Some of the state’s best girls’ basketball talent played in our backyards this past winter, and it’s now official. Three Southeast Iowa Super Conference players from the area have been voted all-state in Class 1A by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association: junior Sarah Burton of the Highland Huskies, and seniors Bradie Buffington of the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves and Ellah Kissell of the WACO Warriors.

Buffington earns her way onto the first team after being named the Super Conference North Player of the Year. The senior averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots per game while guiding WMU to an undefeated conference championship, 22 wins and the Wolves’ first state tournament appearance since 1998.

Kissell was one of the state’s most prolific scorers, putting up the fourth-most points in Class 1A and averaging 22 points per contest. The senior also led WACO in assists, steals and blocks, pushing the Warriors to 18 wins and their first winning record in eight seasons.

Burton finished inside the top 25 in 1A in just about every statistical category, leading Highland with almost 16-and-a-half points, 12-and-a-half rebounds, four steals and two-and-a-half blocks a game.