Several Llano High School girls basketball players were named to All-District 5-3A for their performances during the 2024-25 season.
Senior forward Amelia Robinson was named the district's Most Valuable Player.
Head coach Jay Parker said the reason Robinson was named the district's MVP because of 'her impact on both sides of the ball.' She could block shots, get defensive rebounds to lead the fast break, stop and either pass, hit a 3-pointer or score layups.
'She could disrupt the inside,' he said. 'She got so many tips and steals that people had to adjust. She had decent speed. She could go inside-outside. She was a utility knife. People will remember her impact on both sides. She was a great kid. She made an impact.'
Robinson also was named the volleyball district's MVP.
'She was a big part of winning district in both sports,' the coach said. 'Do we do that without her? Probably not.'
Senior guard Ciara Hays, junior guard Sydney Kuykendall and sophomore guard Addison Priem were named to the first team.
'All three are deserving,' Parker said.
Parker nominated Hays for Defensive Player of the Year, but he believes foul trouble that often landed her on the bench may have contributed to the vote.
Still, there's no denying the senior played to a high level every game, he added.
'I thought she played at that level,' he said of defensive MVP. 'She was a handful. We're talking about a player who gives everything she has every second. She'll be hard to replace just with her energy. She can disrupt things.'
Priem, he said, 'is one of those mystery players.'
'She could jam things and disrupt things. She could score in double figures,' Parker said. 'Addison is someone we're depending on to step up and play a big role.'
The coach called Kuykendall 'even-keel Sydney.'
'If she and Ciara aren't scoring against Clyde (a 4339 bi-district championship loss February 11), we're not in it,' he said. 'She doesn't get rattled. She's another I felt was deserving of first team all-district. Those girls played big roles with Amelia out (because of injury). In the double overtime win against Comfort (34-32 January 31), we squeaked that one out. They played significant roles, they were well deserving.
Second team honors went to junior post Peyton Parrish and sophomore forward Hailey Lucas.
Parker said the two were 'role players who were hard workers and gave us big minutes.'
'Peyton started all the pre-district and district rolls around, and she's not.' he said. 'She showed up every day and battled. She played well against Clyde and battled (senior center Madeline Underwood).'
Lucas 'is still so young. She's definitely deserving of the second team. Hailey stepped into that starter's role and handled it. She'll be a handful the next two years,' the coach said.
Junior guards Kenna Moore and Bailey Niemeyer and sophomore Anna Machuga were honorable mention.
'A team only is as good as its players,' Parker said. 'The players were for one another. I couldn't ask more from those players. They were big in winning the district championship. Those three players played significant roles. Anna could come in anytime to give us a lift. Bailey had to play a big role with Amelia gone. Kenna came in and hit some big shots against Blanco the first time (a 41-19 win in the first round).'
