Stokes, Norman, Klopfenstein named to INA All-State teams
by Jeff Dahn · March 10th, 2010
The accolades continue to pour in for Linn-Mar standout Kiah Stokes. Everyone better get used to it.
Stokes, a 6-foot-3 junior, has been named first-team all-state by the Iowa Newspaper Association after leading the top-ranked and unbeaten Lions to the Class 4A girls' state basketball championship last week in Des Moines. Stokes was also a first-team selection by The Des Moines Register.
It marks the second straight year Stokes has been named a first-teamer by both organizations.
She was joined on the INA all-state teams by teammates D.J. Norman and Kayla Klopfenstein. Both seniors earned third-team recognition.
Stokes, who next year will have her choice among the top women's basketball college programs in the country as to where she wants to continue her career and education, enjoyed a phenomenal season while leading the Lions to a 26-0 record, including a 38-35 win over second-ranked Des Moines East in Saturday night's state championship game.
A post player for the Lions, Stokes averaged 19.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 4.8 blocked shots while helping Linn-Mar to its first state championship since 1985. She shot 65 percent from the floor and made her only 3-point attempt of the season.
Norman, a 5-9 wing player who will be at Division-I Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah, next season, averaged 9.7 points and 3.2 assists in 22 games. Klopfenstein, headed for D-II Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., next year, averaged 11.7 points with a team-high 37 3-pointers, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Norman and Klopfenstein graduate, as do starters Kiley Haines and Morgan Terpstra, and top reserve Megan Young. Haines averaged 4.9 points and swished a crucial 3-pointer in the Lions' championship game win over Des Moines East, and Terpstra averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Juniors Kailee Karr and Jenna Eells will rejoin Stokes next season after combining for 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds. |