About the All-Northwest girls team

This was the first time I had to pick an All-Northwest girls basketball team, and I can't imagine a more difficult year to pick the squad.

After a solid three weeks of comparing players, going over stats and talking to area coaches, I finalized the team Saturday afternoon. In my mind, there were easily 10-15 players that could have made the first team and another 30-40 that could have made teams three through five.

Needless to say, it wasn't easy.

I especially agonized over the player of the year choice. The handful of times I had a chance to see Rice Lake's Casey Weber, I was blown away. As the article stated, nobody was better when the game was in the balance. But as the year went on, I took a closer look at North's Hannah Quilling. I also considered Flambeau's Beth Alberson. Anyone that leads a team to three straight state championships has to be considered.

Combined with what I saw during the regular season, their stats and what I heard from a variety of coaches, it became apparent the right choice was Weber.

Quilling was a very close second. In fact, if I had to build a team, I'd start with Quilling. She is a real coach on the floor, and I can see why UW-Green Bay offered her a scholarship.

I was also impressed with Quilling's character. After North lost to Marshfield in a sectional final, WQOW's Bill Port, WEAU's Matt Queen and I waited outside the North locker room, hoping for a quote or two from a player. Most were a little too upset to talk, and we understood that. But Quilling knew it was her job — so to speak — as the team leader to talk with the media. Her answers were well-thought out and sincere. It probably seemed like a small thing to her, but she handled that interview with more class than several professional athletes I've dealt with in the past few years. I really appreciated it, as did Bill and Matt.

The rest of the first team is also worthy. There was quite a bit of support for Flambeau's Beth Alberson to win player of the year, especially from the Lakeland Conferences. Altoona's Tiffany Gregorich was one of the best emotional leaders you'll ever find. And I really liked the unselfish of Memorial senior Katie Pospishil. If she wanted, she probably could have scored 30 points a night. But in order for the Abes to be successful, she needed to kick the ball back outside to their shooters.

I felt it was a solid first team. And, for my own sanity, I hope next year's is a bit easier to pick.