By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – West High was close last season.

Close to big wins, close to a MVC divisional title and close to returning to the state tournament.

The Women of Troy was able to earn  all of those things this season and the emergence of junior Logan Cook was a big reason why.

Cook turned in the best season of her career this season averaging 15 points and 6.2 rebounds a game to help West High to a 21-4 record and a spot in the Class 5A state semifinals.

On Tuesday Cook was named a Class 5A first-team all-state selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association.

“Logan definitely took a big step forward,” West High coach BJ Mayer said. “She upped her average she upped her rebounds, she shot a better percentage, you saw her get a little more comfortable this season.”

Cook averaged nine points and six rebounds per game last season but improved on both of those numbers this season on her way to earning all-state honors for the first time in her career.  

The 6-foot-1 junior shot 48 percent from the floor and 74 percent from the free throw line while attempting a team-best 80 free throws.

Cook scored in double figures 20 times in 25 games and had four double-doubles.

She averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds in two state tournament games leading West High in scoring in both of its games at state.

“I think her biggest step forward was just in the strength that she had, she was a lot stronger this year,” Mayer said. “She knows and we know that she has to continue to get stronger but I think she could have a big jump again next year if she continues to improve her strength.”

Cook was second on the team in steals this season averaging 1.8 per game and was also second in blocked shots.

“She guarded posts, she guarded really good guards like Ashley Joens and she long enough and athletic enough she can do that. I think her versatility on offense is huge also because she can step outside and shoot it and she can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim and then you saw a little bit against Valley we put her inside and she was able to post up.”

Cook joined fellow junior Rachael Saunders on the 5A all-state team.

Saunders was named to the 5A third team for the second straight season after averaging a career-best 12.4 points per game.

The 5-foot-8 junior Creighton commit averaged 3.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.8 steals this season.

“She just did a lot of things,” Mayer said of Saunders. “She always had the other team’s best offensive player, especially if they were a guard, sometimes he handled the ball for us, sometimes she shot she had nights where she had seven or eight rebounds for four or five steals and she was on the floor diving for loose balls and she was our big emotional leader and really took a big step forward with her leadership abilities which I was really pleased with.”

Class 1A

First Team

Front line – Mikayla Nachazel, 5-11, Jr., Springville; Marissa Schroeder, 6-1, Sr., Bellevue Marquette; Sophia Peppers, 5-10, Jr., Exira-EHL. Back court – Rylee Menster, 5-6, Jr., Springville; Shelby Reicks, 5-11, Sr., Turkey Valley; Kelly Leerar, 5-7, Jr., West Hancock. Utility – Victoria Hazard, 5-10, Sr., Janesville.

Second Team

Front line – Addison Hirschman, 6-2, Jr., Kingsley-Pierson; Julia Fleecs, 6-2, Sr., Glidden-Ralston; Carah Drees, 6-1, Soph., Westwood. Back court – Erin Gerke, 5-7, Sr., Newell-Fonda; Johanna Myers, 6-0, Sr., Burlington Notre Dame; Jenna Boelter, 5-6, Jr., Algona Bishop Garrigan. Utility – Morgan Kuennen, 5-11, Sr., Turkey Valley.

Third Team

Front line – Brenna Lanser, 5-9, Sr., Lynnville-Sully; Maddi Brandt, 5-11, Sr., AGWSR; Alyssa Jaeger, 5-11, Jr., Springville. Back court – Megan Stubbs, 5-7, Sr., Grand View Christian; Ashley Funk, 5-7, Sr., Central Elkader; Madison Forbes, 5-6, Sr., Lone Tree. Utility – Blaire Sonderleiter, 6-0, Sr., GMG.

Class 2A

First Team

Front line – Ashtyn Verbeek, 6-2, Jr., Western Christian; Gracey Griglione, 6-1, Sr., Interstate-35; Kelcie Shields, 6-1, Sr., Mount Ayr; Back court – Mary Crompton, 5-8, Jr., Regina; Kelsey Hora, 5-1, Sr., Highland; Mackenzie Rogers, 5-8, Jr., Mediapolis. Utility – Brianna Mensen, 5-11, Sr., Maquoketa Valley.

Second Team

Front line – Ashley Tull, 5-11, Jr., North Linn; Madelyn Deitchler, 5-10, Jr., Treynor; Ali Masters, 5-10, Soph., Central Decatur. Back court – Mackenzie Roberts, 5-9, Sr., Van Meter; Kaylee Parks, 5-6, Jr., Central Springs; Konnor Sudmann, 5-9, Soph., Treynor. Utility – Sarah Lehman, 5-10, Sr., Regina.

