By ALISSA NOE | Colorado Preps
PUBLISHED: April 2, 2023 at 4:03 p.m. | UPDATED: April 2, 2023 at 4:04 p.m.
After a season filled with strong gameplay and a few surprises, 12 local basketball players made their way onto CHSAA’s all-state lists.
Sterling’s Ryder McConnell made enough of a splash in Class 4A to earn a spot in honorable mention after he averaged 18.1 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game to lead the 17-7 Tigers.
The 2A all-state team saw a much larger pool of representatives from the local kids.
On the boys side, Merino junior guard Tyler Miller made second team after leading the 15-8 Rams with 20.3 PPG. Caliche saw honorable mention representation from senior small forward Tanner Gerk, who shone for the Buffaloes with 14.5 PPG and 8.7 RPG.
On the 2A ladies’ side, Caliche junior guard Karsyn Huss found her way onto second team after leading her girls to seven wins with 18.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Merino girls basketball, however, provided the most starpower out of the local teams.
Junior forward Makenna Sutter earned 2A first team for the Rams after she put together a complete daily performance with 12.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 3.9 SPG. Freshman guard/forward Kya Piel made noise with a second-team selection and an impressive 13.3 PPG, 6.2 APG and 4.2 SPG. Sophomore Veronica Baray claimed a spot on honorable mention with 4.7 PPG and 2.8 SPG.
Collectively, the Ram ladies helped amass a 23-4 record.
Logan County’s 1A talent impressed as well, led by a quartet of Fleming players. On the girls’ side, senior guard/forward Kally Kirkwood dominated for the 16-9 Wildcats with 11.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 3.4 SPG, and earned second team for her efforts. Her teammate, Laney Schliesser, made honorable mention with 3.0 PPG and 3.8 RPG.
The Fleming boys housed a couple of honorable mentions themselves with senior guard Braylen Feather and senior guard/forward Kolten Houser. Feather led the 13-8 Wildcats with 15.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 5.3 APG and 3.2 SPG and Houser added another 14.6 PPG.
Finally, Peetz freshman Rhyder Bayne earned his own spot on honorable mention after his 10-13 Bulldogs shocked their way into 1A Regionals. He carried them forward with 16.6 PPG.
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