The 4-States Basketball Coaches Association has named Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge and Neosho’s K’dyn Waters as its players of the year for the 2021-22 season.
A 5-foot-8 do-it-all junior guard, Buerge is currently averaging 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and just under three assists per game for Brad Shorter’s Bulldogs.
Buerge is on the all-area first-team for the second straight season. She was recently named the Class 5 District 6 Player of the Year.
Carl Junction will take on West Plains on Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the Class 5 state tournament.
Waters, an explosive 6-5 senior guard, made the most of his lone season in Neosho.
The versatile Waters averaged 23 points, 6.5 rebounds, three assists and nearly three steals per game.
Waters had six 30-point games, including a 38-point outburst in the finale of the Neosho Holiday Classic.
Waters, who was recently named to the all-district team, led the way as Zane Culp’s Wildcats earned 17 wins this winter, the most wins for the program since 2005.
Both all-area teams, which are voted on by local coaches, are listed below.
4-STATES BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-AREA TEAMS
GIRLS TEAM
Player of the Year: Destiny Buerge, Carl Junction (Jr).
FIRST TEAM
Aliya Grotjohn, Seneca (Sr.)
Kianna Yates, Carthage (Jr.)
Clara Swearingen, Nevada (Soph.)
Kylie Scott, Carl Junction (Soph.)
Cameryn Cassity, Mount Vernon (Sr.)
Kennedy DeRuy, McAuley Catholic (Sr.)
Kate Brownfield, Webb City (Jr.)
Marlie Wright, Greenfield (Jr.)
Brooke Nice, Joplin (Sr.)
Hazley Grotjohn, Seneca (Fr.)
SECOND TEAM
Sami Mancini, Webb City (Fr.)
Crystal Smith, Jasper (Fr.)
Samara Smith, McDonald County (Jr.)
Kayleigh Teeter, McAuley Catholic (Sr.)
Kyndall Scott, Golden City (Jr.)
Brynn Driver, Joplin (Jr.)
Josey Adams, Lamar (Sr.)
Jayli Johnson, College Heights (Jr.)
Grace Frazier, Diamond (Soph.)
Gabbi Hiebert, Thomas Jefferson (Soph.)
Special Mention: Jessa Hylton, Carl Junction (Sr.)
BOYS TEAM
Player of the Year: K’dyn Waters, Neosho (Sr.)
FIRST TEAM
Always Wright, Joplin (Sr.)
Joel Pugh, Carthage (Sr.)
Miller Long, College Heights (Sr.)
Brett Sarwinski, Galena (Sr.)
Trey Roets, Webb City (Jr.)
Jaiden Carrasquillo, Verona (Sr.)
Kai Brown, Mount Vernon (Sr.)
All Wright, Joplin, (Soph.)
Josh Reeves, Golden City (Jr.)
Mason English, Pittsburg (Soph.)
SECOND TEAM
Kaden Turner, Webb City (Sr.)
Dante Washington, Webb City (Jr.)
Kelton Sorrell, East Newton (Sr.)
Jay Ball, Thomas Jefferson (Jr.)
Max Templeman, Carthage (Jr.)
Mason Gastel, Lamar (Sr.)
Brahm Born, Girard (Sr.)
Eli McClain, McDonald County (Sr.)
Tyler Little, Galena (Jr.)
Mario Menghini, Frontenac (Jr.)
