The Caledonia High School girls basketball team made a run to the MSHSL Class AA state tournament this season, and Aquinas and West Salem both came one victory away from joining their success on the Wisconsin side of the border.
For that reason, those three programs have the most representation on the inaugural All-Couleesports.com girls basketball teams.
We didn’t expect to name all-area teams this winter, but the success achieved by local teams pushed us to start the process now instead of waiting until next season. Not every team from our coverage area — Aquinas, Central, Logan, Holmen, Onalaska, Luther, West Salem, Arcadia and Caledonia — has a player listed, but we opted to keep the collection smaller and the spots on it became very competitive.
Coaches did not have input on this team, but that could be something that changes when we continue the process next season.
Our first team is a mixture of two seniors and three juniors, all of whom played for a conference champion or runner-up and for a team that won at least 18 games.
Aquinas junior Samantha Davis was crushing opponents at the end of the season, and West Salem’s Megan Johnson continued the dominance she helped West Salem find for four seasons. Central had its best season in recent history with Alahnna Simpson having big games consistently.
The Warriors won an MSHSL Class AA consolation championship behind the powerhouse punch packed by senior Josie Foster and junior Aubrie Klug. Both had huge games along the way and took turns carrying — or working together to carry — Caledonia to some big victories.
Here’s what we came up with for the top five players and a list of the next 10 from the area.
FIRST TEAM
(Alphabetical order)
SAMANTHA DAVIS, jr., Aquinas: A 6-foot forward who did a better job than any other time in her career of balancing aggressive play without fouling and playing big in the biggest games. … She averaged 17.2 points per game and shot 48 percent from the floor. … Also averaged 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals. … Averaged 22 points and 14.2 rebounds over the final six games of the season and had 23 points and 16 rebounds in a regular-season win over Caledonia.
JOSIE FOSTER, sr., Caledonia: A 5-10 guard and consistent scorer and rebounder for the Warriors, who went 29-4 and won the consolation championship at the MSHSL Class AA state tournament. … Averaged 15.7 points while making 48.2 percent of her two-point shots and 30.4 percent of attempts from the 3-point line. … Averaged 5.5 rebounds per game…. Division II Upper Iowa commit. … Also led the Warriors with 3.8 assists per game. … Scored 51 points in three state games.
MEGAN JOHNSON, sr., West Salem: A 5-10 forward who led her team to 22 wins as a senior and 94 during her career. … Averaged 19.4 points and made 52.5 percent of her shots and 59.1 percent of shots taken inside the 3-point line. … Also averaged 6.3 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 2.6 assists per game. … Division II Winona State commit and three-sport star at West Salem (also tennis, softball). … Finished career with 1,880 points and 652 rebounds.
AUBRIE KLUG, jr., Caledonia: A 5-9 guard who gave a 29-4 team that won a consolation championship at the MSHSL Class AA state tournament a fantastic 1-2 scoring punch…. Averaged a team-high 20.5 points per game and shot 49 percent on two-point field-goal attempts. … Made 33.9 percent of attempted 3-pointers and averaged 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game. … Scored 60 points and pulled down 22 rebounds during three state games.
ALAHNNA SIMPSON, jr., Central: A 6-foot guard who averaged 20.2 points per game for the RiverHawks, who won 18 games and finished second to unbeaten Aquinas in the MVC. … Also led team with 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. … Has four Division I scholarship offers. … Scored less than 10 points just twice and had at least 30 three times with a season-high 40 in a win over Sparta. … Had 30-point, 15-rebound effort in late-season win over third-place Holmen.
HONORABLE MENTION
(Alphabetical order)
Nicole Banse, jr. Caledonia; Josie Brudos, jr., West Salem; Charley Casey, jr., Holmen; Tatum Drazkowski, so., Arcadia; Ava Fernholz, so., Aquinas; Ellie Gillitzer, so., Central; Kayla Ketelhut, fr., Onalaska; Macy Kline, jr., Holmen; Macie Neumeister, sr., Luther; Allie Zittel, sr., Luther.
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