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Weibel repeats as area's best
Hononegah senior Player of the Year
By Rob Lucas
Daily News staff writer
Courtney Weibel received a great deal of attention this year, both on and off the basketball court.
While opponents did their best to shadow the Hononegah senior sharpshooter, she broke the national high school career 3-point record, then concluded her career by being named NIC-9 Player of the Year and earning Associated Press All-State Second Team honors.
Hopefully the Marquette recruit doesn't mind being showered with a bit more praise. She was an easy choice to repeat as the 2006-2007 Beloit Daily News All-Area Player of the Year.
Weibel averaged 14.3 points per game with most of them coming from beyond the 3-point arc. She made a living hitting triples, knocking down 134 threes this season while shooting 38 percent from deep.
On Jan. 30, Weibel broke Nikki Tibbs' (Butler High School, Huntsville, Ala.) career 3-point record of 455. She finished with 471 threes in her four years at Hononegah.
“It's nice,” Weibel said of being named Player of the Year. “There are a lot of good players in the area so it's nice I was chosen.”
Joining her on the First Team are junior teammate Courtney Shelton, Beloit Memorial's Brianne Monahan, Beloit Turner's Kaylyn Sherrod and South Beloit's Nicole Saari.
While Weibel has natural ability, she made herself into the shooter she is through countless hours of practice. Of course it helps when your dad has keys to the place. She was coached all four years of high school by her father, Randy Weibel.
“She put a ton of time in,” said coach Weibel. “She'd be the first to tell you she couldn't have done it without her teammates and I know she would trade any award for a chance to walk on that floor in Bloomington (for the state tournament). That was the one goal she really wanted to accomplish.”
Weibel has always been a great team player, consistently praising her teammates throughout her career.
“It'd be impossible without my teammates setting picks and looking for shooters,” Weibel said. “It would have just been impossible to get anything accomplished without them.”
Coach Weibel had a unique relationship with his daughter.
“It had its good and its bad points,” coach Weibel said. “Our basketball relationship was strictly on the court; we never brought it home with us, which was great. It went a lot better than I thought.”
Going into a Division 1 program with Marquette's success rate might intimidate some, but Weibel has plenty of confidence and is excited to start practice at the end of June.
“I'm excited because it's such a good program and I'll be at college, away for the first time,” Weibel said.
“She is really looking forward to the opportunity,” coach Weibel added. “She is going into a great environment with great people involved in that program. As a father, I feel comfortable sending her there so they can take her to the next level in not only basketball, but in life.”
Courtney wasn't the only Weibel honored this year, as her father is the BDN All-Area Coach of the Year.
“It's a reflection of the players we had,” coach Weibel said of the award. “We had a great group of kids who were very successful because of their work ethic. Their work ethic was as good as we've had here. I don't know if that can be taught or not. Most kids either have it or they don't.”
Coach Weibel led the Indians to a second-place finish in the NIC-9 behind Freeport. The Indians had their eyes fixed on a state tournament berth, but were upended by Rockford Boylan in the regional final.
The loss hurt, but couldn't tarnish another fine season that Hononegah that included 25 wins, two NIC-9 All-Conference players and a conference MVP.
“It's really a testament to the kids,” coach Weibel said. “They are very competitive and have been like that for years.”
Weibel has now stepped down on the Indians' basketball coach, but left behind plenty of talent, including another first team performer.
Junior point guard Shelton did all the little things for the Indians, as well as a few big ones. She was second on the team in scoring (13.4), first in assists (6.8), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.6).
Shelton, who was a Second Team All-Area player last year, nabbed NIC-9 First-Team honors this year. She was second in conference in assists and third in steals while shooting 68 percent from the free throw line..
Monahan was second in scoring for the Knights with almost 13 points per game. The Knights' only post presence this season led the team in rebounding (6.7), had 60 blocks and was vital in overtime when the Purple Knights upset Janesville Parker on Jan. 26, 63-60. She earned Second Team honors in the Big Eight Conference.
Sherrod was the Trojans' offense this year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She averaged a double-double, scoring 11.2 points per game, grabbing 10.2 rebounds a contest while being named to the RVC All-Conference First Team.
The senior showed flashes of brilliance, taking over games even though opposing teams game-planned to stop her night and night out.
Saari was named to the First Team of the Upstate Illini Conference this year, averaging 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds, which is no small task for a 5-foot-5 shooting guard. She was also an all-conference selection last year, when the SoBos were in the Four Rivers Conference.
Saari broke the 1,000-point barrier early in the season against the Somonauk Bobcats in the Genoa-Kingston Tournament and finished her career with 1,248 points.
While the First Team is made up of three seniors and two juniors, the Second Team is filled with youth and potential.
Clinton's Liz Althoff had an impressive year, making the All-RVC First Team as a sophomore. She led the Cougars in scoring with 12 points per game along with five rebounds. She also showed her defensive prowess by averaging almost three steals a night.
