Williamson represents MP girls on GTNS team

The Southeast Conference was highlighted by a pack of seniors in the 2018-19 season, so it's no surprise that the senior class is well represented on the All-GTNS big school team.

Four of the six selections this year are seniors. SEC co-champion Fairfield led the way with four players and both Mt. Pleasant and Washington finished with one.

None of the three GTNS big schools sent a team to state this year. Mt. Pleasant was edged by Clear Creek-Amana in the first round. Washington was eliminated by state-qualifier Marion in the regional semifinals and Fairfield dropped their game against Marion in the regional final.

Listed below is the 2018-19 big school girls' basketball team for the Golden Triangle area.

Coach: Brian Witzenburg, Fairfield

Witzenburg inherited a program on the verge of a return to state prominence and hasn't disappointed Trojan Nation during his first two campaigns. They have included back-to-back regional final appearances, the school's first trip to the girls' state tournament in nearly three decades and a .733 winning percentage with 33 victories in his young coaching career. This is Witzenburg's second go round as the All-GTNS large school skipper and with his leading scorer returning for her senior season, another first-team all-SEC swing guard in Gridley and a pair of twin sophomores named Breen on his roster, Witz will look to make it three straight in 2020.

Captain: Shaylin Drish, Jr., Fairfield

Drish is a name synonymous with athletic achievement in Fairfield and Shay is holding her own through her first two and a half years of high school sports.

Nicole Buch's Robin from a year ago has become the teams' Bat(wo)man and led the Trojans with 303 points, good for 15.2 points per game while shooting at a 45 percent clip from the field and an outstanding 43 percent from the perimeter on 114 attempts. As a guard, Drish was also fourth on the team in total rebounds with 85, second in assists with 45 and first with 53 steals while only committing 31 fouls in 21 games played. Drish was co-player of the year in the SEC and a first-team choice and this is her second consecutive All-GTNS basketball selection and third overall (softball '18).

Maddie Williamson, Sr., Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant's senior guard had a lot on her plate this season. Not only was she the team's leading returner scoring wise, but she was the only returning starting guard and had to move to the point guard position.

Despite the position change and often taking on a tough defensive matchup, Williamson scored 11.6 points per game, which was third in the Southeast Conference. She finished the year with 49 assists, which was second in the conference, and 39 assists.

Williamson's senior leadership helped the Panthers take third place in the SEC with a 4-4 record. She scored 13.1 points per game in conference play.

Ashley Bloomquist, Sr., Fairfield

Bloomquist has the tenacity of a bulldog with a passion for running and competing. This is why she succeeds in sports that aren't even her best, like basketball. While Bloomquist is known as a long-distance specialist on the race course, but she defensively fills every inch of the 84 feet of hardwood during a basketball game. The senior multi-sport standout took a bit of a reserve role offensively, scoring 6.5 points per game, but was readily available to scorch the nets when needed, as she did when she hit six 3-pointers in eight attempts during the Coaches versus Cancer contest against Fort Madison. The future Wartburg freshman also grabbed 89 rebounds for third on the team, 25 steals for fourth and led the Trojans with 59 assists. This is the first All-GTNS basketball selection for Bloomquist and fourth overall, although if a spring All-GTNS existed, she would likely have three more selections. She was also a second-team All-SEC choice.

Kara Jeffrey, Sr., Fairfield

The 6'0 center for the Trojans over the last two seasons is another example of a Fairfielder collecting All-GTNS accolades in multiple sports during her senior year with Jeffrey having already captained the large school volleyball squad in November, her third All-GTNS overall at that point with this being her first selection to the basketball team.

The standout student-athlete scored 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season and 313 and 304 for her career, respectively, while also dishing out 32 assists, nabbing 40 steals and blocking 14 shots during her senior campaign. Jeffrey was a second-team All-SEC choice and this is her fourth All-GTNS team.

Isabel Bailey, Sr., Washington

Bailey was the unquestioned leader of the Demons with team highs in points per game (8.0), free throws made and attempted (43 of 75), field goals made and attempted (49 of 153), assists (35) and steals (40).

Washington had its best record in four years under first-year head coach Shannon Rugg.

The 2018-19 All-GTNS big school girls' basketball team was selected by Doug Brenneman of the Washington Evening Journal, Andy Krutsinger of the Mt. Pleasant News and Justin Webster of the Fairfield Ledger