By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Meet the 2024-25 Austin Sports Journal All-Austin Metro girls basketball individual award winners.
More all-metro awards
– 2024-25 All-Austin metro girls basketball player of the year: Georgetown’s Reese Hoadley
– 2024-25 All-Austin metro girls basketball: Meet the best players in the Austin area
Small School Player of the Year
Aly Ihler, Salado, senior forward
When Ally Ihler was on the court, Salado was a better team. The McDonald’s All-American nominee helped lead the Eagles to the regional semifinals and a 21-15 overall record. Ihler was a Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ all-region selection and was efficient on both offense and defense. She scored 30 points in Saldo’s win over La Grange in the playoffs and had 86 total blocks this season. She will play for Lubbock Christian University next year.
Rising Star Award (top newcomer)
Zo’Nai Cook, Bastrop freshman guard
The Lady Bear’s had one of its best seasons in nearly two decades, and freshman guard Zo’Nai Cook was a big part of the team’s success. She averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds [er game while helping Bastrop reach the Class 5A Division II regional semifinals. She also dished out 4.8 assists per game and took 4.4 steals per game.
Previous winners
2023-24: Maddie Broxterman, Vandegrift
Offensive Player of the Year
Gabby Mundy, Liberty Hill, senior guard
Gabby Mundy had a storied high school career at Liberty Hill. The senior guard was the District 25-5A offensive most valuable player and helped the Lady Panthers reach the Class 5A Division II championship game. She averaged 18 points and 4.0 assists per game. Mundy was also selected to the UIL Class 5A all-state tournament team, the TABC Class 5A all-state and all-region teams. Mundy will play basketball at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina next year.
Previous winners
2023-24: Gianna Angiolet, Westlake
Defensive Player of the Year
Soma Okolo, Glenn, senior forward
Last year’s Miss Austin Basketball, Soma Okolo helped the Grizzlies repeat as District 25-5A champions and return to the playoffs. The future Miami Hurricane was a TABC Class 5A all-state and all-region selection and was co-District 25-5A most valuable player beside teammate Libby Lee. Okolo averaged a double double with 22 points and 10 rebounds per game while also averaging three steals a game.
Previous winners
2023-24: Kennedy Carlyle, Cedar Park
Coach of the Year
Chris Lange, Liberty Hill
Liberty Hill’s longtime girls. Basketball coach led the Lady Panthers back to the state finals for the first time since 2017 and seventh trip to the state tournament. Liberty Hill went 36-5 this year and 11-3 in District 25-5A. Lange had two players selected to the TABC Class 5A all-region team (Mundy and Evie Bruce) and one player (Mundy) selected to the all-state team. Both Bruce (Chattanooga) and Mundy (Wofford) will move to play basketball in college.
Previous winners
2023-24: Tiffany Litton, Vandegrift
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