Posted: 28 Jun 2021 11:12 AM PDT

The 2020-21 season proved to be quite the banner year for girls basketball in this area. Mainly because local teams have plenty to add to banners in their gym, with four teams winning district titles and one going to the Final Four.

This year's All-Express team features many standouts from those teams, but also highlights the individual accomplishments of many more. Milan's Cady Pauley was selected as the Daily Express Girls Basketball Player of the Year. So without further ado, here are the representatives for this year's team, listed in no particular order.

First team

Hannah Feeney, junior guard, Scotland County

Feeney has long stood out for her excellent defense, owning the state record for steals in a game. But she took a big leap on the offensive end this year as the leading scorer and main distributor on a Final Four squad. Feeney averaged 13 points and 3.7 assists per game for the Tigers, also shooting 52 percent. Her 5.5 steals per night highlight how disruptive she is for opposing offenses. Feeney earned all-state honors for her efforts this year.

Lexi Miller, junior guard, Macon

The Lex Express was fueled and ready for a big junior season, one year removed from helping guide the Tigerettes to the Final Four. Macon didn't get back to Springfield, but Miller was solid yet again for a district-title team, putting up comparable numbers to her sophomore year. She scored 16.9 points per game while averaging 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. She is also one of the best on-ball defenders in the area, averaging 3.8 steals per game. Miller was picked as the Clarence Cannon Conference's MVP, earned all-state honors, and has committed to Columbia College.

Kate Hawkins, senior forward, Macon

Hawkins was yet again a big factor — both literally and figuratively — for Macon's success. As one of the top post players in the area, Hawkins was equally talented on both sides of the floor. She averaged 15.7 points, while shooting 53 percent from the field, and 6.5 rebounds per game this year. After leading the Tigerettes with 699 minutes played, her absence will be important to fill in Macon next year.

Riley Strange, senior forward, Knox County

Strange has been the definition of consistency in Knox County. This past season, the Quincy commit had a double-double in almost half of her games, averaging 16.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She was a beast on the glass while showing tremendous touch on the other end, shooting 59.9 percent from the floor. With a young supporting cast around her, Strange kept the Eagles competitive while teaching teammates the rigors and demands of basketball. She finished her Knox career with 1,159 points and a school-record 772 rebounds.

Corinne Vorkink, junior forward, Kirksville

Vorkink made a big splash in a more prominent role for the Tigers this season. Her 12 points and 9.1 rebounds per game led Kirksville in both of those categories. On offense, she was strong enough to work in the post, but could also shoot away from the paint, finishing the year at 60.4 percent. That helped space the floor for Kirksville's guards and get them open looks. Vorkink proved to be a key piece for Kirksville's first winning season since 2015-16 and first district title since 2013.

Second team

Jordyn Gray, senior forward, Milan

Milan coach Ched Hurley calls Gray his Energizer bunny, an easy descriptor for the Wildcat as she stood out as the vocal leader of the team this season. That energy shows on the court with her being the most physical player in the area. That showed in almost all of her 8.2 rebounds per game, along with many of the 13.8 points she scored per night.

Claire Tipton, junior guard, Putnam County

Tipton continued her push to bring Putnam County back into prominence, averaging 17.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Midgets. Along with 4.6 steals, she led Putnam in every statistical category. The Midgets should be a tough squad next season with Tipton becoming a senior and more pieces around her showing improvement.

Jacie Morris, sophomore guard, Schuyler County

The Rams had as good of a season as any team, going 20-6, but just couldn't escape Scotland County in districts. Morris was a huge factor in that success with a team-high 10.6 points per game. Her outside scoring helped Schuyler's post players work, while Morris also showed a knack for driving to the basket. The Rams eye bigger success with Morris as she grows on the court.

Alaynna Whitaker, junior forward, Scotland County

The Tigers needed a replacement for forward Micah Cooley and Whitaker eventually proved to be worthy of that challenge. After a slow start to the year, Whitaker turned into a stellar post presence for Scotland, whether starting or coming off the bench. She finished her breakout year with 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on a Final Four team. She should see big jumps next year after stepping out as a junior.

