Trending
CHARLESTON -- After a season in which both athletes captured state titles for their team, dominated in the regular season and state tournament, and were named captains of their respective all-state squads, Cameron's Ashlynn Van Tassell and Wheeling Park's Alexis Bordas are both recipients of the Mary Ostrowski Award, given annually to the state's top girls basketball player by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, as 2024 Co-Players of the Year.
Van Tassell, a senior, is a three-time all-state first team player and one time all-state second teamer. She appeared in four state title games in her career with the Dragons, winning the gold in her last three seasons.
Van Tassell averaged 19 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this season, leading the 23-5 Dragons in both categories.
"This means a lot, especially in my senior year to win the Mary Ostrowski," Van Tassell said. "I think I showed that I deserve it, I've really worked hard --getting ready this summer after tearing my meniscus, getting back to the game and then showing what Cameron can do to get three straight championships."
Bordas, a junior, is a three-time all-state first team player, and was awarded the 2022-23 and 2023-24 West Virginia Gatorade West Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.
Bordas is honored as a Mary O recipient for the second straight year as well, joining Fairmont Senior's Marley Washenitz (2021, 2022), Huntington's Jordan Dawson (2016, 2017), North Marion's Mariah Byard (2010, 2011), Capital/South Charleston's Alexis Hornbuckle (2002, 2003, 2004), Morgantown's Julie Wheeler (1992, 1993) and Parkersburg Catholic's Mary Ostrowksi herself (1977, 1978, 1979) as multi-time Ostrowski award winners, which was known as the R.A. Thorn award until 2012.
Bordas led the Wheeling Park Patriots to their second straight championship game this season, and helped the Patriots capture their first title since 1999.
Bordas averaged 23.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the 25-4 Patriots.
"That's a great honor, especially to share it with [Van Tassell], she's an amazing player," Bordas said. "I grew up playing against her and playing with her and she's an awesome player and I'm happy for her too. It's a huge honor, especially after both of us winning state championships."