punch for the state qualifying Wolverines.

With 347 points, Davis placed fifth in the conference and second on her team in scoring. She was the most efficient from the 3-point line, converting for 37.8% from three to lead the conference.

She finished with 64 assists, the third most on her team and fifth most in the conference, and led the team in steals with 95 – which put her third in the conference behind Nelson and Stoaks.

Sobotka’s season had her place fifth in the conference with 186 rebounds. A second-teamer a year ago, she scored 237 points to put her 11th in the conference. She also had 20 assists, 24 steals, seven blocks and shot 48% from the field.

Second team

On second team, receiving a unanimous vote, was Lexi Shike of Nodaway Valley.

A second-teamer last season, Shike was one of the top rebounders in the state with 307 boards – putting her firmly in first of the POI, and third in the state by two.

She ended her senior season third on her team and 10th in the conference in scoring with 256 points, assisting 68 scores (fourth in the conference) and tallying 31 steals.

Maddie Stewart of Mount Ayr was selected for second-team honors.

The junior guard scored 185 points (tied for 15th in POI) and grabbed 88 rebounds. She led her team in assists with 48 and steals with 64 (ninth in the POI).

Kaylin Lack of East Union was also selected for second-team honors, improving on her honorable mention honor from one year ago.

Lack closed the 2020-21 season sixth in the conference in scoring, tallying 330 points in 21 games. She was 10th in the POI in assists with 46 and was sixth in the conference with steals at 75.

Honorable mentions

Receiving honorable mentions for their efforts this season was Grace Nixon of East Union, Jordan England of Lenox, Alexa Anderson of Mount Ayr, Corinne Bond of Nodaway Valley and Maggie Haer of Southwest Valley.

Nixon’s season saw her score 185 points on 33.7% shooting, grabbing 131 rebounds with 48 assists. She also had 42 steals and 14 blocks.

England scored 116 points, grabbed 177 rebounds, and had 30 steals and assists. She was third on her team in blocks with 18.

Bond scored 132 points and had 229 rebounds, the second most on the team. Her 39 blocks were both a team-high and a conference-high.

Southwest Valley’s lone representative, Haer, finished 13th in scoring with 200 points, a team-high. She had 53 steals and 15 assists, both team-high, and had 79 rebounds for her sophomore season.

Pride of Iowa all-conference team

First team

TJ Stoaks, Lenox, Sr.; Cassidy Nelson, Lenox, Sr.; Maddax DeVault, Nodaway Valley, Jr.; Lindsey Davis, Nodaway Valley, Fr.; Rachel Sobotka, Mount Ayr, Sr.; Emily Jones, Wayne, Jr.

Second team

Josie Hartman, Southeast Warren, Jr.; Alivia Ruble, Southeast Warren, So.; Lexi Shike, Nodaway Valley, Sr.; Maddie Stewart, Mount Ayr, Jr.; Lyndsey Dale, Central Decatur, Sr.; Kaylin Lack, East Union, Jr.

Honorable mention

Kennedy Weed, Bedford, Sr.; Hallee Hamilton, Central Decatur, Jr.; Grace Nixon, East Union, Sr.; Jordan England, Lenox, Sr.; Alexa Anderson, Mount Ayr, Sr.; Kylie Keller, Martensdale-St Marys, Sr.; Corinne Bond, Nodaway Valley, Sr.; Makayla Ruble, Southeast Warren, Sr.; Maggie Haer, Southwest Valley, So.; Maddy Wood, Wayne, Jr.