The 2024-25 Independent Girls Basketball All-Area team

MARSHALL — Marshall’s junior backcourt duo of Taleigha Bigler and Reese Drake headlined the Independent’s 2024-25 girls basketball All-Area Team, announced on Friday. The first team also included Westbrook-Walnut Grove center Leah Carter, Minneota forward Jaylyn Coequyt and Yellow Medicine East freshman forward Bailey Mortenson.

Drake’s 19 points per game, 4.6 assists per game and 3.5 steals per game were all area-highs. She was efficient with her scoring as well, shooting 53% from the field and 43% from 3-point range.

Bigler also put together a well-rounded effort on the year. In addition to being among the area’s premier perimeter defenders, she averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 steals on 47% shooting from the field and 42% from beyond the arc. Her 149 3-pointers made were an area high.

Even when Bigler’s shot wasn’t falling, she found ways to contribute to winning. In the Section 2AAA championship game, she dished out 14 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds while turning the ball over just twice.

The Tigers also had another pair of all-area honorees with Avery Schneekloth in the second team and senior Paige Gillingham on the third team. Avery Fahl was also an honorable mention after joining Drake and Bigler on the Class AAA All-Tournament team.

The Tigers’ deep lineup allowed them to finish as Class AAA state runners-up. Marshall was the only one of the Independent’s 12 girls basketball teams to advance past the section quarterfinals.

Carter was a driving force of WWG’s resurgence this season despite graduating last year’s Player of the Year, Izzy Klumper. The junior forward an area-best 13.3 rebounds per game.

Beyond her value on the glass, Carter was also a prolific scorer with 18.9 points per game on 43% shooting from the field and 74% shooting from the free-throw line.

Carter, along with All-Area second-team selection Riley Parker, helped the Chargers put together a 19-8 record on the season, reaching the Section 3A quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek.

After the Minneota girls basketball team graduated much of its roster from last season, Coequyt rose to the challenge to become one of the area’s most dangerous post players in her sophomore season. She averaged 18.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Vikings, shooting 45% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line.

Mortenson also had a breakout season as a freshman for Yellow Medicine East. Joining Carter as one of two area players to average a double-double with 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. She also set a YME single-game scoring record with 43 points in a play-in victory over Wabasso.

Mortenson was aided by the play of third-team selection Alana Almich in showing growth for the Sting on the court this season.

Canby’s backcourt duo of Ava Danielson and Brynn Kockelman each earned second-team selections, as did the Lakeview duo of center Anah Schmidt and guard Brynn Stensrud.

Tia Donkersloot was the area’s block champion with 2.2 per game, giving the Red Rock Central junior a third-team selection, while Dawson-Boyd guard Claire Stratmoen averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds to round out the third team.

The Independent will announce its Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in Thursday’s sports section.

BY THE NUMBERS

(Listed in alphabetical order)

Taleigha Bigler

16.7 PPG, 3.9 APG, 4.8 RPG, 2.9 SPG, 1.7 TPG, 47/42/74%, 149 3PM

Leah Carter

18.9 PPG, 0.6 APG, 13.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 3.0 TPG, 0.9 BPG, 43/31/74%

Jaylyn Coequyt

18.3 PPG, 0.7 APG, 9.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 3.3 TPG, 1.0 BPG, 45/0/70%

Reese Drake

19.0 PPG, 4.6 APG, 6.0 RPG, 3.5 SPG, 1.7 TPG, 53/43/71%, 120 3PM

Bailey Mortenson

17.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 10.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG

SECOND TEAM

Ava Danielson, Canby, So., G

12.0 PPG, 1.7 APG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 2.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 42/25/69%

Brynn Kockelman, Canby, Jr., G

15.2 PPG, 3.3 PPG, 2.2 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.8 TPG, 0.3 BPG, 36/35/78%, 68 3PM

Anah Schmidt, Lakeview, Jr., C

12.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 TPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 42/0/67%

Avery Schneekloth, Marshall, So., F

10.0 PPG, 1.7 APG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 0.9 TPG, 0.6 BPG, 52/23/81%

Brynn Stensrud, Lakeview, Jr., G

17.5 PPG, 41 3PM, 38/32/67%, 2.3 SPG

THIRD TEAM

Alana Almich, YME, Jr., F

11.1 PPG, 1.5 APG, 9.5 RPG, 0.8 SPG

Tia Donkersloot, RRC, Jr., C

9.6 PPG, 0.6 APG, 8.0 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 2.7 TPG, 2.2 BPG, 44/14/53%

Paige Gillingham, Marshall, Sr., F

10.1 PPG, 1.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 TPG, 47/33/54%, 55 3PM

Riley Parker, WWG, Sr., G

15.0 PPG, 1.2 APG, 4.9 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.9 TPG, 35/32/61%, 44 3PM

Claire Stratmoen, Dawson-Boyd, Fr., G

11.7 PPG, 0.3 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 TPG, 35/34/55%, 37 3PM

HONORABLE

MENTION

Melaina Ankrum, TMB, So., G

Ava Deacon, MCC, Jr., G

Avery Fahl, Marshall, Jr., F

Avery Schreurs, RTR, Sr., G

Anistasia Smith, Wabasso, Sr., C