Two Baxter girls earn all-conference recognition

Losing its first six games of the year, Baxter’s girls’ basketball team eventually found its stride midway through the season.

The Bolts won more games than they lost in the final 14 games this season, but Baxter’s slow start forced them into a tie for fourth place in the Iowa Star Conference’s South Division.

Baxter (8-12) and GMG both finished 3-6 in conference play, and the two teams beat each other once, too.

Two players from the Bolts earned all-conference honors for their efforts.

Senior Kaylin Van Ryswyk was a second-team selection, while sophomore McKenzie Eslinger claimed honorable mention recognition.

Clarksville’s Kori Wedeking was the Iowa Star Conference’s Most Valuable Player.

Van Ryswyk led the Bolts in scoring and rebounding at 8.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, respectively. She shot 40 percent from the floor and collected 16 steals and seven assists.

In conference play, Van Ryswyk improved her scoring average to 9.4 points per game and grabbed 6.7 rebounds per contest. She made 44 percent of her shots from the floor and finished with 10 steals and two assists.

Eslinger was the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder. She averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while dishing out 18 assists and collecting 13 steals. Eslinger shot 42.6 percent from the floor.

In conference play, Eslinger scored 8.4 points and grabbed 5.4 rebounds per contest. She delivered 10 assists and collected six steals. The Bolt sophomore made 42 percent of her shots from the floor.

Iowa Star Conference

2018-19 Girls Basketball

All-Conference Teams

Elite Team

* Kori Wedeking, Jr., Clarksville

* Briana Baker-Bruce, Sr., Janesville

* Faith Vincent, Sr., Colo-NESCO

Reagan Franzen, So., Collins-Maxwell

Kaitlyn Weber, Sr., Dunkerton

South Division

First Team

* Regan Franzen, So., Collins-Maxwell

* Mikayla Houge, Jr., Collins-Maxwell

* Faith Vincent, Sr., Colo-NESCO

* Rylee Purvis, Jr., Colo-NESCO

* Kelsey Vaverka, Sr., GMG

Payton Tahahwah, Jr., Meskwaki Settlement

* unanimous

Second Team

Kaylin Van Ryswyk, Sr., Baxter

Josie Wierson, Sr., Collins-Maxwell

Lauryn Hill, Jr., Colo-NESCO

Abby Iron Shell, Sr., Meskwaki Settlement

Zoe Duncan, Sr., GMG

Rylee McLean, So., North Tama

Honorable Mention

McKenzie Eslinger, So., Baxter

Gracie Cheville, Sr., Collins-Maxwell

Emma Stalzer, Jr., Colo-NESCO

Mable Dieleman, Sr., GMG

Deandra Navarro, So., Meskwaki Settlement

Katie Kopriva, Jr., North Tama