When the 2016-17 Bridgeport High School girls’ basketball season ended in the opening round of the Class AA state tournament in Charleston, Coach Dennis Hutson knew well that the Indians wouldn’t have gotten there – or finished 16-10 – without the play of senior Quinn Stalnaker.
Stalnaker, who spent the offseason shedding weight and playing basketball, finished the year as the Indians’ leading score at more than 15 points per game. And she did it by shooting a blistering 71 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the foul line.
Those numbers and her efforts continued to pay off as the postseason awards are pouring in. Already a first team All-Big 10 Conference selection, Stalnaker received one of the state’s highest girls’ basketball honors. She was named to the Class AA All-State girls’ basketball second team.
The team is picked by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. The writers use ballots and ballots from coaches statewide to help shape their choices.
Although no other BHS player made the first, second or third teams, two members of the Tribe did receive honorable mention status. Senior Gianina Renzelli and sophomore Emily Riggs were both honorable mention. Riggs will be counted on as one of the team’s leaders next year, while Renzelli leaves after leading the team at point guard for four seasons.
Incredibly, eight of the 21 members on the first, second and third team were members of Big 10 Conference teams. Stalnakers is among the eight.
Harrison County fared well with two additional picks. Senior Hope Bray of Lincoln was named to the first team, while teammate Gracey Lamm, a junior, joined Stalnaker on the second team.
The rest of the 2017 West Virginia Girls Basketball Class AA All-State is listed below, along with honorable mention selections.
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