A lot of newspapers do an "all-area team" that recognizes great athletes from the past sports season. I'm not ruling anything out after this season is all said and done, but with only two writers on staff, I don't want to feel super biased toward anyone.

Instead, this little write-up is me picking who from the area I would want on my all-star team. Basketball is an easy sport to choose from because of the limited number of positions and the superstar athletes that play in them.

I am not a coach, though if my writing career ever falls apart, that is likely one of the routes I will look to walk down.

So, without further adieu, here is my Area All-Star team, putting kids from big schools and small schools, great records and individual talent for both boys and girls.

First up, the girls

The girls team was a lot easier for me to come up with than the boys team, because the top-tier players are that much better than everyone else.

My list will be of 12 players, regardless of position. However, I will try to even out the positions the best I can, since my team is built to take on other all-star teams.

Starting lineup: senior guard Emily Rufenacht, Monroe; junior guard Kimee Chandler, Pecatonica; junior forward Ashley Hermanson, Monroe; junior forward Dana Lewis, Brodhead; and senior center Kristen Ruchti, Brodhead.

Reserves: junior guard Gwen Sutter, Monroe; sophomore guard Kyleigh Sellnow, Monroe; senior guard Paige Butler, Black Hawk; junior center Jamie Armstrong, Monroe; senior forward Brittany Kent, Pecatonica; junior forward Heather Boeke, Juda; and junior forward Kim Wellnitz, Black Hawk.

Reasoning for my

starting lineup

Every team needs a true point guard who can pass, play defense and score when needed. Emily Rufenacht is that player. In fact, so is Kimee Chandler. Chandler is probably the most talented player in the area, so it's no wonder she's getting collegiate offers from Loyola-Chicago and UW-Milwaukee.

I have three forwards in my starting lineup, with the four best post players in southern Wisconsin to choose from.

I chose Ashley Hermanson and Dana Lewis because they are true post players who play physical in the paint, tear down rebounds, and work hard on and off the court.

I have Ruchti in my starting lineup not only to be my center (I mean, she did sign a letter of intent to play in college), but because she has the ball handling and shooting skills to be a solid 3 in my lineup, allowing two 4s to thrive.

No. 1 off the bench is Armstrong. The only reason she isn't in my starting lineup is because she can take over for any of the three forwards without missing a beat.

No. 2 off the bench is Sutter. A control guard who has a knack for rebounding and can hit 3s. Everyone else would find their way into the lineup without a problem.

Now for the boys

Starting lineup: Senior guard Mitch Tordoff, Monroe; senior guard Mitch McArdle, Monroe; senior guard Jake Bast, New Glarus; sophomore guard Alex Erickson, Darlington; and sophomore center J.J. Panoske, Brodhead.

Reserves: Senior guard Kaleb Feller, Pecatonica; junior guard Jacob Cole, Brodhead; senior guard Logan Lockard, New Glarus; senior forward Brandon Holz, Monticello; senior forward Ryan Miller, Brodhead; senior forward Beau Benner, Juda; and senior forward Michael Place, Black Hawk.

This team was really hard for me to choose. I had another four or five guys I could put on the team without a problem at all: Jake Grinnell, senior, Monroe; Bryan Tordoff, sophomore, Monroe; Michael Barrett, sophomore, Monroe; and Cassidy Flannery, senior, New Glarus, just to name a few.

However... Reasoning's:

For my starters, I went with four guards. It's just the luck of the draw, I guess.

Mitch Tordoff is a given - he's the best player in the area. Erickson was nearly a given - outside of Mitch Tordoff, he's the best shooter in the area. Bast is possibly the most athletic player of the group.

Mitch McArdle can score, but gives every team the true point guard with nasty defense. He is the equivalent of vintage Jason Kidd.

And Panoske because, well, not only does every team need a post player, but to have a 6-9 beast that can not only block every foreseeable shot, he also can throw it down, grab rebounds, and hit shots from anywhere on the court.

Let's face it, for the boys team my squad would run and shoot. The girls would destroy the other team in the paint, then kick it out for 3s, all while playing the toughest defense known to girls' basketball.

My reserves were selected to balance the workload, plus they are the best players throughout the rest of the area (and receive great accolades from their coaching staff).

Feller is another shooter, Cole is McArdle's backup, Lockard is the playmaking 3 off the bench, along with Holz.

Miller and Benner would have slashing duties, while Place would just dominate the boards and be the steady solid guy he is every game.

I would take this team up against nearly any all-star team in the state (Not counting Milwaukee, Madison, and the Greater Metro areas).

Do you like it? Do you hate it? Let me know, because I am pretty sure these rosters are nearly as legit as can be.

-Adam Krebs is the sports editor for the Monroe Times and can be reached at sportseditor@

themonroetimes.com