30 Years Of All-Area Voting: St. James Players, Coaches Dominate

The Washington Missourian named its 30th all-area basketball team last month and on the girls side, St. James has dominated player and coach of the year honors.

The team is voted on by area coaches and media members. Eligible players typically come from Four Rivers Conference schools, Borgia, Washington and Crosspoint Christian School in Villa Ridge.

St. James has had 13 player of the year honors and three head coaches have been named coach of the year eight times.

Sullivan has had just three player of the year honors — Hailee Parks and two for Mallory Shetley. Former head coach Jason Merkel was chosen as coach of the year four times. Head coach Jordan Flora won this season and arguably had a case in 2018-2019 as well.

New Haven has six player of the year honors and five coach of the year honors.

Borgia has four player of the year honors and three coach of the year honors.

Hermann and Washington each have two player of the year honors. Hermann’s coaches have won top honors five times.

Sullivan

Sullivan has won seven district championships since 2005-2006, which was Merkel’s first season, but the Lady Eagles have rarely been recognized in the top all-area voting.

Some of their best players have moved on to the collegiate level, but it’s Parks and Shetley who got the honors.

Parks won the first honor for Sullivan in 2008-2009 when she averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game for a Lady Eagles squad that advanced to the quarterfinals.

Ten years later, Shetley received the top honor when, as a junior, she averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game. This past season she took the award for the second straight year.

Merkel, who won six titles, was recognized as coach of the year in 2005-2006, 2008-2009, 2012-2013 and 2017-2018. 

St. James

The Lady Tigers have owned player of the year voting. Susan Rhea (1991, 1992) won the first two awards. That was interrupted by Borgia’s Jayne Scanlan (1993), but Amy Rhea (1994, 1995), Bri Butery (1996), Kim Woodruff (1997) and Amy King (1998), carried on the streak for St. James.

Borga’s Jill Unnerstall won in 1999, but St. James Evelyn Laycock won the award in 2000 and 2001, giving the Lady Tigers nine player of the year honors in the first 11 seasons of voting.

Over the next seven seasons, the award would bounce between New Haven and St. James.

The Lady Shamrocks’ Kristina Bailey won in 2002 and 2003. St. James’ Jennifer Bowen won in 2004 and 2005. Kathleen Scheer (2006-2008) won three straight from there.

Shelby Winkelmann won the only two honors for Hermann in 2010 and 2011. St. James’ Brittany Harris-Conway won in 2012. Devin Fuhring won another top honor for the Lady Tigers in 2017.

Borgia’s Janie Arand won the award in 2013, splitting with New Haven’s Rachel Steinhoff. Arand was the sole winner in 2014.

Washington has had two recipients in the last six seasons — Kyra Hardesty (2015) and Jackie Arnold (2018).

Hailey Diestelkamp (2016) is Owensville’s only winner.

On the coaching side, St. James’ Bill Crabtree (1991, 1992, 1996, 1997); Brad Conway (2002, 2004, 2005) and Terry Wells (2017) have won the award for the Lady Tigers.

New Haven has had five coaches of the year: Melanie Schmidt (2001, 2003, 2007), Dave Luecke (2012) and Doug Peirick (2013).

Hermann also has five coaches of the year: Todd Anderson (2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014) and Andy Emmons (2019).

Borgia’s coaches have won three times: Doug Light (1993) and Duane Haddox (1998-1999). 

Randy Crowe (1994, 2000) won twice for Owensville, while Steve Tappmeyer (2016) also won for the Dutchgirls. Jon Pinnell (1995) was the only recipient for Union.