JACKSON'S PALMER MAKES ALL-STATE TEAM

Jackson's Melissa Palmer was probably the best player on one of the state's best girls basketball teams this past season.

As a result, Palmer was named to the Missouri Class 4A Sportwriters and Broadcasters All-State first team.

Palmer, a 5-foot-10 forward, scored about 14 points per game and five rebounds for the Lady Indians, who ended the season after an overtime sectional loss to John Burroughs with an 23-2 record. Jackson was ranked No. 1 for the majority of the season and ended up No. 5 in the final poll.

Palmer, Jackon's leading scorer, was the only female player to make the team in the immediate area.

"It's a good honor for her," Jackson coach Ron Cook said. "She was a strong player for us going against the centers who were bigger than she was. She had to match up with the bigger girls all the time and she was our scoring threat inside. We had a good team this year. We had a balanced team and she was a big reason we went 23-2."

Sikeston's Bryan Ellitt was the only player in the region to be named all-state in 4A. He made the second team.

In Class 3A, Arcadia Valley's Chris Foster and Doniphan's Nic Wilson made the first team.

New Madrid County's Shayla Day and Dexter's Mikaela Scott were both named to the girls 3A first team. Doniphan's Bethany Orendorff was a second team selection.

For a complete listing of the 3A-4A All-State teams, see "Scoreboard" on page 2.