Ollinger, Sellers among top cluster of seniors

DES MOINES — It's wide open. And it's not merely a two- or three-horse race.

Sportswriters will gather downtown to select the Iowa Newspaper Association girls' basketball all-state teams Saturday morning. The big award is Miss Iowa Basketball 2016, and there are a half-dozen legitimate contenders, maybe more.

Two of the top candidates are Metro players, Amanda Ollinger of Linn-Mar and Lela Sellers of Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Ollinger elevated her game in recent weeks, leading the Lions to the Class 5A semifinals. She posted 42 points and 38 rebounds in two state-tournament games this week. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 17.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season.

A University of Iowa signee, Ollinger played her first 2 1/2 seasons at Cedar Rapids Jefferson before transferring to Linn-Mar. She compiled 1,343 career points.

'It's been so great, better than I could have ever imagined,' she said after the Lions were eliminated Friday. 'The coaches and my teammates made me comfortable here. I can't thank them enough.'

A 6-foot forward, Sellers is the state's best senior that didn't advance to state. She led Kennedy to an 18-5 season, including a 14-game win streak and a two-week stay at No. 1 in Class 5A.

Sellers moved from the Twin Cities to Cedar Rapids before her junior season, and averaged 18.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in her senior campaign. She will play at Liberty University.

Other top candidates, in alphabetic order:

* Taylor Frederick, Harlan — Led the Cyclones to four state tournaments, including 4A championships in 2014 and 2015. Averaged 17.9 points per game this season. Signed to play at South Dakota.

* Rachel Hinders, Johnston — The school's first player to register 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. Led the Dragons to the Satuday's 5A state final. Averaged 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting 58 percent from the field. Will play at Lewis University.

* Reilly Jacobson, Waukee — A major contributor to the Warriors' 5A state title run last year. Waukee's career leader in points, rebounds and blocks, averaging 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season. Will play at North Dakota State.

* Anna Kiel, Unity Christian — Iowa State volleyball recruit tied a state-tournament record with 24 rebounds in a semifinal win over Iowa City Regina. Posted 19.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, shooting 64 percent from the floor. Three straight trips to the state finals, including a 2A title in 2015.

* Megan Maahs, Western Dubuque — Elevated the Bobcats' program, leading them to three state tournaments. The Bobcats were second to Harlan in 4A in 2014 and 2015. Averaged 16.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season, finished her career with 1,276 pts and 1,010 rebounds and ended her career with 89-10 mark. Will play at UNI.

* Makenzie Meyer, Mason City — Joins Ollinger in Iowa's freshman class next year. Will conclude her third state-tournament berth with a trip to the championship game Saturday night. More than 1,500 career points, including a scoring rate of 18.3 points per game this season.

CALL TO THE HALL

Former Iowa State player Hallie Christofferson of Exira headlines the 2016 Hall of Fame class, which will be inducted at halftime of Saturday's Class 4A final.

Christofferson is one of just five players in state history to compile more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. She led Exira to a 93-6 record in her four years, winning the Class 1A championship in 2010, a year in which she registered 92 points and 50 rebounds in three games at state.

At ISU, she scored 1,709 career points and played in four NCAA tournaments.

Ellie Peterson (Cedar Falls, 2002) and Pat Ashby (Adel, 1970) also will be inducted Saturday.

Peterson scored 1,773 points and grabbed 1,019 rebounds in her high school career, helping Cedar Falls to the 4A state title in her junior season and an 89-12 four-year mark. She did not play collegiately.

Ashby was a six-player forward, averaging 49.6 points per game as a senior.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com