FARGO -- Grand Forks Red River's Ellie Ripplinger set the bar high for herself as a sophomore when she led the Roughriders in scoring with an 11.0 points per game average.
As a junior this year, though, the 5-foot-5 guard had no problems improving on individual accomplishments.
That progression led Ripplinger to be named to the North Dakota Class A girls all-state first team, which is selected by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
"Ellie got a better feel for what it takes to be a varsity player this year," Red River coach Kent Ripplinger said of his daughter. "Her game became much more complete this year."
Ripplinger made a steady bump from her sophomore statistics (11.0 ppg, 1.5 steals, 1.2 assists). As a junior, she averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 steals and 2.9 assists.
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Ripplinger shot better than 40 percent from the field (101-for-250) and better than 73 percent from the free-throw line (101-for-137).
"She was very consistent for us this year," Ripplinger said. "We could always count on her to be there offensively for us."
Ripplinger is joined on the first team by Minot's Holly Johnson, Fargo Shanley senior Rachel Weir, Fargo North junior Kira Larson and Williston senior Dani Clarke.
Rest of the best
Johnson had a standout season for the Majettes averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds per game.
The 5-foot-11 senior forward, who is committed to play basketball at North Dakota State, was also named North Dakota Miss Basketball, North Dakota Class A Senior Athlete of the Year, North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and Western Dakota Association Senior Athlete of the Year.
But what might be most remarkable about Johnson is that she played her senior season on a broken foot.
"Holly is a competitor," Minot head coach Todd Magnuson said. "She loves the game of basketball and there was no way she was going to sit out her senior year. She just wants to play every game and she was one of the players we really needed on the team this year."
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Johnson broke the fourth metatarsal bone in her right foot during the state volleyball tournament and missed the first three games of the basketball season.
She helped the Majettes to a fifth-place finish at state and was named to the all-state tournament team. Johnson, who finished her career with 1,260 points, was an all-WDA team selection and was named to the all-West Region tournament team.
Weir, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, averaged 18 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 3.2 steals per game for the Deacons who finished the season 19-6.
Weir also was a runner up for ND Miss Basketball and is committed to playing basketball at the University of Mary.
Larson averaged 15.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg for the Spartans. The 6-foot-3 junior center is committed to play NCAA Division I volleyball at Nebraska and was named to the all-EDC team.
Clarke, an all-WDA, 5-foot-9 senior who is committed to play basketball at the University of Mary, averaged 19.5 ppg and 8.6 rpg for the Coyotes this season.
Second team
Erin Krogh and Lexi Lennon of West Fargo, A.J. Jacobs and Hannah Larson of Bismarck Century, Sarah Schafer of Devils Lake, Naomi Rust of Bismarck and Mic Longtin of Mandan each received second-team honors.
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• Krogh, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 9.8 ppg and shot 46.3 percent from the field including 48.6 percent from beyond the arc. She was named to the all-EDC and all-state tournament teams.
• Lennon, an all-EDC 5-foot-8 junior guard, averaged 12.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for the Packers. She averaged 18 ppg during the state tournament and was an all-state tournament team selection.
• Jacobs, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 13.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg for the Patriots who finished the season 22-3. She hit two key 3-pointers in the final two minutes of Century's 63-60 win over West Fargo in the state championship game. Jacobs was an all-state tournament team selection.
• Hannah Larson, a 6-foot junior forward, averaged 12 ppg and 9 rpg for Century. She averaged 17.7 ppg during the state tournament and received tournament most valuable player honors.
• Rust, a 6-foot senior forward, led the Demons to a 17-8 season averaging 16 ppg and 10 rpg. She was an all-state tournament team selection.
• Longtin, a 5-foot-2 senior guard, was all-state tournament team selection and averaged 14 ppg for the Braves.
• Schafer, a 5-foot-9 senior forward, averaged 16.5 ppg for Devils Lake and was an All-EDC team selection.
