L-B's Gerken, Irwin gain top BVC honors

Liberty-Benton won its seventh consecutive Blanchard Valley Conference title, going undefeated in league play. For that, a number of Eagles received top honors when the all-BVC honors were announced earlier this month. Lauren Gerken was awarded her second consecutive Player of the Year honor. Gerken averaged 19.8 points, 9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.9 steals, and 2 blocks, while shooting 58.5% from the field. Meanwhile, L-B's Nate Irwin was named coach of the year. Irwin announced he was stepping down as Eagles coach last week. Gerken was joined on the first team by Liberty-Benton teammate Riley Irwin. The senior posted averages of 14.6 points, 3 steals, and connected on 39% of her 3-point attempts and made almost 40 more triples than any other player. League runner-up Van Buren had two players on the first team as well in forward Sasha Busey and guard Anna Durliat. Busey averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and shot 52% from the field. Durliat put up 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.1 steals, while shooting 57% from the field and 36.6% from deep. Cory-Rawson, which placed third in the BVC, ended with senior guard Paige McVetta receiving first-team honors as well. McVetta averaged 15.1 points, 4.4 assists, and a league-leading 4.7 steals. Riverdale sophomore Mariah Bonham was a first-team selection. Bonham posted 15.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 1.6 blocks, and shot 56% from the field. Two McComb players were awarded with second-team honors; Lydia Dehart and Madison Schroeder. Derhart ended with averages of 7.8 points, 6 rebounds, with 1.9 blocks. Schroeder averaged 7.2 points, and 2.9 assists per game. Cory-Rawson forward Makayla Gillfillan averaged 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, as she received second-team honors. Liberty-Benton's Kylie Recker finished with averages of 5.2 assists, 2.7 steals, and a field-goal percentage of 54.3%. Emily Rank of Arcadia posted 8.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.1 steals, and shot 50%. Brooklyn Smith averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and made 38.5% of her three-pointers. Vanlue's Mara Simon and Olivia Secord finished with third-team honors. Simon ended the season averaging 8.6 points, a league-leading 10.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. Secord averaged 7.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.8 steals. Chelcie and Morgan McVetta of Cory-Rawson each were awarded with third-team selections. Chelcie averaged 10.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, while Morgan averaged 2.1 assists and made 26 three-pointers, helping the Hornets to a 15-win season. Liberty-Benton's Karis Willow and Addi Crow were also third-team selections. Willow finished the season averaging 8.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and blocked a league-high 3.1 shots a night, and also shooting a league-high 61% from the field. Addi Crow averaged 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals and shot a league-leading 40% from distance. Van Buren's Zoe Fruth was also awarded third-team honors, as she posted averages of 9.1 points, 7 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and shot 35% on three-point attempts. All-BVC Girls Basketball First Team Lauren Gerken (L-B), Jr.; Sasha Busey (VB), Sr.; Riley Irwin (L-B), Sr.; Paige McVetta (C-R), Sr.; Anna Durliat (VB), Jr.; Mariah Bonham (RIV), So. Second Team Brooklyn Smith (ARL), Jr.; Emily Rank (ARC), Sr.; Madison Schroeder (McC), Sr.; Makayla Gillfillan (C-R), Sr.; Lydia Dehart (McC), Sr.; Kylie Recker (L-B), Sr. Third Team Zoe Fruth (VB), Jr.; Chelcie McVetta (C-R), Jr.; Addi Crow (L-B), Jr.; Karis Willow (L-B), Sr.; Mara Simon (VAN), Jr.; Morgan McVetta (C-R), So.; Olivia Secord (VAN), So. Honorable Mention Arlington: Madi Russell, Jada Smith. Arcadia: Ava Courtney, Addy Coleman. Cory-Rawson: Brynn Reese, Lainie Kempf. Liberty-Benton: Sophia Barbara, Lindsay May. McComb: Cassidy Bryan, Kaylee Allison. Pandora-Gilboa: Savanah Knueven, Aliyah Wise. Riverdale: Kinsey Shull, Maddie Biltoft. Van Buren: Paige Bowman, Brylee Ponn. Vanlue: Lexi Brooks, Adrienne Phillips.