Dixon and Lady Pirate players garner basketball awards

Editor's Note: In the absence of a season-ending awards ceremony, the East Washingtonian presents the next best thing under current virus-restrictive circumstances.

POMEROY–Lady Pirate senior Madison "Maddy" Dixon and fellow seniors Alyssa Wolf, Heidi Heytvelt, Sydney Watko and Jaden Steele were front and center in a virtual tribute made by Coach Tai Bye on social media, reprinted here in condensed form since public gatherings are prohibited due to coronavirus.

"Unusual circumstances call for unconventional solutions," Bye wrote.

"To many, an 'Awards Banquet' wouldn't seem like much, but for me, it's an opportunity to thank the people who have been such a valuable part of Pomeroy Girls' Basketball team and it's an opportunity to celebrate the incredible young women I have been blessed to coach," Bye said.

Team Captain Dixon, already recognized as a 1B Southeast Girls Player of the Year and All-Conference First team, was further recognized as the team's Most Valuable Player and with a Career Achievement Award. Dixon was also Top Rebounder.

Coach Bye highlighted Dixon's career stats: 1,430 points (407 from free throws), 936 rebounds, 182 steals, 152 blocks and 150 assists.

Dixon led the team in scoring, finishing this season with 433 points, while also scoring her 1,000th point in the first game of the season. She averaged 18 points per game, shooting 51% inside the arc and 49% overall. She finished with 247 rebounds, averaging 10 per game. Dixon made 44 blocks and 49 steals.

"One thing about Maddy is true," Bye said, "she never gives up and she never lets down. The passion in her eyes never goes away. I admire her desire to be better, her drive to push her teammates, and the power she has to want to win. There are few athletes who work as hard as she does in practice. She never saves anything for games, instead, she goes as hard as she can every day to make herself the best version of herself and to motivate her teammates to be better."

Sydney Watko was also a team captain and All Conference First Team. Watko was also presented the Coach's Award.

Watko worked hard, trusted the system and never gave up, Bye said. "Thrown" into a new role this season, Watko didn't complain and if she did question it, Bye never heard. "That's what I love most about her–she listens and she trusts me," Bye said.

"I have never seen someone work so hard to earn a position on a team, which is why this award called her name this season," Bye said. "She proved to me that she won't stop growing, learning, or trying. She showed me that she can and will be successful no matter where I put her."

Heidi Heytvelt was named All Conference First Team and the Finisher Award, presented by Bye to the individual who finishes the most games within a margin of 15 points. Heytvelt came into her senior season in a brand-new role, Bye said, and she saw her "pushing herself every day to be better, faster, and stronger."

Bye trusted Heytvelt "to lead this team from the front and make the decisions that needed to be made. She never lets a bad play or even a bad game get her down. She comes back the next day determined to do things better."

Most of all, Bye said, she loves Heytvelt's "humor, her light-heartedness, and how much fun she has on and off of the floor."

The Lady Pirates held teams to 45 or less points this year, taking pride in being one of the best defensive teams. Alyssa Wolf–named Best Defensive Player–was one of the "strongest defenders," Bye said, a person she trusted to defend the other team's best player. "Her passion, competitiveness, communication, and fire make her an aggressive and smart defender," Bye said.

"A few games this season, I reminded her that she earned her spot, more than anyone, and that because she worked so hard and challenged herself every practice, she would be rewarded in the end," the coach said.

Most Inspirational Player went to Emma Severs. "The most inspirational award looks a little different to me this season," Bye said. "I chose this young woman to represent this award because she was forced to accept a role that she didn't want and she wasn't used to, but she found a way to make her role as a vocal leader valuable.

"When Emma first called to tell me she had torn her ACL, I was devastated for her, her team, but very selfishly for myself. I needed Emma on the floor and I started to become worried about the upcoming season–how was I going to coach these girls to another state appearance without our point guard?

"But Emma taught me a lesson, a very valuable lesson," Bye said. "As the season progressed, she taught me the value of her voice. There wasn't a single practice, locker-room talk, or game where Emma didn't step up to help, support, or encourage her teammates. She made me realize that she didn't need to be on the floor to make an impact.

"In six months' time, I watched a devastated young woman become a powerful, determined leader who did everything she was capable of doing to make her team successful," the coach wrote. "She earned this award because she inspired me to never give up, to fight for what I want, and to always use my voice as my most powerful tool."

Keely Maves, 5-11 sophomore post, was named Most Improved. "I was so proud of the changes I saw in her this year both on and off of the floor," Bye said. "She worked hard to compete against others in practice, she listened to and executed directions her coaches gave her, and most of all, she gained a lot of confidence on the floor."

Senior Jaden Steele was named Most Dedicated Player. Midway through the season, Bye said, Steele was suddenly unable to play so she joined her teammates on the bench in "her best role: cheering and motivating her teammates."

Steele didn't let obstacles get in her way of having a great senior year, Bye added. "It would have been really easy for Jaden to quit the team but she chose to stick it out and do what she does best–have fun, enjoy life, and make memories with her best friends."

Bye also expressed appreciation to her husband Tory and daughter Breckyn, assistant coaches Gena Severson and Brock Ledgerwood, A.D. Toddette McGreevy, statisticians Kim Wolf, Jennifer Maves and Gayla Bott, manager Teagan Steele, and especially the "parents, moms and fans" for their unfaltering support.

The coach offered a list of Top 10 Moments from the season, some serious, some humorous, ranging from husband's and daughter's involvement to appreciation of assistant coaches Gena Severson and Brock Ledgerwood to a number of funny anecdotes. Bye's number one item was ending the season with a win.

"While it may not have been the "win" we wanted, it's still a win I am so proud of," she wrote. "This team has overcome a lot of unforeseen obstacles this season, so this became a bright spot in our season and a chance to end with smiles on our faces. As a coach, it gave me just another reason to be proud of these young women because even when things were tough, and it would have been easy to quit, they made the choice to finish their season strong and bring home another piece of hardware."