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WBCA All-Star games tab 6 local players
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Darlingtons Kennedy Rankin averaged 9.4 points per game this season as the Redbirds won the SWAL title and reached the sectional semifinal. (Times file photo)
MONROE - Six area girls basketball players and five coaches were selected to participate in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game June 15 at JustAgame Fieldhouse in the Wisconsin Dells.

The players include Monroe senior Sydney Mathiason (Division 2 South), Brodhead senior Erin Nyhus (Division 3 South), Darlington senior Kennedy Rankin (Division 4 South), Black Hawk senior Hannah Herbst (Division 5 South), Shullsburg's Brianna Leahy (Division 5 South) and Barneveld's Taryn Pickarts (Division 5 South).

The coaches selected include Monroe head coach Sam Mathiason (Division 2 South), Monroe's Bill Dehn (Division 2 South), Brodhead head coach Brian Kammerer (Division 3 South), Brodhead's Jim Mohns (Division 3 South) and Albany head coach Derik Doescher (Division 3 South).

Each of the players and coaches are raising money to participate in the WBCA All-Star game.

Sydney Mathiason, who averaged 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, helped the Cheesemakers reach the WIAA Division 2 state tournament for the second straight year. New Berlin Eisenhower edged Monroe 67-63 in a Division 2 state semifinal game. Monroe finished the season 24-3.

Nyhus was the go-to scorer for Brodhead this season. She averaged 20.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 1.8 steals per game in leading the Cardinals to a 10-13 record and a seventh-place finish in the 10-team Rock Valley Conference this year.

Rankin was a driving force in helping Darlington get back to the WIAA Division 4 sectional for the second consecutive year. Rankin was the Redbirds' third leading scorer (9.4 ppg) and was key in the Redbirds winning the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League. Eventual state champion La Crosse Aquinas topped Darlington in a sectional semifinal 73-36. The Redbirds finished the season 19-5 overall.

Herbst was one of two savvy veteran senior starters for Black Hawk this season. Herbst helped guide the Warriors to a WIAA Division 5 state runner-up finish. Herbst averaged 4 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2.4 steals for a Black Hawk team that finished the season 28-1. Bangor knocked off Black Hawk in the Division 5 state championship game 39-29.

Pickarts was the leading scorer this year for Barneveld at 13.9 ppg. She helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 13-11 record under her father and coach Doug Pickarts. Barneveld finished tied with Argyle for second in the conference at 9-3.

Leahy is Shullsburg's all-time leading scorer. Leahy (14.7 ppg, 13.4 rpg) was a double-double machine for a Miners team that finished 21-6 overall and was Six Rivers West Conference co-champions along with Potosi with a 10-2 league mark. Leahy also led the state in blocked shots on the season with 156. Bangor rolled to a 58-41 win over Shullsburg in a sectional final to reach the state tournament.