Pauley, Manning head Miss Iowa Basketball candidates

DES MOINES -- It's the sportswriters, not the coaches, that select Miss Iowa Basketball.

"I don't get to make the call, but I don't think there's any doubt (on the winner)," said Patrick Miller, coach at Ida Grove OA-BCIG.

Miller, as would be expected, is a firm supporter of his star, Jessie Pauley, a co-favorite for the top award that will be voted upon Saturday morning by the media during selections for the Iowa Newspaper Association all-state teams.

Pauley and Ankeny's Maddie Manning appear to be the top candidates.

A signee with the University of Northern Iowa, Pauley led OA-BCIG to a 52-game winning streak that included the 2011 Class 2A championship. The Falcons were beaten in the 2A semifinals Thursday by Western Christian.

She ranks in the top 30 all-time in Iowa in career scoring, rebounds and steals.

Pauley averaged 21.5 points per game this season, shooting 45 percent from 3-point range and 89 percent from the free-throw line.

Manning is headed to the University of Oklahoma. She leads Ankeny in scoring at 16.1 points per game, and made some big plays late in the Hawkettes' 47-45 win over Southeast Polk in the 4A semifinals.

She hit two free throws to break a 45-all tie in the final minute.

"I've had a lot of good players, and she certainly ranks right upthere with the best," said Ankeny Coach Scott DeJong.

Cooley winner

Mary Halverson of Coon Rapids-Bayard is the recipient of the 2012 E. Wayne Cooley Scholarship Award.

The scholarship, in the name of the former IGHSAU executive secretary, is worth $15,000 over four years to assist Halverson as she attends Wartburg College.

Halverson was one of six finalists for the award. Madison Wilkin of Center Point-Urbana was the lone area finalist.

A versatile athlete, Halverson was part of a state-championship relay for the Carroll swimming team. She was a soccer captain of Carroll Kuemper and a standout basketball player for Coon Rapids-Bayard.