Mary Ostrowski Award possibilities at the halfway point
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The Mary Ostrowski Award is the Mountain State’s honor recognizing the best prep girls’ basketball player. Given annually by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and sponsored by the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the honor named after Tennessee and Parkersburg…
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Continue ReadingThe Mary Ostrowski Award is the Mountain State’s honor recognizing the best prep girls’ basketball player.
Given annually by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and sponsored by the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the honor named after Tennessee and Parkersburg Catholic great Mary Ostrowski consistently receives some of the heaviest attention of any of the state awards distributed year in and year out.
Several past winners of the award have gone on to play professional basketball in Alexis Hornbuckle and Taryn McCutcheon. Currently, the reigning award winners are Bailee Goins, a recent graduate of Nitro, and Fairmont Senior senior guard Marley Washenitz Marley Washenitz 5'9" | CG Fairmont Senior | 2022 State WV .
Except for McCutcheon who moved to Michigan her senior year, returning award winners usually capture the award a second time, however, the field sits packed at the halfway point.
Here are a few possibilities, in no particular order, for this year’s honor.
Dionna Gray Dionna Gray 5'3" | PG Huntington | 2022 State WV , Point Guard, 2022, Huntington
Eleven games into the season provided plenty of reasons why Huntington High sits as the favorite to repeat at the Class AAAA state championships.
Gray stands as the biggest reason. And it isn’t even close.
The Kent State signee expertly leads a starting five full to the brim of weapons. She knows who’s hot, who’s not, and how to get the ball to everyone to give them the best opportunity to score.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Armed with a confident shot that feels like it is always going in, she makes sure defenses can’t just key in on her teammates. And if they crowd her along the three-point line, her first step off the dribble is quick enough to make them pay. She can finish in several ways around the rim. Then once she’s scored or compiled an assist, her quick hands and defensive instincts make for a complete player needing accounting for at all times.
Meredith Maier Meredith Maier 6'0" | PF Fairmont Senior | 2022 State WV , Center, 2022, Fairmont Senior
Maier looks like a million dollars on the basketball court this season.
Every bit of it, in fact.
It shouldn’t really be surprising after she experienced so much success on the W.Va. Thunder’s top team over the summer. Her confidence sits at an all-time high after such a successful few months.
And it sure shows.
Whatever your definition of a center is, Maier is matching it and then some. She’s playing hard defense down on the block and scoring in the paint. But she’s also spreading the court with her 3-point shot and making it just that much harder for teams to successfully shut down the Polar Bears’ offense.
Marshall is certainly getting a standout player in Maier.
Marley Washenitz Marley Washenitz 5'9" | CG Fairmont Senior | 2022 State WV , Guard, 2022, Fairmont Senior
One of the reigning players of the year has experienced a roller coaster of a season so far thank to recruiting drama.
Nevertheless, Washenitz remains a difficult player to shut down on the floor. Her handles, shooting, and vision remain top notch. There are times where she openly forces plays, but those are few and far between. Mostly, she’s the same player just trying to lead her team to another appearance in a state championship game.
Equipped with Division I talent, she’s receiving plenty of attention now that her recruiting has opened up once again.
Peyton Ilderton Peyton Ilderton 5'6" | CG Logan | 2022 State WV , Guard, 2022, Logan
Ilderton is the player you get when combining heart, hustle and an open willingness to be whatever her team needs her to be into one body.
It’s the truth.
The Wildcat won’t dominate many games, but that’s just fine. She provides better services, like taking what a defense gives her and doing whatever her team asks of her. That assignment could be a lot on a given night or a little. Maybe its sneakily scoring 20 points, not letting anyone in front of her on the defensive end, or always creating confusion while moving without the ball on the offensive side. It may be a coincidence or not, but she just has a great knack for making the little plays that end up making the biggest differences.
With all of these positive attributes, it’s no wonder many coaches wish to add her to their roster. She’s a great fit for many teams.
Halley Smith, Guard, 2022, Frankfort
Talk about rising to the occasion!
After leading scorer and returning Class AA All-State player Marie Perdew was lost to the season with an injury, Smith stepped up in a huge way.
Forced to give more of herself, the Falcon point guard has head coach Steve Willison’s group sitting at a pretty 7-3. Because she’s been ready for any situation, she’s flourished during the hot start. Her great first step, nice handles, and ability to cause problems on defense make her an instrumental piece for the Falcons going forward, too.
Add in her range, and it’s not hard to see why Smith may be receiving some late college offers.