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Sometimes in the sports world, we live in a place where two teams or players are diametrically opposite to one another, and not just on the court.

Such is the case of the 2019-20 All-Stanly News & Press women’s basketball selections as compared to the men’s squad.

Whereas five selections out of 15 total on our men’s team are underclassmen, only one sophomore is a member of the women’s team as you will see below.

So here are the selections for top honors.

Coach of the Year – Robert Stack, Gray Stone: This was not a difficult selection when you consider some of the numbers the Knights racked up this season.

Gray Stone reached 25 wins for the second time in school history and set a mark for best overall winning percentage (92.6 percent) in going 25-2 and reaching the third round of the state playoffs.

The Knights swept the Yadkin Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles and outscored teams by an overall margin of 22.7 points per game (55.7 points per game scored to 33 ppg allowed).

Player of the Year: Several players in my estimation made their case for Player of the Year, including Danielle Werts and Seccora Medley of Gray Stone, Shada Wall from Albemarle and North’s Goode.

However, Werts just stood out this season by leading her team in points and assists per game. She was named the YVC Player of the Year. She also hit a career mark in points as well.

So here are our selections for the first and second team by position (with another three-guard starters for the first team) along with several deserving an honorable mention.

First Team

G – Danielle Werts (Sr., Gray Stone, 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 5 apg, 3 spg):  The second 1,000-point scorer in school history, Werts was the driving force at point guard for the Knights.

The senior led Gray Stone in points and assists per game and was the YVC Player of the Year.

G – Shada Wall (Sr., Albemarle, 19.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2 apg, 3 spg):  Another senior, Wall had the highest points-per-game average of any women’s player in Stanly.

The Bulldogs guard also finished the season shooting 53 percent overall from the field.

G – Lexi Goode (Soph., North Stanly, 14.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7apg, 3.2 spg): Her star has been on the rise in the high school ranks since she burst onto the scene last season.

Goode has a strong offensive game while also adding just over three steals per game.

F – Danika Ray (Sr., Gray Stone, 10 ppg, 9 rpg) – Ray came up just short of averaging a double-double like her frontcourt fellow starter, Seccora Medley.

The power forward for the Knights was a force down low on the boards and presented matchup problems for most of the teams Gray Stone played this season.

F/C – Seccora Medley (Sr., Gray Stone, 12 ppg, 11 rpg): Medley’s athleticism and determination were among the strongest I saw this season for sure.

Averaging two blocks per game as well, Medley had the ability to alter shots in the lane or flat out just not allow a shot to go up. She could also dribble the ball down the court well after clearing a defensive board and showed some touch from the outside in the playoffs when her team needed a boost.

Second Team

G – Payton Landis (Sr., North Stanly, 8.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 1.1 spg): Landis may have one of the prettiest, highest-arching long-range shot attempts I have seen in recent years.

More than her shooting, though, was the team leadership she provided for four seasons for the Comets.

G – Krystin McLendon (Sr., Albemarle, 13 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4 spg): You know you are getting old as a reporter when you start covering the children of people you covered when they were in high school.

McLendon, the daughter of former Albemarle standout Charlotte Phillipy, was just such a player with a strong all-around game, a good shot on offense and active hands on defense.

G/F – Carmen Bishop (Sr., West Stanly, 7.7 ppg, 5 rpg):  She gave the team flexibility by being able to handle the basketball as well as play forward.

F – Dani Moss (Sr., West Stanly, 6.5 ppg, 3 rpg): Another solid forward for the Colts who gave West a strong frontcourt presence down low.

C – Raelee Furr (Sr., West Stanly, 7.5 ppg, 5 rpg): This senior fought an injury early on but was able to give the team solid minutes in the latter part of the season.

Honorable Mention
G – Kadajah Little (Sr., Albemarle, 5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2 spg)
G – D’Nysia Wall (Sr., South Stanly, 7.6 ppg)
G – Rachel Efird (Sr., West Stanly, 4 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg)
G – Kailey Furr (Jr., West Stanly, 6.5 ppg, 4 rpg)
G/F – Jenna Robinson (Jr., Gray Stone, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg)
G/F –  Sadie Lee (Jr., South Stanly, 8.3 ppg)