It was a productive year for local girls basketball stars, with four players being named all-conference first team and three more earning honorable mention.
The Montague Wildcats led the way with two first-teamers. Taking third place in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, Montague defeated each conference foe besides the two squads - Ludington and Fremont - that placed ahead of it in the league.
Wildcats Addison Pranger and Braylyn Bultema were named to the first team. Each were reliable double-digit scorers; Pranger's season high was 19 points in the team's opener against Newaygo. Bultema got as high as 20 points in a win over Orchard View and achieved 19 points in three other games. Each player also used their athleticism and determination to be a factor on the defensive end of the court.
Whitehall's Clare Westerlund joined Pranger and Bultema on the first team in the WMC Lakes. The Vikings' best rebounder, Westerlund had a few double-doubles during the season, highlighted by late-season wins over Orchard View in which she combined for 40 points and 23 rebounds.
Reeths-Puffer's Raquel Walker also made the first team in the O-K Green Conference. Walker, the daughter of coach Rodney Walker, had a sparkling freshman season, immediately stepping into a leading role on the inexperienced team. She led the team in scoring in the team's first game and did so in many games thereafter, using her athleticism - she's also a star long jumper on the track team - to be a factor on both ends of the court.
Montague's Maizie Collins and Adilynn Peterson, who each shone in supporting roles for the Wildcats, picked up honorable mention all-WMC Lakes, and Whitehall's Sidney Shepherd, despite not playing basketball in her junior season, achieved honorable mention as a senior.
