Shawano’s Dreier, Reed make Bay honorable mention girls basketball team

Duo combined for about 20 points per game
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Shawano Community High School seniors Rachel Reed and Avery Dreier were both named to the Bay Conference honorable mention team for their play on the basketball court this season.

In conference play, Reed averaged 11.7 points, 4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She said she is honored to be among the lauded area athletes. “Our conference has many great players, and to be put on one of the teams is great,” Reed said.

“It seems that whenever we’ve played a tight game and a team hit a big shot to gain momentum, Rachel would come down to our end of the court and drill a 3 for us,” said Shawano coach Ryan Koenig during a presentation at the school’s Winter Athletic Banquet on March 8 at The Gathering.

Dreier averaged 9.2 points and 1 assist on the offensive end of the court, while also averaging 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per Bay contest.

“I am extremely thankful that I got to experience most of my senior season with my team,” said Dreier. “It was definitely an eventful season, and I enjoyed every moment! I am honored that I got to end my career by being named to the honorable mention team.”

“She was our most consistent player and really took on the bulk of the leadership as our season went along,” said Koenig of Dreier. “She was a player other teams had to plan for, and in games we got her the ball consistently usually were the games we won.”

Behind Reed and Dreier, Shawano finished 2-7 in conference action to take sixth in the conference.

The team battled a COVID situation that kept them from playing between Dec. 31 and Jan. 20. It took the Hawks a couple games to find their footing when they took the floor again, but they came together when it counted the most in the postseason.

Shawano earned a pair of regional wins to claim the school’s first regional title in 22 years. It was the school’s fourth regional title in history.

“I will always remember my teammates when I think of Shawano basketball, and my favorite memory from the past four years is winning the regional championship,” said Dreier.

“I am so thankful we were able to have our season and have it semi-normal with Bay Conference and nonconference games,” said Reed. “It felt great that after all these years of hard work, we got a regional championship. A lot of us girls have been playing together since second grade.”

West De Pere won the Bay title with a 12-0 record. Xavier and Menasha both finished with eight conference wins.

West De Pere players took home both player of the year honors, with Alexa Thomson being tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year and Bailey Baeten being named the Defensive Player of the Year.

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