Despite the arrhythmia of the 2020-21 basketball season, there were plenty of highlights for area teams. Among highlights is first team all-district honors for five Van-Far Indians.

Those honored for the girls are junior Devyn Keller, freshman Haley Baskett and sophomore Mara Jensen.

Keller averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 6 assists a game, shooting 35 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line. Jensen averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds a game, shooting 47 percent from the field and 59 percent from the free-throw line; Baskett averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists a game, shot 36 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free-throw line.

Van-Far coach Heather Minter credited the girls for their honors and pointed to how much the team improved over the previous season. In 2019-20, Van-Far finished with a 3-21 record and 1-9 in the Eastern Missouri (EMO) Conference. That improved dramatically in 2020-21 as the Indians improved to 11-11 overall and 6-4 in conference play, despite the challenges of COVID. And Van-Far’s team was primarily composed of underclassmen, with only two seniors - AnnLynn Culwell and Panna Connaway - on the squad.

“These girls battled this year and definitely improved,” said Minter. “I feel they are their own worst enemies at times, but hopefully we continue to stay healthy and continue to go in the right direction. I’m definitely excited about next year and the direction we are going.”

Senior LaTrell Wright and freshman Nikos Connaway earned recognition for the boys.

Wright averaged a double-double per game. Listed at 5’9, he scored 12.8 points and collected 10.3 rebounds a game. He had 59 assists and 41 steals on the year. Connaway averaged 13.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, dishing 73 assists and grabbing 52 steals on the season.

“I’m very proud of these young men and they are very deserving of this recognition,” said Van-Far coach Pat Connaway. “LaTrell did a great job being a leader on a team that basically had no varsity experience - except him - returning. His energy was amazing and the kids really fed off of him.

Wright and Connaway additionally found themselves guarding players considerably bigger than them - as did much of the Indians team. Connaway is listed at 5’6. No one on Van-Far’s roster is listed as taller than six feet.

“Nikos did a great job as a freshman coming in and running the point for us. He led us in scoring, assists and steals and averaged less than 2.5 turnovers a game,” Connaway added.

And the coach pointed out their play on defense, as well as offense.

“Both young men also were tasked with guarding the opponent’s best scorers so they were expected to play both sides of the ball,” Connaway said.