Menu
2016-17 All-Missourian Girls Basketball Team
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Kylie Wilhite, jr., Chaffee
Jersey number: 30
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: Guard
Favorite team tradition: Praying before every game
Favorite memory from this season: Winning third in conference
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: 3-point line
Favorite gym to play in: Chaffee
Favorite shoes to play in: Nikes
Favorite basketball player: Kyrie Irving
Best player you've faced: Sam Brennan
Describe your coach in three words or less: Loud
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Mattison Cline or Bridgette Swinford
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Keeping composure when things get bad
What part of your game do you want to improve: Defense
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Don't be nervous, just have fun
What does basketball mean to you: Basketball has always been my favorite sport, I've played since second grade. It's something I can always count on.
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Jackie Verseman, jr., St. Vincent
Jersey number: 33/34
Height: 5-foot-11
Position: Post
Favorite team tradition: Getting "cigars" (tootsie pops) from coach after every win.
Favorite memory from this season: Beating Grandview and being able to compete with Oran
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Free-throw line
Favorite gym to play in: SV gym
Favorite shoes to play in: My Nike shoes
Favorite basketball player: Jenna Winkler
Best player you've faced: Macy Ketcherside (Grandview)
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Jenna Winkler
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Shoot from outside the paint and being able to see where a pass is made before it happens
What part of your game do you want to improve: My hesitation when shooting outside shots and my pump fakes
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Not to doubt my abilities and always know that you have the size advantage
What does basketball mean to you: Hard work and dedication
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Jessie Long, soph., Oran
Jersey number: 33
Height: 5-foot-11
Position: Center
Favorite team tradition: Praying before every game
Favorite memory from this season: Making it to the final four
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Anywhere
Favorite gym to play in: Oran
Favorite shoes to play in: Nikes
Favorite basketball player: Michael Hood
Best player you've faced: Chaylea Mosby
Describe your coach in three words or less: Funny, caring
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Claire Ramsey
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Shooting
What part of your game do you want to improve: Shooting
Best basketball-related advice you're received: You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take
What does basketball mean to you: The world
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Leah Cauble, soph., Oran
Jersey number: 32
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: Point guard
AAU/travel team: Southeast Dynasty
Favorite team tradition: Prayer before each game, jamming in locker rooms
Favorite memory from this season: Making it to state
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Anywhere
Favorite gym to play in: Oran High School Gym
Favorite shoes to play in: Nikes
Favorite basketball player: Michael Jordan
Best player you've faced: Chaylea Mosby
Describe your coach in three words or less: Competitive, funny, caring
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Kaylee Payne and Claire Ramsey
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Ball handling, shooting
What part of your game do you want to improve: All aspects of the game
Best basketball-related advice you're received: You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take
What does basketball mean to you: The world
Andrew J. Whitaker ~ awhitaker@semissourian.com
Rylee Stafford, sr., Jackson
Jersey number: 15
Height: 5-foot-5
Position: Shooting guard
AAU/travel team: TC Hoops
Plans after graduation: I plan on attending college and majoring in either architecture or graphic design (undecided)
Favorite team tradition: Gameday snapchats #gameday
Favorite memory from this season: Winning sectionals!
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Free-throw line
Favorite gym to play in: Next to our home gym, Poplar Bluff's gym
Favorite shoes to play in: Adidas
Favorite basketball player: Maya Moore
Best player you've faced: Jaidah Stewart from Webster Groves
Describe your coach in three words or less: Disciplined, prepared, passionate
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Abby Hermann
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Focus and a competitive heart. Always determined.
What part of your game do you want to improve: Ball handling and passing
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Always use the backboard
What does basketball mean to you: Basketball has always been a part of my life and has given me numerous opportunities/relationships. I'm beyond grateful to have been a part of the Jackson basketball family.
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Krista Rhodes, jr., Woodland
Jersey number: 11
Height: 5-foot-11
Position: Forward/guard
Favorite team tradition: Praying before every game
Favorite memory from this season: Scoring my 1,000th point.
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: 3-ball from the right corner
Favorite gym to play in: Woodland High School gym
Favorite shoes to play in: I really don't care
Best player you've faced: Leah Cauble
Describe your coach in three words or less: Understanding and wise
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Abbey Williams
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Mental toughness
What part of your game do you want to improve: My ball handling
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Every possession matters so play hard every minute of the game
Laura Simon ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Sam Brennan, sr., Notre Dame
Jersey number: 25
Height: 5-foot-7
Position: Guard/point guard
AAU/travel team: TC Hoops
Plans after graduation: Play basketball at Benedictine College, then nursing.