Bryann Magers, senior guard, Atlanta

Magers finished her Hornet career with another solid season on the court. She led Atlanta with 16 points per game while also averaging 9 rebounds and 4 steals per game. She was a high-energy player that was tough on both ends for coach Miranda White. White will have a hard time replacing that next year.

Honorable mentions

Atlanta: Kolbey Watson, Kyley Magers, Hayley Berry; Brashear: Hannah Grissom, Lacey Fisher, Callie Althide; Green City: Celeste Athon, Tanner Tipton, Gracey Gordon; Kirksville: Kenslie Stufflebean, Jenna Jackson, Erica Treasure, Channing Totta; Knox County: Kylee Woods; La Plata: Paige Carvajal, Claire Coy; Macon: Tierra Wood; Novinger: Abbi Fountain; Schuyler County: MaKinley Aeschliman, Kait Hatfield; Scotland County: Kylee Stott, Emiley Dial, Morgan Blessing.

Selections are made by Daily Express Editor Austin Miller. Nominations for the All-Express teams are requested from coaches at: Atlanta, Brashear, Green City, Kirksville, Knox County, La Plata, Macon, Milan, Novinger, Putnam County, Schuyler County and Scotland County.

Milan's Cady Pauley doubles as girls basketball, track athlete of the year - Kirksville Daily Express and Daily News

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 11:15 AM PDT

Cady Pauley doesn't say much, but this was an instance where her coach kept his words brief. In the Tri-Rivers Classic title game against Schuyler County, Milan held a decent lead over the Rams in the waning minutes.

"She comes dribbling over by the bench and I go, 'Layups only, let's work some clock,'" said Milan coach Ched Hurley. "She pulls up and drains a 3 about the time I say that. She just looked over at me and smiled, and said, 'Layups only, huh?'"

The Wildcats cruised to a 53-40 win to grab the crown in Queen City, setting up a big year in Milan. The Wildcats broke through and won their first district title since 2012 and made a run to the state quarterfinals. With nearly unlimited range on the floor, Pauley is confident in her ability to hit from any spot on the court.

More: Introducing the 2020-21 All-Express Girls Basketball Team

But she called her shot for athletics this year. She wanted to win a district basketball title. She checked that off the list in February. Pauley also wanted a state track title. She bounced that off the list with the Class 2 shot put title in May. All around a dominant season for Pauley, who pulls double duty as the Daily Express Girls Basketball Player and Girls Track Athlete of the Year.

"I definitely surprised myself, but I knew if I pushed myself to get better, I'd get those goals. So I did," said Pauley, who crossed 2,000 career points this past season.

Pauley finalized her collegiate plans last September when she committed to the Missouri State women's basketball program. That pulled a ton of stress off her shoulders and she went into her junior campaign feeling the freedom to play and have fun. For the 21-5 Wildcats, Pauley averaged 31.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. She shot 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from behind the arc.

More: Milan's Pauley commits to Missouri State

"The confidence that she had in herself to be able to just play with anybody (was crucial). When we needed to get something, the confidence was there for her to get it," Hurley said. "Didn't matter who we were playing, how big the stage it was. That confidence she has in herself has just really grown. I don't want to say it's cockiness, but the good ones always have that air about them. She's got that and it's one of the things that makes her really good. Special athlete, special kid."

The 3-point percentage doesn't indicate how good her range is — or account for the stout defensive gameplans that are thrown at her. . She hit a pair of near-halfcourt shots against Green City and other mystifying attempts during the season. Pauley's ability has certainly changed Hurley's coaching style because he admits her taking a shot five steps behind the 3-point line is sometimes their best chance on a possession.

"She probably has a better percentage the farther she gets out," Hurley said. "We kid about that a lot, and people don't realize she practices that shot. Seriously, I think her percentage may go up the farther she goes out. She can light it up anywhere from deep. I've seen her score two or three in a row."

