The 4-States Basketball Coaches Association has named Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge and Joplin’s All Wright as its players of the year for the 2022-23 season.
A standout 5-foot-8 senior guard, Buerge is the area’s top girls player for the second straight season.
Buerge currently averages 25 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists per game for Brad Shorter’s Bulldogs. She makes 74 percent of her free throws and has hit 73 3-pointers this season.
A Pittsburg State signee, Buerge is Carl Junction’s all-time leading scorer and has earned nearly every accolade possible during her prep career.
The Bulldogs (28-1) will play Lincoln College Prep on Saturday in the Class 5 quarterfinals.
An explosive 6-2 junior guard at Joplin, Wright averaged 26 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and just under two steals a game this winter for the Eagles, who went 17-10.
Wright made 75 percent of his free throws and 34 percent of his 3-point attempts.
A first-team all-area pick last season, Wright was recently named a unanimous first-team selection to the All-Central Ozark Conference squad.
The 4-States Coaches Association’s all-area teams are listed below.
4-STATES BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
ALL-AREA GIRLS TEAM
Player of the Year: Destiny Buerge, Carl Junction (Sr.)
FIRST TEAM
Clara Swearingen, Nevada (Jr.)
Sami Mancini, Webb City (Soph.)
Kylie Scott, Carl Junction (Jr.)
Grace Frazier, Diamond (Jr.)
Marlie Wright, Greenfield (Sr.)
Kianna Yates, Carthage (Sr.)
Hazley Grotjohn, Seneca (Soph.)
Karlee Ellick, Neosho (Sr.)
Kyndall Scott, Golden City (Sr.)
Crystal Smith, Jasper (Soph.)
SECOND TEAM
Maddy Majors, Nevada (Sr.)
Kate Brownfield, Webb City (Sr.)
Ellie Creasey, Aurora (Sr.)
Dezi Williams, Carl Junction (Soph.)
Gabbi Hiebert, Thomas Jefferson (Jr.)
Libby Fanning, College Heights Christian (Soph.)
Carlie Martin, McDonald County (Fr.)
Kylee Cole, Aurora (Soph.)
Hali Shorter, Carl Junction (Sr.)
Ashlyn Stettler, Lamar (Sr.)
Kloee Williamson, McAuley Catholic (Jr.)
Special Mention: Brynn Driver, Joplin (Sr.)
ALL-AREA BOYS TEAM
Player of the Year: All Wright, Joplin (Jr.)
FIRST TEAM
Max Templeman, Carthage (Sr.)
Isaiah Green, Neosho (Sr.)
Barron Duda, Webb City (Jr.)
Tyler Little, Galena (Sr.)
Mason English, Pittsburg (Jr.)
Jay Ball, Thomas Jefferson (Sr.)
Curtis Davenport, College Heights (Sr.)
Josh Reeves, Golden City (Sr.)
Jacob Stellwagen, Verona (Jr.)
Terrance Gibson, Joplin (Sr.)
SECOND TEAM
Justin Ray, Carthage (Jr.)
Cooper Long, Seneca (Sr.)
Ayden Bard, Carl Junction (Sr.)
Ian Ngugi, Lamar (Jr.)
Cade Beshore, Nevada (Sr.)
Alex Martin, Webb City (Sr.)
Blaine Salsman, Monett (Sr.)
Sterling Woods, McDonald County (Sr.)
Kael Smith, Neosho (Sr.)
Jarrett Zerby, Mount Vernon (Soph.)
