Area’s top basketball stars recognized

By Jimmy Gillispie

jgillispie@stwnewspress.com

After the 2020 state tournament was canceled, the 2020-21 season was a delight for most everyone across the state.

In the News Press area, three teams advanced to their respective state tournament.

Unfortunately, all three suffered close losses.

Several teams had one of their best seasons in a long time, including the Stillwater High girls and Morrison boys.

Here is our All-Area basketball teams.

Boys First Team Gunnar Gordon, Pawnee

The Pawnee High junior returned from tearing his ACL and helped Pawnee return to the state tournament. Gordon averaged 16.4 points per game while shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range.

Ty Grimes, Ripley

As a sophomore, Grimes was selected as a Cimarron 7 All-Conference player for the Warriors. He averaged 14.2 points and eight rebounds per game, taking a big step forward according to Ripley coach Doug Scott.

Brad Reeves, Pawnee

Despite ending his season in the opening minutes of the state tournament due to injury, Reeves still averaged 16.7 points per game for the Black Bears. He shot 63.1 percent from 2-point range and 38.5 percent from behind the arc.

Brody Roe, Morrison

The junior guard was key for the Wildcats in their best season in a long time.

He scored 16.9 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds per contest in helping the Wildcats reach the state tournament.

Jaken Weedn, Glencoe

As a sophomore, Weedn lit up the scoreboard for the Panthers this year. He averaged 21.5 points per game, shooting 42 percent from 3-point range. He also had 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per contest.

Second Team Noah Cash, Perry

A returning starter from last year’s state tournament qualifying team, Cash was named the 89’er Conference Most Valuable Player. He averaged 11.7 points, 6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Brody Coe, Glencoe

In his junior campaign, Coe averaged 10.1 points per game and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per contest. He also dished 2.9 assists per game this year.

A.J. Frost, Stillwater

As a senior, Frost averaged 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in coach Scott Morris’ first year in Stillwater. He also recorded 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Gannon McCutcheon, Perkins-Tryon

As a junior, McCutcheon led the Demons by averaging 12.5 points per game and was named a Tulsa 7 All-Conference player. He grabbed 6.5 rebounds per contest, too, and will be the Demons’ most experienced player next year.

Bayden Reese, Stillwater

The SHS junior led the Pioneers in scoring with 11.2 points per game, while also grabbing 5.6 rebounds and dishing 2.6 assists per contest.

Honorable Mention

Gage Battles, Morrison Allen Brown, Frontier Jordan Beaver, Glencoe Gunnar Bratton, Stillwater Cutter Greene, Perkins-Tryon Landreth Harrison, Pawnee Doug Harshbarger, Morrison Dylan Hight, Perry Trent Hixon, Pawnee Kamden Jones, Pawnee Jake Mitchell, Pawnee Caleb Mollet, Ripley Jalen Powell, Morrison Taten Rupp, Morrison Tre Speer, Glencoe Deklyn Wilhelm, Ripley

Girls First Team Braylee Dale, Perry

In helping the Lady Maroons to the state tournament, Dale led the team with 13.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She will return next year for her senior season with big expectations.

Kayla Frank, Glencoe

Following in the footsteps of Chelsea Lazenby, Frank averaged 23.9 points per game this year. She finished her career with 1,514 points. She also had multiple games with 20, 30 and 40 points this year.

Chrissen Harland, Stillwater

Harland was an All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference honorable mention selection as a junior. She led the Lady Pioneers with 13.4 points per game, while also grabbing 3.4 rebounds per contest.

Erica Terrell, Ripley

An all-conference and allstate selection as a senior, Terrell scored 11.3 points per game this year. She shot 53 percent from 2-point range in helping the Lady Warriors to another successful year.

Claudia Vanzant, Stillwater

In her senior season, Vanzant averaged a double-double en route to helping the Lady Pioneers to its best season in years. She scored 13.1 points and grabbed 10.8 rebounds per game, in addition to being an all-state selection.

Second Team Zoe Dixon, Ripley

The Southwestern University signee led her team in rebounding this year. She scored 8.2 points per game, shooting 76 percent from the foul line.

Jayden Mason, Stillwater

In addition to being a solid defender, Mason was the point guard who often battled full-court pressure all season. She still managed to score 8.2 points and grab 4.3 rebounds per game this year. She shot 48 percent from the field.

Ella Rains, Perkins-Tryon

In her senior season, she was named an Tulsa 7 all-conference player. Rains averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Haeli Stevens, Pawnee

As a junior, Stevens averaged a double-double for the Lady Black Bears. She scored 13.8 points and grabbed 11.3 rebounds per contest.

Aubrey Taylor, Coyle

She finished her Lady Bluejacket career with a total of 1,497 points, averaging 19.4 points per game in her career.

Taylor was also the named the conference MVP this year.

Honorable Mention

Jill Clark, Glencoe Zara Combs, Perkins-Tryon Destiny Dunbar, Pawnee Kennedy Hight, Perry Bailey Kerns, Perkins-Tryon Ashley Larson, Perkins-Tryon Kelsie McCollum, Ripley Carlee Mollet, Ripley Samara Ryba, Glencoe Maebry Shields, Perry McCarthy Speakthunder, Pawnee Josey West, Perry Kennedy Williams, Perry

Stillwater High’s Chrissen Harland was the leading scoring for the Lady Pioneers with 13.4 points per game to earn a spot on the News Press All-Area First Team. She is one of two Stillwater players on the First Team, joining senior Claudia Vanzant. Stillwater’s Jayden Mason was also selected to the News Press All-Area Second Team.

JASON ELMQUIST/STILLWATER NEWS PRESS