Big Foot's future looks bright, thanks to freshman Jordyn Courier. The Chiefs' scoring leader averaged 11.4 points while also hauling in seven rebounds a night. The All-RVC selection also had 35 blocks and 44 steals on the year while shooting 60 percent from the free throw line.
Hononegah's third player on the team is junior guard Whitney Carroll. Carroll received Special Mention from the NIC-9 while shooting 53 percent from the field. She was a hard worker for the Indians while doing a little bit of everything, averaging nine points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Rounding out the Second Team are North Boone's Tamara Hansen and South Beloit's Brittany Toles.
Hansen, a senior, was the Vikings' scoring and rebounding leader, putting up 10 points per game while averaging 7.2 rebounds. Hansen was also a First-Team selection in the Big Northern Conference.
Toles, a Second Team selection in the Four Rivers Conference last year as a sophomore, averaged 12.6 points for the SoBos while grabbing 9.7 rebounds.
The BDN All-Area team is chosen based on coaches' nominations and the various all conference selections.
€ First team: Courtney Weibel, 5-9, sr., Hononegah; Courtney Shelton, 5-7, jr., Hononegah, Brianne Monahan, 6-1, jr., Beloit Memorial; Nicole Saari, 5-5, sr., South Beloit; Kaylyn Sherrod, 5-9, sr., Beloit Turner.
€ Second team: Liz Althoff, 5-6, soph., Clinton; Jordyn Courier, 5-10, fr., Big Foot; Brittney Toles, 5-9, jr., South Beloit; Tamara Hansen, 5-9, sr., North Boone; Whitney Carroll, 5-6, jr., Hononegah.
€ Honorable mention: Alexia Tann, 5-7, jr., Beloit Memorial; Kristen Ruchti, 6-0, soph., Brodhead; Kelsey Carroll, 5-6, jr., Hononegah; Alli Driscoll, 5-4, sr., Beloit Turner; Ralissa Nelson, 5-11, soph., Parkview; Danielle Oldenburg, 5-9, sr., Clinton; Kara Risseeuw, 5-7, jr., Clinton; Jaimie Tracy, 5-2, jr., Clinton; Paige Hoeper, 5-4, jr., Brodhead; Stephanie Peterson, 5-11, soph., South Beloit, Dana Lewis, 6-0, fr., Brodhead; Lindsay Henderson, 5-7, sr., Beloit Turner; Sarah Thune, 5-10, soph, Big Foot; Tiffany Draeving, 5-5, jr., Parkview.
By Rob Lucas
Daily News staff writer
Courtney Weibel received a great deal of attention this year, both on and off the basketball court.
While opponents did their best to shadow the Hononegah senior sharpshooter, she broke the national high school career 3-point record, then concluded her career by being named NIC-9 Player of the Year and earning Associated Press All-State Second Team honors.
Hopefully the Marquette recruit doesn't mind being showered with a bit more praise. She was an easy choice to repeat as the 2006-2007 Beloit Daily News All-Area Player of the Year.
Weibel averaged 14.3 points per game with most of them coming from beyond the 3-point arc. She made a living hitting triples, knocking down 134 threes this season while shooting 38 percent from deep.
On Jan. 30, Weibel broke Nikki Tibbs' (Butler High School, Huntsville, Ala.) career 3-point record of 455. She finished with 471 threes in her four years at Hononegah.
“It's nice,” Weibel said of being named Player of the Year. “There are a lot of good players in the area so it's nice I was chosen.”
Joining her on the First Team are junior teammate Courtney Shelton, Beloit Memorial's Brianne Monahan, Beloit Turner's Kaylyn Sherrod and South Beloit's Nicole Saari.
While Weibel has natural ability, she made herself into the shooter she is through countless hours of practice. Of course it helps when your dad has keys to the place. She was coached all four years of high school by her father, Randy Weibel.
“She put a ton of time in,” said coach Weibel. “She'd be the first to tell you she couldn't have done it without her teammates and I know she would trade any award for a chance to walk on that floor in Bloomington (for the state tournament). That was the one goal she really wanted to accomplish.”
Weibel has always been a great team player, consistently praising her teammates throughout her career.
“It'd be impossible without my teammates setting picks and looking for shooters,” Weibel said. “It would have just been impossible to get anything accomplished without them.”
Coach Weibel had a unique relationship with his daughter.
“It had its good and its bad points,” coach Weibel said. “Our basketball relationship was strictly on the court; we never brought it home with us, which was great. It went a lot better than I thought.”
Going into a Division 1 program with Marquette's success rate might intimidate some, but Weibel has plenty of confidence and is excited to start practice at the end of June.
“I'm excited because it's such a good program and I'll be at college, away for the first time,” Weibel said.
“She is really looking forward to the opportunity,” coach Weibel added. “She is going into a great environment with great people involved in that program. As a father, I feel comfortable sending her there so they can take her to the next level in not only basketball, but in life.”