Favorite team tradition: Pregame chapel talks
Favorite memory from this season: Tying the game against Saxony with a buzzer beater, and beating Jackson
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: 3-pointer
Favorite gym to play in: Notre Dame
Favorite shoes to play in: Nikes
Favorite basketball player: Skylar Diggins
Describe your coach in three words or less: Driven
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Allie Ziegler
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Ball handling
What part of your game do you want to improve: Shooting off the dribble or pass
Best basketball-related advice you're received: It's not over, till it's over
What does basketball mean to you: It's been a huge part of my life ever since I was little, so it means a lot to me
Fred Lynch ~ flynch@semissourian.com
Abbie Reece, jr., Cape Central
Jersey number: 34
Height: 5-foot-8
Position: Guard/forward
AAU/travel team: TC Hoops
Favorite team tradition: Jamming in the locker room to Katherine's music before games
Favorite memory from this season: The season as a whole because we played together as a team and improved. Watch us next year ;)
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Floater from the baseline
Favorite gym to play in: Home or Show Me Center
Favorite shoes to play in: Under Armour
Favorite basketball player: Elena Delle Donne -- I wish I was tall like her
Best player you've faced: Tyeshia Mitchell -- She's a great athlete
Describe your coach in three words or less: Supportive, knowledgeable, jumpy
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Katherine Morton
What's your strengths as a basketball player: I'm very adaptable, I can play wherever the coach puts me
What part of your game do you want to improve: 3-point shooting
Best basketball-related advice you're received: "Always practice at game speed," it helps so much in a game situation
What does basketball mean to you: It's my life. It's all I've known the past 10 years. I'm happiest with a basketball in my hand.
Andrew J. Whitaker ~ awhitaker@semissourian.com
Samantha Coffee, fresh., Scott County Central
Jersey number: 0
Height: 5-foot-8
Position: Forward
AAU/travel team: TC Hoops
Favorite team tradition: Listen to music before games
Favorite memory from this season: Advancing to the quarterfinals
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Elbow
Favorite gym to play in: Scott Central
Favorite shoes to play in: Curry's
Favorite basketball player: Kevin Durant
Best player you've faced: Leah Cauble
Describe your coach in three words or less: Excited, passionate, funny
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Breasia
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Defense
What part of your game do you want to improve: Shooting
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Work hard and be aggressive
What does basketball mean to you: I love playing the game
Andrew J. Whitaker ~ awhitaker@semissourian.com
Alexis Allstun, soph., Jackson
Jersey number: 30
Height: 6-foot-1
Position: Center
AAU/travel team: Southeast Dynasty
Favorite team tradition: Taking team bonding trips with school basketball team
Favorite memory from this season: Going to Indianapolis with the team and watching a WNBA game
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Free-throw line
Favorite gym to play in: Our event center
Favorite shoes to play in: I play in Jordans
Favorite basketball player: Stephen Curry
Best player you've faced: My teammates who have made me better
Describe your coach in three words or less: Determined, passionate
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Mah Massey
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Being able to anticipate what will happen on the court
What part of your game do you want to improve: Being able to shoot 3s and work on ball handling
Best basketball-related advice you're received: You have to make mistakes to become great
What does basketball mean to you: Having fun and letting loose
Fred Lynch ~ flynch@semissourian.com
Alyssa Tidwell, soph., Kelly
Jersey number: 13
Height: 5-foot-3
Position: Point guard
Favorite team tradition: Praying before every game
Favorite memory from this season: Getting Christmas presents from Coach Rod
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: The wing
Favorite gym to play in: Kelly gym
Favorite shoes to play in: Nike pro
Favorite basketball player: Stephen Curry
Best player you've faced: Faith Archie
Describe your coach in three words or less: Strict and funny
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: MJ/Marissa Jones
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Handles pressure well
What part of your game do you want to improve: Offense and talking more on the court
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Positive attitude, play hard, play as a team
What does basketball mean to you: I enjoy playing
Andrew J. Whitaker ~ awhitaker@semissourian.com
Laurel Mueller, jr., Saxony Lutheran
Jersey number: 11
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: Guard
Favorite team tradition: Pregame speeches
Favorite memory from this season: Postseason -- fun proving people wrong and going farther than most expected
Favorite spot on the floor to shoot from: Jump shot from the paint
Favorite gym to play in: Mizzou
Favorite basketball player: Aijha Blackwell
Best player you've faced: Aijha Blackwell
Describe your coach in three words or less: Legend
Teammate most likely to make you laugh: Addi Beussink
What's your strengths as a basketball player: Speed
What part of your game do you want to improve: Going up strong to the rim and finishing
Best basketball-related advice you're received: Everything from the daily lectures we get from Coach Sides
What does basketball mean to you: It's a sport I love to play with teammates I love to be with
Gallery photos
