The votes are in for the inaugural MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year selections in girls basketball. Nearly every coach in the state was provided the opportunity via e-mail to choose his/her top five players, and the selections below are based solely on those nominations, including the respective classification players of the year. Players must have been recognized by at least two coaches to be selected. 
Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central
File photo by Dennis Marpuri
Class 5A
Player of the year: Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central, Sr.
Kame was the most complete player in the classification, as well as the most consistent throughout the season. Her 26.2 scoring average easily led 5A, and she also averaged 8.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.8 steals and 2.1 blocks in leading the Warriors to the Sweet 16. The University of San Diego signee totaled eight games of 30 or more points, including one 40-point effort, and scored 31 in both of the Warriors’ playoff games. Kame, a 6-footer, has been selected to participate in The Show all-star game and the Colorado High School Coaches Association’s All-State Games.
Starting Five: Amy Kame, Grand Junction Central, Sr.; Shae Kelley, Denver East, Sr.; Katelyn McDaniel, Highlands Ranch, Sr.; Carli Moreland, Legacy, Sr.; D’Shara Strange, Fountain-Fort Carson, Sr.
Honorable mention: Demitra Apergis, Columbine, Sr.; Alex Evans, Monarch, Sr.; Brooke Jelniker, ThunderRidge, Sr.; Alexus Johnson, Monarch, So.; Kim Lockridge, Heritage, Sr.; Carlie Needles, ThunderRidge, Jr.; Quincey Noonan, Legacy, Sr.; Megan O’Neil, Regis Jesuit, Sr.; Sendy Valles, Highlands Ranch, Sr.
Class 4A
Player of the year: Alison Gorrell, Conifer, Jr.
Gorrell gets the slight nod over Longmont’s Jamie Katuna for top honors in 4A. In leading the Lobos to the state semifinals, where they were bested by eventual four-time champion Broomfield, Gorrell averaged a classification-best 26.0 points a game, while also contributing 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 5.7 steals an outing. She also has been selected to participate in The Show all-star game. The 5-foot-10 Gorrell, perhaps, will be the state’s top recruit next season and has received interest from numerous Division I programs.
Starting Five: Alison Gorrell, Conifer, Jr.; Jamie Katuna, Longmont, Jr.; Kaitlyn Mileto, Mesa Ridge, Jr.; Katie Nehf, Broomfield, Jr.; Hayley Thompson, Mullen, Sr.
Honorable mention: Bre Burgesser, Broomfield, Jr.; Ellie Carter, Pueblo East, Sr.; Courtney Cordova, Rifle, Sr.; Amy Ekart, Berthoud, Sr.; Tambre Haddock, Longmont, Jr.; Kenzi Kuhn, Glenwood Springs, Jr.; Madalyn Neely, D’Evelyn, So.; Kyra Peterson, Centaurus, Sr.; Erin Stumbaugh, Mountain View, Jr.; Janae Vander Ploeg, Cheyenne Mountain, So.
Class 3A
Player of the year: Christina Whitelaw, St. Mary’s, Sr.
This classification easily produced the most spirited race for top honors. Each of the Starting Five below made a strong case for consideration, but the 5-foot-9 Whitelaw is the narrow choice by state coaches for carrying the Pirates to a fifth-place finish at state. Whitelaw averaged 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 7.4 steals and will participate in both The Show and All-State Games.
Starting Five: Mary Brinton, Pagosa Springs, Jr.; Kimmy Hansen, Estes Park, Jr.; Sarah Talamantes, Holy Family, Jr.; Brianne VandeGriend, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.; Christina Whitelaw, St. Mary’s, Sr.
Honorable mention: Beth Cheney, Eaton, Jr.; Sammi Gentile, Salida, Sr.; Taylor Helbig, Holy Family, Jr.; Aniecia Lujan, Bennett, Sr.; Alicia Nichols, Brush, Sr.; Kelsie Neill, Yuma, Sr.; Madison Page, Jefferson Academy, Jr.; Jeri Pikul, Buena Vista, Sr.; Dallas Rohrbaugh, Erie, Jr.; Morgan Stansberry, Olathe, Jr.; Erin Vanderpool, Grand Valley, Sr.; Alex Wilson, Holy Family, Sr.
Class 2A
Player of the year: Jordyn Rienks, Paonia, Sr.
Paonia dominated the classification this season with a 25-1 record (the lone loss coming to 3A Olathe), and Rienks was the Eagles’ top performer. The scoring average of 11 points a game certainly is modest, but Paonia regularly played its entire roster to ease through its many blowout victories. In leading the Eagles to their first state title, the 5-foot-11 Rienks was at her best in the playoffs in being selected MVP of the state tournament. She has been selected to participate in the All-State Games.
Starting Five: Brianna Bard, Wray, Sr.; Megan Beiriger, Sangre de Cristo, Sr.; Sydney Clarkson, Akron, Jr.; Kayla Gabehart, Kiowa. Sr.; Jordyn Rienks, Paonia, Sr.
Honorable mention: Makenzie Ault, Sedgwick County, Jr.; Taylor Castillo, Kiowa, Sr.; Stacey Fitzgibbons, Meeker, Sr.; Karly Lindroth-Yates, Colorado Springs School, Sr.; Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford, Sr.; Shelby Morgan, La Veta, Sr.; Alex Ochoa, Fountain Valley, Jr.; Grayson Pipher, Paonia, Sr.; Vanessa Vigil, Front Range Christian, Jr.; Brittany Weber, Burlington, Sr.
Class A
Player of the year: Danielle Lewis, Kim, Sr.
Lewis was the unanimous choice after leading the Mustangs to the state championship and a 26-0 season. The MVP of the state tournament, where she scored a game-best 18 points in the title game, the 5-foot-6 Lewis averaged 14.8 points this season, despite sitting in the second half of numerous blowout wins. Lewis has been selected to play in The Show and the All-State Games. She has signed to play at Adams State.
Starting Five: Samantha Cure, Idalia, Sr.; Danielle Lewis, Kim, Sr.; Jordan May, Stratton, Sr.; Sandra Morales, Wiley, Sr.; Haley Sheldon, Kim, Sr.
Honorable mention: Adele Cass, Pawnee, So.; Beth Cooper, Hi-Plains, Sr.; Shelby Goodrich, Kim, Sr.; Kaitlyn Hill, Briggsdale, Sr.; Darean Hunt, Woodlin, Jr.; Kelsey Koester, Caliche, Sr.; Anna Kuhns, McClave, Sr.; Whitney McCaffrey, Hi-Plains, Sr.; LaRona Mondt, Briggsdale, Sr.; Jessica Noble, Otis, So.; Tanner Parmely, Wiley, Sr.; Bay’lee Purdy, Deer Trail, So.; Sonja Strong, Dove Creek, Sr.; Jenna Vandenbark, Fleming, Jr.