Courtney wasn't the only Weibel honored this year, as her father is the BDN All-Area Coach of the Year.
“It's a reflection of the players we had,” coach Weibel said of the award. “We had a great group of kids who were very successful because of their work ethic. Their work ethic was as good as we've had here. I don't know if that can be taught or not. Most kids either have it or they don't.”
Coach Weibel led the Indians to a second-place finish in the NIC-9 behind Freeport. The Indians had their eyes fixed on a state tournament berth, but were upended by Rockford Boylan in the regional final.
The loss hurt, but couldn't tarnish another fine season that Hononegah that included 25 wins, two NIC-9 All-Conference players and a conference MVP.
“It's really a testament to the kids,” coach Weibel said. “They are very competitive and have been like that for years.”
Weibel has now stepped down on the Indians' basketball coach, but left behind plenty of talent, including another first team performer.
Junior point guard Shelton did all the little things for the Indians, as well as a few big ones. She was second on the team in scoring (13.4), first in assists (6.8), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.6).
Shelton, who was a Second Team All-Area player last year, nabbed NIC-9 First-Team honors this year. She was second in conference in assists and third in steals while shooting 68 percent from the free throw line..
Monahan was second in scoring for the Knights with almost 13 points per game. The Knights' only post presence this season led the team in rebounding (6.7), had 60 blocks and was vital in overtime when the Purple Knights upset Janesville Parker on Jan. 26, 63-60. She earned Second Team honors in the Big Eight Conference.
Sherrod was the Trojans' offense this year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She averaged a double-double, scoring 11.2 points per game, grabbing 10.2 rebounds a contest while being named to the RVC All-Conference First Team.
The senior showed flashes of brilliance, taking over games even though opposing teams game-planned to stop her night and night out.
Saari was named to the First Team of the Upstate Illini Conference this year, averaging 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds, which is no small task for a 5-foot-5 shooting guard. She was also an all-conference selection last year, when the SoBos were in the Four Rivers Conference.
Saari broke the 1,000-point barrier early in the season against the Somonauk Bobcats in the Genoa-Kingston Tournament and finished her career with 1,248 points.
While the First Team is made up of three seniors and two juniors, the Second Team is filled with youth and potential.
Clinton's Liz Althoff had an impressive year, making the All-RVC First Team as a sophomore. She led the Cougars in scoring with 12 points per game along with five rebounds. She also showed her defensive prowess by averaging almost three steals a night.
Big Foot's future looks bright, thanks to freshman Jordyn Courier. The Chiefs' scoring leader averaged 11.4 points while also hauling in seven rebounds a night. The All-RVC selection also had 35 blocks and 44 steals on the year while shooting 60 percent from the free throw line.
Hononegah's third player on the team is junior guard Whitney Carroll. Carroll received Special Mention from the NIC-9 while shooting 53 percent from the field. She was a hard worker for the Indians while doing a little bit of everything, averaging nine points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Rounding out the Second Team are North Boone's Tamara Hansen and South Beloit's Brittany Toles.
Hansen, a senior, was the Vikings' scoring and rebounding leader, putting up 10 points per game while averaging 7.2 rebounds. Hansen was also a First-Team selection in the Big Northern Conference.
Toles, a Second Team selection in the Four Rivers Conference last year as a sophomore, averaged 12.6 points for the SoBos while grabbing 9.7 rebounds.
The BDN All-Area team is chosen based on coaches' nominations and the various all conference selections.
€ First team: Courtney Weibel, 5-9, sr., Hononegah; Courtney Shelton, 5-7, jr., Hononegah, Brianne Monahan, 6-1, jr., Beloit Memorial; Nicole Saari, 5-5, sr., South Beloit; Kaylyn Sherrod, 5-9, sr., Beloit Turner.
€ Second team: Liz Althoff, 5-6, soph., Clinton; Jordyn Courier, 5-10, fr., Big Foot; Brittney Toles, 5-9, jr., South Beloit; Tamara Hansen, 5-9, sr., North Boone; Whitney Carroll, 5-6, jr., Hononegah.
€ Honorable mention: Alexia Tann, 5-7, jr., Beloit Memorial; Kristen Ruchti, 6-0, soph., Brodhead; Kelsey Carroll, 5-6, jr., Hononegah; Alli Driscoll, 5-4, sr., Beloit Turner; Ralissa Nelson, 5-11, soph., Parkview; Danielle Oldenburg, 5-9, sr., Clinton; Kara Risseeuw, 5-7, jr., Clinton; Jaimie Tracy, 5-2, jr., Clinton; Paige Hoeper, 5-4, jr., Brodhead; Stephanie Peterson, 5-11, soph., South Beloit, Dana Lewis, 6-0, fr., Brodhead; Lindsay Henderson, 5-7, sr., Beloit Turner; Sarah Thune, 5-10, soph, Big Foot; Tiffany Draeving, 5-5, jr., Parkview.
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