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Ava Boyer, Faces of Winter photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Ava Boyer
Tuscola senior guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... Boyer’s third and final year running the Warriors’ offense at point guard was her best, averaging 10.5 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game. The Illinois State softball signee was a unanimous All-Central Illinois Conference First-Team selection, and she earned Class 1A All-State Special Mention honors.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... being the first one in after warmups.
➜ Her dream career is ... a radiologist.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... GoGo SqueeZ.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... softball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Wonder Woman.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Kobe Bryant, Donald Trump and Riley Green.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to Greece, owning a pet finger monkey and coaching when she’s older.

Mahomet-Seymour's Reese Gallier made The News-Gazette's 2025 All-Area Girls' Basketball First Team.
Reese Gallier
Mahomet-Seymour senior guard/forward
➜ Why she made the first team ... Gallier finished her high school career with four regional championships and came one win short of a second sectional title. She averaged 15.2 points per game and made 74 three-pointers on the season, earning her Class 3A All-State Special-Mention honors and a Parkland College commitment.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... wearing her lucky pair of spandex or drinking hot tea before every game.
➜ Her dream career is ... a traveling radiology tech or ultrasound tech.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... GoGo SqueeZ and Chomps turkey sticks.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... gymnastics.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Emma Stone.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Zendaya, Paige Bueckers and Leighton Meester.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to Japan, going to an Adele concert and attending a women’s volleyball Final Four match.

Cissna Park's Lauryn Hamrick made The News-Gazette's 2025 All-Area Girls' Basketball First Team.
Lauryn Hamrick
Cissna Park junior forward
➜ Why she made the first team ... Hamrick was the backbone of the Timberwolves’ run to the Class 1A Final Four, leading the team in postseason scoring. She iced Cissna Park’s win in the third-place game to end the season and posted averages of 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds this winter as well as an All-State Special-Mention nod.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... wearing the same hairstyle if she plays well in it.
➜ Her dream career is ... a traveling nurse.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... fruit.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... volleyball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Alexis Bledel.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... her Grandma Frieda, Kobe Bryant and Amelia Earhart.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to Paris, visiting all the Disney parks in the world and skydiving.

Alexa Jamison has helped the Salt Fork girls' basketball team to 25 wins so far and a No. 1 seed in the Class 1A postseason.
Alexa Jamison
Salt Fork senior guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... A season that saw Jamison score 19.9 points per game and practically will the Storm to a program-record 29 wins also put an end to one of the best careers in Salt Fork history. She totaled 2,207 points for her career, the most in team history, and earned Class 1A All-State honors for the fourth straight year.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... putting on Biofreeze before every game.
➜ Her dream career is ... becoming a teacher at Salt Fork and coaching high school softball or basketball.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... fruit.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... softball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Hailee Steinfeld.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... her great-grandpa, Caitlin Clark and Azzi Fudd.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to Hawaii, designing and building her own house and getting a master’s degree.

Cissna Park junior Addison Lucht, our All-Area girls’ basketball Player of the Year, averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 4.0 steals per game this past season for the Timberwolves.
Addison Lucht
Cissna Park junior guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... The News-Gazette’s Player of the Year has had quite the junior season thus far, leading both the Cissna Park volleyball and basketball teams to a Class 1A third-place finish. Lucht averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 4.0 steals per game this season on her way to an All-State First-Team selection.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstitions are ... putting on her uniform the same way for every game and saying a quick prayer during the National Anthem.
➜ Her dream career is ... a college softball coach.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... fresh fruit.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... softball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Geena Davis.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and her Papa Dave.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to Alaska, running a marathon and going to the Olympics.

Megan Martin, at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Megan Martin
Watseka/Milford senior forward
➜ Why she made the first team ... Martin was one of the area’s best post players for one of the area’s best teams, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game. She turned those numbers up to 20 points and 11 rebounds in the postseason to lead the Warriors to a fourth consecutive regional championship and a Class 2A All-State Third-Team selection.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... joining Lauren Tegtmeyer in acting like NBA players during starting lineup announcements and giving nonchalant stares to the crowd.
➜ Her dream career is ... an actress.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... an egg sandwich.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... fencing.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Debby Ryan.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Jesus, Billie Eilish and Theo James.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... winning an Oscar, visiting all seven continents and getting invited to the Met Gala.

Addison Minor, Faces of Winter photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Addison Minor
Sullivan senior guard/forward
➜ Why she made the first team ... Minor and the Redskins flew under the radar as one of the best players and teams in the area this season. The senior recorded 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to secure an All-Lincoln Prairie Conference First-Team nod, a Class 2A All-State Special-Mention honor and the team’s first regional title in six years.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... her hair always has to look perfect.
➜ Her dream career is ... a preschool teacher.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... a chocolate chip Brownie Brittle.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... gymnastics or volleyball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Ava Michelle.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Michael Jordan, Rihanna and Paul Walker.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling outside the country, getting a master’s degree and having a family.

Kacie Sisk, Faces of Winter photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Kacie Sisk
Arcola senior guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... Sisk has been one of the area’s best players for the last three years, and this season was certainly one to remember. The Purple Riders’ all-time leading scorer (1,804 points) averaged 21.9 points and 10.2 rebounds to earn Class 1A All-State Third-Team honors and the program’s first regional title in a decade.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstition is ... making a three-pointer from the top of the key to end warmups.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... Goldfish.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... softball.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Ariana Grande, SZA and her great-grandma.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... traveling to the Bahamas and Bora Bora and seeing the northern lights.

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley's Lily Sizemore made The News-Gazette's 2025 All-Area Girls' Basketball First Team.
Lily Sizemore
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley sophomore guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... Sizemore is quickly shooting her way into becoming one of the best scorers the area has ever seen. She surpassed 1,000 career points just halfway through her high school career, averaging 22 per game as a sophomore. She was a Class 1A All-State Second-Team honoree and has already won two regionals.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstitions are ... folding the top of her left sock and eating a pre-game meal that her mom made.
➜ Her dream career is ... a food critic.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... TruFru.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... gymnastics.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Jennifer Lawrence.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Post Malone, Larry Bird and Dolly Parton.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... going to the Olympics, the Masters and a Tyler Childers concert.

Mahomet-Seymour's Kylie Waldinger made The News-Gazette's 2025 All-Area Girls' Basketball First Team.
Kylie Waldinger
Mahomet-Seymour senior guard
➜ Why she made the first team ... Waldinger, along with fellow senior Reese Gallier, led the Bulldogs to a fourth consecutive regional title. She tallied 16 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game to garner All-Apollo First-Team and Class 3A All-State Third-Team recognition.
➜ Her biggest basketball superstitions are ... having a pre-game coffee and meal that her dad made and straightening her hair for every postseason game.
➜ Her dream career is ... a sports psychologist.
➜ Her go-to snack is ... TruFru.
➜ If she could make the Olympics in any other sport, she would pick ... volleyball.
➜ The actor she’d pick to play her in a movie would be ... Blake Lively.
➜ If she could have dinner with three people from any time period, she would pick ... Jesus, Megan Maroney and Ty Myers.
➜ Three things on her bucket list are ... attending a concert at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, traveling a lot and working with a professional sports team.