By LLOYD COMBS
for the Daily Telegraph
GRUNDY, Va. — Grundy’s fortunes on the basketball floor have taken a positive turn this season, and Hannah Stiltner has helped steer the Lady Wave in the right direction.
The only senior in the starting lineup, the talented point guard helped Grundy clinch a regular season title in its first year in the Black Diamond District with last week’s 65-56 win at Twin Valley.
It was a typical week for Stiltner, who scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists at Twin Valley and added 12 points and four steals in a non-district win Friday at Clintwood, earning her Pocahontas Coal Association/ Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week honors.
The four-year starter has expanded her game and taken a leadership role to heart for the Lady Wave this season.
“We call on Hannah to do a lot for us,” Grundy coach Craig Plymal said. “She’s changed her game and it’s really helped us.”
Stiltner does things that show up in a scorebook and on a stat sheet and she can do the little things that don’t.
“Hannah is one of our top rebounders, she’s got over 100 rebounds,” Plymal said. “She gets to the free throw line, she’s shot over 100 free throws and she shoots around 70 percent, which really helps us.
“She usually draws the toughest assignment defensively and she leads us in steals with over two steals per game and, she leads us with 82 assists. She gets the ball to everybody else, which is why we have four girls who average in double figures in scoring.”
Grundy entered BDD semifinal play last night with an 18-4 record in its first year in Group A, against a schedule that still includes former Southwest District rivals Richlands and Tazewell and four games against teams from always-competitive eastern Kentucky.
Stiltner averages some 12 points per game. Juniors Loni Webb and Savannah Charles and sophomore Morgan Hall have also averaged in double figures this season, helping the Lady Wave to a 9-1 mark in the BDD, long one of the most competitive districts in southwest Virginia.
“Hannah involves everybody,” Plymal added. “She plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I’m pleased with her. She’s been a key for us.”
Regardless of this week’s BDD results, Grundy will advance to next week’s Region D quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Special Honorable Mention
Candace Brown, Summers County (2-1): 24 points, 13 boards vs. Westside, 37 points, 13 rebounds, 8 steals vs. PikeView; 31 pts, 10 reb. vs. Scott.
Honorable Mention
For Feb. 6-12
Bland County (0-1 during week): Amber Eaton, 9 pts.
Bluefield (1-0): Shelia Hopkins, 21 pts; Khadijah Brown, 12 pts.
Graham (2-0): Liz Workman, 26 pts, 13 pts, 5 stls vs. Fort Chiswell; Karly Morgan, 10 pts, 11 reb vs. Fort Chiswell; Tori Repass, 11 pts, 7 reb vs. FC; Alyssa Leung, 9 pts vs. Grayson.
Grundy (2-0): Savannah Charles, 27 pts; Morgan Hall, 35 pts, 24 reb, two double-doubles, including 18 pts, 11 reb vs. Clintwood; Loni Webb, 15 pts vs. Twin Valley.
Haysi (0-1): Brittany Roark, 16 pts.
James Monroe (0-2): Kelsie Mann, 25 pts, 15 pts, 11 reb vs. PikeView; Melissa Johnston, 26 pts, 11 pts, 12 reb vs. PV.
Narrows (1-0): Savanna Burton, 18 pts, 14 reb, 3 asts, 3 stls, 2 blk; Tiffany Perdue, 16 pts
Mount View (0-2): Ashley Belfiore, 25 pts; Jordan Younger, 18 pts.
PikeView (2-1): Hope Nester, 45 pts, 18 pts, 8 stls, 7 ast vs. Shady Spring; Danielle Compton, 48 pts, 34 reb, three double-doubles, including 20 pts, 10 reb vs. SS; Lauren White, 27 pts, 13 pts, 7 reb vs. Summers County.
Princeton (0-2): McKenzie Akers, 46 pts, 14 ast, including 30 pts, 7 ast vs. Woodrow Wilson; Hannah Preservati, 33 pts; Kendria Perkins, 19 pts, 22 reb, including 13 pts, 10 reb vs. Nicholas County.
Richlands (2-1): Brittany Allen, 73 points, including 29 pts (5 3s), 6 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Twin Valley, 28 pts vs. Haysi; Rachel Alley, 24 pts; Cassidy Richardson, 11 assists vs. Twin Valley; MacKenley Davis, 25 pts.
River View (1-0): Samantha Matney, 22 pts; Chelsey Dobbs, 8 pts, 15 reb, 6 blks, 5 stls, 5 ast; Tara Bowles, 5 pts, 11 reb.
Summers County (2-1): Brandy Morrison, 33 pts, 25 reb, 15 pts, 12 reb vs. Scott.
Twin Valley (0-2): Rachel Horn, 28 pts; Emily McClanahan, 18 pts; Brandi Rose, 14 pts vs. Grundy; Kara Goodman, 12 pts vs. Grundy.
Note: This is the final Player of the Week recipient for the 2011-12 season. A banquet honoring the winners will be held in late-March.