Three local girls’ hoops starters were voted on as among the best in Iowa by coaches around the state for their performances in 2018-19.
Pella basketball senior Emily Holterhaus was voted among the best players in Class 4A basketball this past season. Holterhaus was selected to the Class 4A All-State Girls Basketball First Team by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
Holterhaus eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark this season and was the 2nd best statistical rebounder in 4A with her 284 rebounds this season and 12.9 per game. She was also top five in steals and blocked shots. The accolades are the latest in a long career filled with state-level recognition for Holterhaus – Emily is a four-time All-State Volleyball player–including three first team nominations, and now a two-time All-State Basketball honoree. Holterhaus was also a member of the Class 3A State Track and Field champion Lady Dutch last spring and an individual title holder on the oval in her freshman season. The track season begins this week for the Little and Lady Dutch on the indoor circuit at Grinnell College Thursday.
Knoxville Junior Katie Keitges was named to the Class 4A All-State Second Team. She averaged 23.4 points per game, which was 2nd best in the class and 6th best in Iowa overall while nabbing 77
steals, which was tied for fifth with Pella’s Holterhaus in 4A. Keitges is also 106 points shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer among girls at Knoxville.
PCM’s Regan Freland was selected to the third team for class 3A. The junior also eclipsed the 1,000 career point threshold this year while finishing third in the Heart of Iowa Conference in scoring with 15.6 points a night. No one got to the charity stripe more than Freland and her 76% from the line was second in the league. The third year player could also get it done defensively, as her 65 steals led the conference. Freland helped the Mustangs to a 9-12 season.
The trio of Holterhaus, Keitges, and Freland were also selected to the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State Team — Holterhaus and Keitges were 2nd team honorees in 4A; Freland was a 2nd team selection in Class 3A.