By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior standout Brooklyn DeLeye was tapped as the TopSports.news 2023 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a second straight appearance in the Class 6A state title game.
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick, the 6-foot-2 DeLeye helped the Centennial League champions post an 18-6 record and come within an eyelash of winning a second straight 6A state championship, with the Junior Blues dropping a 35-34 heartbreaker to Blue Valley North in the title game.
DeLeye is joined on the all-county Top 10 by 6-foot senior teammate Chloe Carlgren while Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led the Junior Blues to a pair of state titles and a runner-up finish since 2019, was named the county coach of the year.
DeLeye averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals, shot 59.7 percent from 2-point range and 38.5 percent on 3-point attempts as a senior while Carlgren averaged 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, shot 35 percent from 3-point range and was the Junior Blues' defensive stopper.
Like DeLeye. Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors for the third straight season after leading the Trojans to a 16-6 record this past season.
Smith, a 5-8 senior, helped the Trojans reach the Class 6A state tournament her first three high schools seasons, including a state runnerup finish in 2021.
As a senior Smith averaged a city-high 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals while connecting on 50 3-pointers.
Seaman, which posted a 21-2 record and won the United Kansas Conference title, is represented on the first team by 5-10 sophomore Anna Becker and 5-9 freshman Maddie Gragg, who was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year. Becker is a Top 10 repeat pick and was named the United Kansas Conference player of the year.
Becker averaged 12 points, 3.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 steals this past season while Gragg averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 60.2 percent from the field on 2-point attempts and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Silver Lake, which went 23-3 on the season en route to a fourth-place finish in the 3A state tournament, put sophomores McKinley Kruger (5-7) and Makenzie McDaniel (6-1) on the All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season.
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby (5-9) and Rossville junior Kinsey Perine (5-8) move up to the Top 10 this season after earning Second 10 honors last season while Highland Park sophomore Amelia Ramsey (6-0) earned first-team recognition this season after receiving honorable mention a year ago.
Doby averaged 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior while Perine averaged 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 5.8 steals and Ramsey averaged 19.8 points and 15.8 rebounds while shooting 65.2 percent from two-point range.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL
TOP 10
Player, school Ht. Gr.
Anna Becker, Seaman 5-10 So.
Chloe Carlgren, Washburn Rural 6-0 Sr.
Brooklyn DeLeye, Washburn Rural 6-2 Sr.
Emari Doby, Shawnee Heights 5-9 Sr.
Maddie Gragg, Seaman 5-9 Fr.
McKinley Kruger, Silver Lake 5-7 Jr.
Makenzie McDaniel, Silver Lake 6-1 Jr.
Kinsey Perine, Rossville 5-8 Jr.
Amelia Ramsey, Highland Park 6-0 So.
Kiki Smith, Topeka High 5-8 Sr.
SECOND 10
Player, school Ht. Gr.
LaDaysha Baird, Topeka High 5-4 Jr.
Zoe Clark, Topeka West 5-7 Jr.
Angelique Gowan Britt, Highland Park 5-3 Jr.
MaRyah Lutz, Washburn Rural 5-5 Sr.
Brylee Meier, Hayden 6-0 So.
Emma Mitchell, Rossville 5-10 Jr.
Taylor Ross, Silver Lake 6-0 Sr..
Taylor Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 5-7 Sr.
Lauren Sandstrom, Hayden 6-0 Jr.
Taylin Stallbaumer, Seaman 5-7 Jr.
Honorable mention
Cair Paravel: Josie Barkley, jr; Karsyn Hastert, fr.; Allison Schwarz, jr. Hayden: Kaliya Fulton, so.; Norma Greco, so. Highland Park: Tahtionna Broils, so; Se'Ona Gowan Brigg, jr.; DeAsia Sanders, so. Rossville: Rylee Dick, fr. Seaman: Jaida Stallbaumer, so.; Jaycee Schumann, sr. Shawnee Heights: Breezy Canady, jr. Silver Lake: Mariah Farmer, sr.; Kaibryn Kruger, jr. Topeka High: Adisyn Caryl, sr.; Ayana Leesman, jr.; Keimara Marshall, fr. Topeka West: Azaryah Duncan, sr.; Jazmyn Ford, sr. Washburn Rural: Tenly Bunck, so.; Kate Hinck, so.
Player of the year -- Brooklyn DeLeye, Washburn Rural.
Newcomer of the year -- Maddie Gragg Seaman.
Coach of the year -- Kevin Bordewick, Washburn Rural.