WyoPreps Athlete of the Week Girls State Basketball 2024 [VIDEOS]

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wyoming presents the WyoPreps Athlete of the Week honors. In reflecting on the recent state basketball championships earlier this month, WyoPreps chose a key member of each girls’ state championship team to discuss the recent title. The four awards were based on performances at the 1A-2A and 3A-4A state basketball championships.

WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONS 20204

The Southeast Cyclones won the Class 1A girls’ basketball state championship on March 2, 2024, thanks to a 45-40 victory over the Upton Bobcats. Sophomore Kaycee Kosmicki had 13 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in the title game. She made 8-10 free throws in the game, with six made free throws in the final 30 seconds to help preserve the win. Kosmicki had ten points, four rebounds, and five steals in their first-round victory over Little Snake River. She followed that with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in the semifinals against Cokeville.

In 2A, the Tongue River Eagles captured the state title with a 46-43 win over Lingle-Ft. Laramie. Junior Paxten Aksamit was a key contributor for the Eagles. She scored only three points and had one steal in the championship game due to foul trouble. Aksamit had 12 points and three rebounds in the first-round win over Rocky Mountain. She followed that with 14 points in the semifinal victory over Pine Bluffs.

Douglas junior Lauren Olsen put on a show in the 3A state tournament. She helped the Bearcats to their sixth straight state championship. Olsen scored 92 points in the three wins over Lyman, Mountain View, and Buffalo. In the semifinals, Olsen scored a career-high 45 points. She poured in 26 points in the title game versus the Bison.

Finally, in 4A girls’ basketball, Sheridan defeated Campbell County in their fourth meeting this season, 65-56, for the state championship. Junior Avery McMullen led the Broncs with 17 points, which included 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. She helped Sheridan to victories over Rock Springs and Cody in the first round and semifinals.

WyoPreps’ David Settle had a chance to visit with the four players recently to reflect on their championship. They discussed the feeling of winning it all a few weeks after the fact, what it took in their run to the title, what they thought was a key or the difference for their team, and more.

Thank you to Kaycee, Paxten, Lauren, and Avery for representing their school’s title-winning team. Congrats to the four girls’ basketball state champions in 2024: Southeast, Tongue River, Douglas, and Sheridan.

The WyoPreps Athlete of the Week nominations are open from Fridays at 5 p.m. until Mondays at 9 a.m. Coaches, family, friends, and student-athletes can nominate deserving student-athletes. Early and late nominations are not accepted.