DETROIT — A West Michigan native has claimed the prestigious award of Miss Basketball for the second year in a row.
West Ottawa High School's Gabby Reynolds is the 2024 Mick McCabe Miss Basketball winner.
Reynolds had a standout season her senior year, averaging nearly 30 points a game with four rebounds and four assists per contest. The Panthers star will play at George Washington next year.
Reynolds is the first West Ottawa Panther to take home the honor.
"I think really it is just a blessing," Reynolds said. "I have hoped for it since my sophomore year. I think getting this recognition still has not hit me yet. More than anything, it is just a blessing."
Reynolds has not just hoped for the award. She spoke it into existence.
Every single year, Panthers head coach Paul Chapman gives his basketball players a paper to write their long term and short term goals on. The George Washington signee put on that paper before her sophomore season that she wanted Miss Basketball. On Monday, she earned it.
"My long term goal has been to win Miss Basketball," Reynolds said. "It has been like that for three years in a row. Chapman will give me that paper after each season. I have had that paper. I still have it in my drawer. I don't look at it every single morning, but I know that is is there."
Last year, Macy Brown from East Grand Rapids High School was named Michigan's Miss Basketball. The Michigan Wolverine became the first girl from the west side of the state to win the honor in six years.
Reynolds is proud to keep the big trophy on the west side of the state.
"It's a huge honor," Reynolds said. "I think the west side has been pretty under the radar over these last few years to get two years in a row of two female athletes winning Miss Basketball is amazing. I think it really puts us on the radar and just shows a lot of the potential on the west side."
West Michigan is home to both Mr. and Miss Basketball this season after Reynold's win today and Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Durral Brooks win last week.
Also in the hunt for Miss Basketball, Lily Zeinstra of Byron Center High School earned the runner-up spot in the contest, losing to Reynolds by only a few dozen votes.
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