Wahls represents county on small school GTNS team

By Andy Krutsinger, Mt. Pleasant News

It was one of the tightest seasons in recent memory for the area?s small-school girls? basketball teams and that meant tough decisions when it came down to choose the best of the best from the Golden Triangle area.

The following coach and players battled all year and earned their spot on the All-GTNS small-school girls? basketball team.

Coach: Davis Eidahl, Pekin

The boss of the Panthers led Pekin to an overall record of 17-5 and three rounds deep in the postseason. Having lost four starters from 2015-16, not much was expected from Pekin this year. The Panthers started out 3-3 in 2016-17. Then, under Eidahl?s skilled guidance, the Panthers won 13 contests in a row.

Captain: Shania Boyd, senior, Columbus

Senior Shania Boyd led the Columbus Wildcats in scoring with 420 points, averaging 19.1 points per game. She broke three school records this year: most free throw attempts in a career, with 419, most free throws made in a season of 123 and most career free throws made, 257. She was picked to be part of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North 1st team.

Captain: Maci Gambell, junior, Pekin

A 5-foot-8 junior forward, Gambell led the Pekin Panthers to a 17-5 overall record. She averaged 19.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. Gambell shot 43 percent from beyond the arc and 59 percent overall. She made Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Second Team. The unquestioned team leader, Gambell led the Panthers on a 13-game regular-season winning streak.

Bailey Stroud, Senior, columbus

Bailey Stroud is a Columbus Community senior who scored 366 points this season, averaging 16.6 points per game. She broke the school record for career assists this year with 307 and broke the school?s single season record for 3-point shots made with 70. She was named to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North 1st team.

Madysen Wahls, senior, New London

A New London team gutted by last year?s graduation needed a shot in the arm in 2016-17, and Wahls, a transfer, gave the Tigers just what they needed. The senior point guard was fifth in Class 1A with 138 assists, and added 10.9 points per game, 70 rebounds and 47 steals to her All-GTNS resume.

Kelsey Hora, senior, Highland

The senior from Highland led the Huskies in scoring 382 points this year en route to a four-year career total of 1,233. She averaged 18.2 points per game this year. She made 57-of-80 free throws, or 71.3 percent. She also led the team in assists with 79 and had the most steals with 86. Hora was chosen for the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North first team.

Madison Bartholomew, freshman, Van Buren

A freshman point guard, Bartholomew was the engine of the Warrior attack, leading Van Buren to a 16-7 record. She averaged 8.2 points, 4.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 steals per contest. More important than any stat, the crafty Bartholomew was a human press-breaker. Then, once the press was broke, her skilled long-distance shooting ? Bartholomew connected on 37.6 percent beyond the arc ? frustrated foes.

Taryn Scheuermann, freshman, Van Buren

A 6-foot-3 freshman, Scheuermann was a dominating player for Van Buren, averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest. A skilled scorer in the paint, she also drew out defenders by canning 32 percent of her 3-point attempts. Her ability to block shots was the key reason the Warriors were so difficult to score against: Scheuermann averaged nearly six swats per contest.

The All-GTNS small-school girls? basketball team was selected by Allan Mandel of the Fairfield Ledger, Andy Krutsinger of the Mt. Pleasant News and Bill Gatchel of the Washington Evening Journal.