The West Central Area girls basketball team proved to be one of the best Class A programs in the state by the end of the season. Through the regular season, the Knights finished second in the Pheasant Conference and had two players earn all-conference honors in junior guard Lexi Bright and senior guard Brynn Fernholz.
WCA shared the conference with another top team in Class A in Hancock. The Owls finished 10-0 in league play and beat the Knights (8-2 Pheasant Conference) twice during the regular season before WCA beat Hancock in the Section 6A playoffs on its way to the state tournament.
Bright earned MVP honors in the Pheasant Conference. She does a little bit of everything, finishing the season averaging 22.1 points, 4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game.
Fernholz (7.1 PPG, 2.2 SPG) joined Bright on the all-league team, while junior forward Elizabeth Rustan (7.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 SPG) and sophomore forward Claire Stark (6.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG) were honorable-mention selections for the Knights.
Hancock had the most representatives on the team with juniors Carlee Hanson, Rylee Hanson, Tori Pahl and senior Alexis Staples making the all-conference team. Brandon-Evansville seniors Bailey Schaefer and Mikenna Pattrin also made the team after the Chargers finished 3-4 and in fifth place in the conference.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hancock’s Tony Thielke was named the Pheasant Conference Coach of the Year.
Others who made All-Pheasant Conference team are: Isabelle Schmidt (Wheaton-Herman-Norcross), Brylie Schultz (WHN), Reanna Ward (Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley), Lora Botker (CGB), Jessica Moberg (CGB) and Mackenzie Foss (Hillcrest Lutheran). Ellissa Rinke (WHN) and Madison Foss (Hillcrest Lutheran) were honorable-mention selections.
