Poll results: Here’s the BND’s high school Girls Player of the Year for southwest IL​

Ahmad Lathan, Garen Vartanian
·4 min read

In the latest Belleville News-Democrat sports poll, we asked readers to cast their vote for the Girls Basketball Player of the Year for 2022-23.

And, when the final tally was counted, the winner emerged as ... Mater Dei Catholic High School’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier. A sophomore center, Koerkenmeier averaged 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Knights, who finished 27-7 and won the IHSA Class 2A championship.

Koerkenmeier, who secured 33% of the votes, saved arguably her best moments for the state tournament. In a 61-54 semifinal win against Quincy Notre Dame, Koerkenmeier scored 21 points and hauled down 12 rebounds. She then notched 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 62-46 win against Byron in the state championship game.

Mater Dei’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier embraces teammates after defeating Byron 62-46 in the IHSA Class 2A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. For her outstanding season, readers selected Koerkenmeier as the BND’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year for 2022-23.
Mater Dei’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier embraces teammates after defeating Byron 62-46 in the IHSA Class 2A state championship game at CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) on the campus of Illinois State University. For her outstanding season, readers selected Koerkenmeier as the BND’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year for 2022-23.

Congrats to Koerkenmeier and are other candidates, along with so many other metro-east players on a tremendous season.

Here were the other Girls Player of the Year candidates for 2022-23:

  • Charleece Davis, Althoff Catholic High School, senior, F. Davis averaged 16.2 points and 4 assists per game for the Crusaders, who finished 19-10 and reached the IHSA Class 2A Regional Finals.

  • Shannon Dowell, O’Fallon High School, senior, F. Dowell averaged 21.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Panthers, who finished 34-4 and won the IHSA Class 4A championship.

  • Norah Gum, Waterloo High School, senior, F. Gum averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, who finished 19-11 and reached the IHSA Class 3A Regional Finals.

  • Keymora Hayes, Cahokia High School, junior, PG. Hayes averaged 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds a game for the Comanches, who went 0-16 this season.

  • Karsen Jany Columbia High School, senior, G. Jany averaged 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Eagles, who went 20-11 this season.

  • Alayna Kraus, Okawville High School, junior, G. Kraus averaged 19.2 points and 2 steals per game for the Rockets, who finished 34-4 and won the IHSA Class 1A Championship.

  • Sophia Loden, Mascoutah High School, senior, F. Loden averaged 22.2 points and 13.3 rebounds per game for the Indians, who finished 23-8 and reached the IHSA Class 3A Regional Finals.

  • Shakara McCline, East St. Louis High School, senior, G. McCline averaged 26 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Flyers, who finished 13-21 and reached the IHSA Class 3A Sectional Semifinals.

  • Natalie Peterson, Freeburg High School, senior, F. Peterson averaged 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Midgets, who finished 22-10 and reached the IHSA Class 2A Regional Finals.

  • Jarius Powers, Alton High School, sophomore, F. Powers averaged 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for the Redbirds, who finished 31-2 and reached the IHSA Class 4A Regional Finals.

  • Kiyoko Proctor, Alton High School, sophomore, PG. Proctor averaged 12.7 points, 5 assists and 4 steals per game for the Redbirds, who finished 31-2 and reached the IHSA Class 4A Regional Finals.

  • Grace Wilke, Highland High School, senior, G. Wilke averaged 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, who went 26-8 this season and reached the IHSA Class 3A Sectional Semifinals.

The poll ended at 8 a.m. Friday.

To be clear, this poll is not scientific. In fact, we invite you to vote as many times as you want. It’s all for fun, BND readers.

The next poll will appear on the BND’s website — www.bnd.com — at 5 a.m. Tuesday and will be a vote for the Boys Player of the Year. Please email nominations to gvartanian@bnd.com.

Previous poll winners: Taylor Smith of Belleville East High School; Cole Stuart of Freeburg High School; Dylan Murphy of Columbia High School; Clareece Davis of Althoff Catholic High School; the Freeburg-Columbia Holiday Tournament; Jordan Lewis of Althoff Catholic High School; Karsen Jany of Columbia High School; David Marshall Jr. of Belleville West High School; Marshall Jr.; Addi Dilley of Red Bud High School; Chase Lewis of Breese Central High School; Sophia Loden of Mascoutah High School; Loden; Lane Otten of Freeburg High School; Bennett Briles of Nashville High School; Kaylyn Wiley of Granite City High School; T’Yonna Burris of Dupo High School; Brandon Scott of Belleville West High School; Shakara “Lyve” McCline of East St Louis Senior High School; and Grant Fridley of Wesclin High School; Cody Dickshot of Breese Central High School; Alyssa Koerkenmeier, Mater Dei Catholic High School; Koerkenmeier; and the O’Fallon girls basketball team.