Third Team

Front line – Erika Feenstra, 6-1, Sr., Western Christian; Maci Gambell, 5-10, Jr., Pekin; Emma Atwood, 5-10, Soph., Central Decatur. Back court – Taylor Rodenburg, 5-8, Jr., West Sioux; Kenzie Cunard, 5-7, Jr., Emma Staudt, 5-9, Sr., Rockford. Utility – Alex Wiese, 6-0, Soph., Regina.

Class 3A

First Team

Front line – Lexi Toering, 5-10, Jr., Sioux Center; Jasmine Harris, 5-10, Sr., Davenport Assumption; Grace Meyer, 5-9, Sr., Pocahontas Area. Back court – Elle Ruffridge, 5-3, Sr., Pocahontas Area; Payton Slaughter, 5-5, Soph., Cherokee; Ellie Friesen, 5-3, Jr., Crestwood. Utility – Emily Snelling, 5-6, Sr., Clear Lake.

Second Team

Front line – Maddie Miller, 5-10, Jr., Algona; Allison Wooldridge, 6-1, Jr., Center Point-Urbana; Kaitlyn Volesky, 5-10, Sr., Mount Vernon. Back court – Isabelle Gradwell, 6-0, Jr., West Marshall; Faith Meyer, 5-8, Sr., Pocahontas Area; Paityn Hagberg, 5-4, Jr., Cherokee. Utility – Hannah Anderson, 5-7, Jr., Forest City.

Third Team

Front line – Shannon Pisney, 5-9, Jr., Crestwood; Courtney Schnoor, 6-1, Sr., Camanche; Jessica Musgrave, 5-9, Soph., South Tama. Back court – Regan Freland, 5-9, Fr., PCM; Jordyn Van Maanen, 5-6, Jr., Sioux Center; Anna Brown, 5-10, Soph., Spirit Lake. Utility – Logan Ehlers, 6-1, Sr., Shenandoah.

Class 4A

First Team

Front line – Megan Holt, 5-11, Jr., Council Bluffs Lewis Central; Lexi Noonan, 5-9, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Lexy Koudelka, 6-2, Jr., Nevada. Back court – Katie Vander Molen, 5-9, Sr., Pella; Chloe Rice, 5-10, Jr., Marion; Karli Rucker, 5-6, Sr., North Scott. Utility – Agatha Beier, 5-9, Sr., Carlisle.

Second Team

Front line – Alexis Westercamp, 5-10, Sr., Oskaloosa; Madison Drickman, 6-0, Soph., LeMars; Claire Sandvig, 6-3, Jr., Boone. Back court – Kayba Laube, 5-8, Fr., Marion; Nichole Buch, 5-9, Jr., Fairfield; Megan Meyer, 5-8, Soph., Mason City. Utility – Morgan Pitz, 5-10, Sr., Western Dubuque.   

Third Team

Front line – Sienna Durr, 6-0, Jr., Grinnell; Kiara Bradley, 5-11, Sr., Pella; Keely Petzenhauser, 5-10, Jr., Spencer. Back court – Abby Wisecup, 5-8, Soph., Sergeant Bluff-Luton; Madison Wilkins, 5-6, Sr., Grinnell; Grace Marburger, 5-4, Sr., Perry. Utility – Katie Harken, 5-11, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock.

Class 5A

First Team

Front line – Grace Berg, 6-0, Jr., Indianola; Logan Cook, 6-1, Jr., West High; Taryn Knuth, 6-4, Sr., Johnston. Back court – Hannah Fuller, 5-8, Sr., West Des Moines Valley; Ashley Joens, 5-11, Jr., City High; Carlie Littlefield, 5-9, Sr., Waukee. Utility – Jinaya Houston, 6-1, Sr., Davenport North.

Second Team

Front line – Kiana Barney, 6-1, Jr., Cedar Falls; Paige Bradford, 6-0, Jr., Davenport North; Kennedy Dighton, 6-1, Sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Back court – Ellie Spelhaug, 5-10, Jr., Pleasant Valley; Maggie McGraw, 5-11, Soph., Indianola; Sierra Mitchell, 5-5, Sr., Southeast Polk. Utility – Ryan Weiss, 5-9, Sr., Ames.

Third Team

Front line – Megan Groneau, 6-4, Sr., Dubuque Hempstead; Cynthia Wolf, 6-3, Jr., Cedar Falls; Zoe Young, 5-10, Soph., West Des Moines Valley. Back court – Caitlyn Clark, 5-11, Fr., West Des Moines Dowling; Kylie Coleman, 5-9, Sr., Waukee; Emily Ivory, 5-5, Jr., Bettendorf. Utility – Rachael Saunders, 5-8, Jr., West High.