Pauley began working on those deep shots when she was in elementary school, shooting with the high school players. When they shot from halfcourt for fun, she did too. But she was dead-set on making them. After those early attempts in fourth grade, she kept at it long enough to make it a skill.

"Oh, I feel much more confident in my 3s, but coach likes my 2s," Pauley said.

Her work ethic is easily on display as a three-sport athlete, spending huge amounts of her year across softball, basketball and track. She's even working on multiple sports at a time.

Pauley had a tournament with her AAU team in Iowa that was going to overlap with the district track meet. Milan track coach Andrea Dabney knew basketball is Pauley's love, so she was OK with whatever decision Pauley reached. Even after making many back-and-forth trips from Iowa basketball games back to Milan for track practices and meets, Pauley didn't want to pass up the chance to win a state title. So she picked track and ran through the postseason before getting to Jefferson City, winning the shot put title with a throw of 40 feet, 11.25 inches.

More: Milan's Pauley wins Class 2 girls shot put championship

"She just genuinely likes to compete at everything and that's just the way she is," Dabney said. "I think she just wanted that opportunity. I think it was good for her because, generally, she has to carry the load of the basketball team on her shoulders most of the time. This is something that is just her — it was just her going out there and her trying to be a better version of what she was the day before. I think that's a good lesson for her, and I think it's something she'll look back and be happy that she went through with."

With the basketball team's lengthy postseason run, track practices started around when the Wildcats were done. Pauley was ready to start throwing again, knowing she had a good week of weather to get outside. Dabney had to force Pauley to take a few days off and rest.

That was hard for Pauley to do, but she was used to similar orders from Hurley. In a Jan. 29 meeting with Canton, Pauley was off and had a poor shooting night. She finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 68-61 loss, but 24 of those points didn't come until the second half. So she stayed in the gym and watched the boys team play, then, once the building emptied, put shots up for more than an hour.

"I sucked it up in the Canton game and was just like, I can't be doing this. I went in and practiced to make sure it didn't happen again," Pauley said.

She's no stranger to the gym and could spend an entire day shooting if she could. Pauley goes in with one aspect to work on and doesn't leave until she feels improved, or until she gets yanked out.

"Basically, it's when my mom or dad texts me that it's time to come home," Pauley said.

With her proficiency for shooting basketball and chucking shot, Pauley said footwork is the key to both. There's a necessary balance for crossing over defenders and stepping back for a shot, as well as spinning and unleashing a big throw. Dabney, who is also Milan's boys basketball coach, said Pauley's footwork is a benefit from being in sports for so long, having been in an athletic stance for most of her life.

"I was talking with a coach the other day and we go that it's kind of like Bo Jackson. She's just a natural at everything," Hurley said.

Heading into her senior season, Pauley envisions another big year of basketball. She wants another district title, but after getting one win from the Final Four, that's her plan. And she has no plan of slowing down with track. She wants to repeat as the shot put champion, and after taking second in discus, she wants that title too.

More: Milan girls quiet Brookfield in 4th quarter for first district title since 2012

While Dabney loves watching Pauley compete and excel, she's an even bigger fan of the example Pauley sets. With her daughter, Marian, in middle school, Dabney appreciates what Pauley shows those young girls in Milan.

"One of the best things that I like about her is — just having a daughter in eighth grade, it's nice that Marian has someone to look up to," Dabney said. "And there are so many of the elementary kids that look up to her. We had our shootout here the other day and there's elementary kids screaming 'Cady' chants in the gym. She's just a great role model for a lot of younger girls, to show them that you can achieve at a high level as a girl."

Body of missing man found in LD, with parts missing - Daily Express

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 08:30 PM PDT

Body of missing man found in LD, with parts missing

Published on: Tuesday, June 29, 2021

By: Efa Rizan

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Introducing the 2020-21 All-Express Girls Basketball Team - Kirksville Daily Express and Daily News