Bronco makes All-State first team

Wauneta-Palisade’s Faith Simspon drives to the basket during a Cattle Trail tournament overtime victory over Hitchcock County at McCook Community College in December. Simpson earned Class D-2 All-State first team after helping W-P reach the state tournament.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

WAUNETA, Neb. — Faith Simpson’s fabulous Wauneta-Palisade basketball career concluded with a prestigious spot on the Nebraska All-State first team.

The Lincoln Journal-Star selected Simpson last week, and Omaha World-Herald also selected Simpson among Class D-2’s five best players on Sunday.

The 6’ Simpson avered better than 21 points per game while leading Wauneta-Palisade to a D-2 state tournament spot.

She delivered several unforgettable performances, including one that likely earned the Broncos their state tourney wildcard.

Against top 10-rated rival Maywood-Hayes Center, Simpson scored 36 of the Broncos’ 46 points in a 46-37 victory over those Wolves at Hayes Center.

Simpson is a three-sport athlete who will actually play volleyball for McCook Community College starting this fall.

She joins a D-2 all-state first team also featuring 6’ senior Sara Wertenberger of Falls City Sacred Heart, 5’8” junior Kate Jansky from Exeter-Milligan along with Humphrey St. Francis teammates Allison Weidner, a 5’7” freshman; and 5’11” senior Logan Wemhoff.

Bronco teammates Monique Gooden and Destiny Beacham both earned D-2 all-state honorable mention.

District champion Maywood Hayes-Center — which fell one win short of a state tourney spot — received three honorable mentions in seniors Grace Koubek, Sydney Mullen-Shaw and junior Jayden Widener. Watch for more details on Tuesday.