Smithville's Keib, Norwayne's Shoup earn All-Inland District girls basketball special honors

Smithville senior Leah Keib developed into one of the area’s most complete hoop stars this season, and for that, she earned co-Division VI NE Inland District Player of the Year, it was announced March 9. Norwayne is an impressive 48-6 since last year under second-year coach Jake Shoup, and with the Bobcats making a second straight trip to the state tournament, Shoup was named the Div. V Coach of the Year.

In Div. V, Norwayne senior guards Ava Maibach (averaged 13.9 points) and Allie DeMassimo (13.6) were both awarded spots on the first team.

Norwayne sophomore Hannah Froelich was a second-team pick, and classmate Courtney Cline was tabbed for honorable mention.

Maibach and DeMassimo weren’t alone locally in Div. V earning first-team honors, as joining them were Chippewa senior Aira Regan (12.0) and Triway senior Sydney Frank, who averaged 13 points as a leader for the program’s second-ever district title.

Earning second-team honors in Div. V were Delaney Marshall (Chippewa), Payton Snyder (Triway) and Brooklyn Butzer (Orrville).

In Div. VI, Keib had plenty of support as locals Kylie Geiser (Waynedale) and Grace Dorffer (Dalton) joined her on the first team. Geiser was an all-around floor leader for the Golden Bears, while Dorffer averaged 13.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Earning second-team honors in Div. VI were Audrey Troyer (Waynedale), Addison Wolford (Loudonville) and Phoebe Lehman (Dalton), while picking up honorable mention selections were Elly Hensel and Jordyn Johnson from Loudonville, Payton Lehman from Dalton and Waynedale’s Natalie Clever.

In Div. VII, Central Christian's Maclaren Fry averaged 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists and earned first-team honors, while teammate Saralyn Stjernholm was selected honorable mention.

Brooke Ritchie paced a rebuilding Wooster squad that improved this season with a record of 12-12 and a trip to the district finals. Ritchie finished averaging 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists and was selected honorable mention in Div. II.