Standing tall above the rest

VanLoy selected player of the year

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

WABASSO -- Jessica VanLoy's hunger for the ball, her constant intensity on offense and defense, makes the Wabasso senior the 2004 Journal Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

"I like to run and gun and I like to pressure the ball -- get in people's faces and intimidate them," VanLoy said.

VanLoy's intensity on the court for Wabasso led a team of intense players to the state tournament where the Rabbits' defense and quickness wore down opponents, allowing the Rabbits to claim their Class A title.

"We pressed not only on made baskets but on missed ones too, and that flustered teams," VanLoy said.

Phenomenal career statistics are evidence that VanLoy enjoys the pressure. VanLoy earned nearly 500 points just this season to bring her career total to 1,404 -- nearly 400 more than any other player in the area.

She also has 475 steals, 461 rebounds and 395 assists to her name.

Despite high-scoring teammates, or perhaps because of them, VanLoy averaged 15.1 points per game this season, six steals and five rebounds. Without seeing the team, a person could assume the player was the one star on her team. VanLoy was, but she was surrounded by individuals who were also dominant forces, allowing VanLoy to average 5.1 apg as well.

Sophomore Andrea Fennern scored 14.1 ppg, Ashley Prokosch had 10.5 ppg and Katie Schumacher was not far behind.

VanLoy's high stats in different areas of the game and her teammates' talent mak it a little difficult to define her role on the team.

"I would like to think that I'm the leader on the floor, but it just depends on the game," VanLoy said. "If someone is hot, I get it to them. Whatever I needed to be, that is what I'd do."

That determination helped a team to the state tournament that was stopped just short two years in a row.

"Once we finally got past sections, it was something we had to do ... it really seemed possible," VanLoy said. "Getting there was a feat, and winning it was just awesome."

After achieving the goal she had made for herself and her team several years ago, VanLoy is now looking to set new goals.

"It's going to be hard to try and play next year with a different group of girls -- it's been really fun," VanLoy said.

VanLoy is positive she will play basketball in college next year, but she is unsure of where that will be. If she goes to a school like North Dakota State University, she will only play basketball. If she attends a smaller school like Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., she will have the opportunity to play softball as well.

"With softball coming up, it'd be real nice to get another state championship," VanLoy said. "It's a big reach, but it'd be nice."

So far, the Rabbits are 10-0.