Hannah Whitish helped lead the Barneveld High School girls basketball team to new heights with dominating, all-around play.
It's how Whitish carried herself off the floor that especially impressed coach Doug Pickarts.
Whitish was named The Associated Press' girls player of the year in Wisconsin Thursday. The senior won two state titles in her four-year career.
Angie Murphy is coach of the year after guiding Verona to its first state championship.
Brodhead senior Kylie Moe was placed on the third team after averaging 22.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game.
Barneveld lost in its trip to the finals after falling to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the Division 5 title game. But Whitish and her fellow seniors will leave behind a record of success that will be difficult to match.
Barneveld won state crowns in 2014 and 2015. The school lost just four games during Whitish's career - all to rival Assumption.
"God gave her great athletic ability," Pickarts said. "What Hannah also has is a great work ethic."
For Whitish, winning the first state title in her sophomore season set a new standard.
"After that gold ball, it's an expectation," Whitish said.
She still works out 90 minutes each day, even if her prep career is over. Lately, the schedule calls for 45 minutes of cone work and shooting drills, followed by 45 minutes of lifting and running.
"It's pretty weird every day I'm in the gym, when I'm shooting around (knowing) there's never going to be that Barneveld community-packed gym anymore," Whitish said.
Lately, it's more about getting ready for college basketball with Whitish headed to Nebraska this fall.
But first there was some rest and relaxation with the family for a vacation in Florida this week during spring break.
The hard-working Whitish never seemed to take a breather in-season, though Pickarts said his star player also always aimed to get teammates involved, too.
A 5-foot-9 point guard, Whitish hit nearly 50 percent from 3-point range and worked hard on defense.
"Truly a great kid. I think she's even a better person than she is a basketball player," Pickarts said. "In her career ... four state championship games. That's remarkable what this kid has done."
Murphy had a memorable playing career herself when she was in high school at Middleton and in college at Kansas, when she was known as Angie Halbleib.
Verona's win in the title game was even more exhilarating for Murphy.
"A feeling like none other," Murphy said. "My best sports memory in my life."
Murphy said the coach-of-the-year honor is a milestone that she shares with players past and present, along with her assistants and everyone else involved with the team.
Off the court, the program has had to cope in recent years with the deaths of two former players, as well as the husband of an assistant coach.
This season ended with hope for the future. Murphy is already getting ready for next year. She enjoyed watching her players develop, "do it the right way and buy in," she said.
It's how Whitish carried herself off the floor that especially impressed coach Doug Pickarts.
Whitish was named The Associated Press' girls player of the year in Wisconsin Thursday. The senior won two state titles in her four-year career.
Angie Murphy is coach of the year after guiding Verona to its first state championship.
Brodhead senior Kylie Moe was placed on the third team after averaging 22.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game.
Barneveld lost in its trip to the finals after falling to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the Division 5 title game. But Whitish and her fellow seniors will leave behind a record of success that will be difficult to match.
Barneveld won state crowns in 2014 and 2015. The school lost just four games during Whitish's career - all to rival Assumption.
"God gave her great athletic ability," Pickarts said. "What Hannah also has is a great work ethic."
For Whitish, winning the first state title in her sophomore season set a new standard.
"After that gold ball, it's an expectation," Whitish said.
She still works out 90 minutes each day, even if her prep career is over. Lately, the schedule calls for 45 minutes of cone work and shooting drills, followed by 45 minutes of lifting and running.
"It's pretty weird every day I'm in the gym, when I'm shooting around (knowing) there's never going to be that Barneveld community-packed gym anymore," Whitish said.
Lately, it's more about getting ready for college basketball with Whitish headed to Nebraska this fall.
But first there was some rest and relaxation with the family for a vacation in Florida this week during spring break.
The hard-working Whitish never seemed to take a breather in-season, though Pickarts said his star player also always aimed to get teammates involved, too.
A 5-foot-9 point guard, Whitish hit nearly 50 percent from 3-point range and worked hard on defense.
"Truly a great kid. I think she's even a better person than she is a basketball player," Pickarts said. "In her career ... four state championship games. That's remarkable what this kid has done."
Murphy had a memorable playing career herself when she was in high school at Middleton and in college at Kansas, when she was known as Angie Halbleib.
Verona's win in the title game was even more exhilarating for Murphy.
"A feeling like none other," Murphy said. "My best sports memory in my life."
Murphy said the coach-of-the-year honor is a milestone that she shares with players past and present, along with her assistants and everyone else involved with the team.
Off the court, the program has had to cope in recent years with the deaths of two former players, as well as the husband of an assistant coach.
This season ended with hope for the future. Murphy is already getting ready for next year. She enjoyed watching her players develop, "do it the right way and buy in," she said.
