Four Big Foot players receive All-Rock Valley honors
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Four members of the Big Foot High School girls basketball squad recently landed on All-Rock Valley Conference South Division teams for 2014-15.
Heading the list is junior Morgan Courier, who was named to the first team. She was joined by freshman sister Payton Courier on the second team and freshman Courtney Schoenbeck and junior Carly Snudden, who were named honorable mention.
Big Foot enjoyed a stellar season, as it posted a 16-8 overall record, including 11-5 in the RVC, good for second place behind Brodhead. The Chiefs recorded an 80-46 win over Evansville in a Division 3 regional semifinal before it fell 48-47 to Brodhead in the final.
Morgan Courier led the Chiefs in scoring with 292 points (12.2 per game). She made 105 of 239 field-goal attempts, 74 of 109 free-throw attempts, and made 13 3-pointers. She also had 80 rebounds (3.3 per game) and led the team in assists with 91 and steals with 77.
“Morgan has matured into the leader of this team,” Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said. “She is a quiet, but very competitive player. As one of my voted-in captains, the girls respect her as a role model, and when she does speak, they listen.”
And Schoenbeck believes that Courier has only touched on a part of what her full potential could be, which is great news for the Chiefs, but bad news for their opponents.
“I think she can be the conference MVP with the improvement of her game,” he said. “The team success will help her get that reward if we can win conference.
“The hard part is that I had nine girls scoring every game and expect more contribution next year with added depth and skill. We will never have one superstar on teams I coach because it takes five girls who play defense first and work together for the success of the team.”
In just her first high school season, Payton Courier made quite an impact, as she was second in scoring with 237 points (9.9 per game). She made 77 of 195 field-goal attempts, 69 of 104 free throws and had nine 3-pointers.
Courier led the Chiefs with 155 rebounds (6.5 per game) and also had 17 assists, 45 steals and 15 blocked shots.
“Her size and consistent production for a freshman was huge,” Schoenbeck said. “She is one of the most productive player I have ever coached.
“She gets the break going with great outlet passes, pulls in rebounds, and especially late in the game, puts points on the board. For a freshman, she is unique and lets the game come to her. … Payton is a big reason for the team turnaround this season and works hard in practice every day.”
The Chiefs’ other standout freshman, Schoenbeck, was third in points with 191 (8.0), as she made 58 of 220 field goals, 49 of 80 free throws and a team-high 26 3-pointers.
Schoenbeck was third in rebounds with 100 (4.2) and also had 36 assists, 53 steals and five blocked shots
“She is all about defense,” Courtney’s dad said. “She is by far one of the top defensive players on the team. I stress defense, and she thrives to top the opponents from scoring.”
Snudden had 79 points this season (3.3 per game), as she made 34 of 102 field goals and 11 of 25 free throws. She was fourth in rebounds with 94 (3.9 per game) and had nine assists, 21 steals and a team-high 25 blocked shots.
“Carly has steadily improved and gained confidence,” Schoenbeck said. “Her size provides inside shot-blocking capabilities that intimidate penetration of guards toward the basket.”
Moving forward, the Chiefs certainly don’t plan to rest on the success, as they already have an over-flowing off-season schedule.
There’s more work to be done.
“Players are made from March through October,” Schoenbeck said. “Teams are made November through February.”
All-Rock Valley Conference
South Division
Girls Basketball Teams
First team – Kylie Moe (junior, Brodhead), Amber Pickel (junior, Brodhead), Ashley Himmelmann (junior, Beloit Turner), Morgan Courier (junior, Big Foot), Hannah Kalk (sophomore, Clinton).
Second team – Erin Nyhus (freshman, Brodhead), Payton Courier (freshman, Big Foot), Kelly Loudon (sophomore, Clinton), Alex Thole (sophomore, Parkview), Kalli Kuhlow (sophomore, Clinton).
Honorable mention – Courtney Schoenbeck (freshman, Big Foot), Carly Snudden (junior, Big Foot), Brooke Boegli (senior, Brodhead), Emily Spears (sophomore, Clinton), Jamie Mohr (junior, Palmyra-Eagle), Sarah Seiden (sophomore, Palmyra-Eagle), Katie Harnack (junior, Parkview), Hanna Kearns (junior, Parkview), Natalie Burns (senior, Beloit Turner), Kenzie Krizmanich (sophomore, Beloit Turner).
Player of the Year – Kylie Moe (junior, Brodhead). Coach of the Year – Brian Kammerer, Brodhead.
