Brandon’s Abney is first-team D2 all-state
Vanessa Rodriguez makes everyone who doubts her pay.
The 5-foot-5 Rodriguez isn’t the most imposing player on the basketball court when she’s just standing, but that changes once the game starts.
And by the time opposing players realize the Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard sophomore guard plays much taller than her stature, it’s far too late.
Though she isn’t the biggest player, Rodriguez rose to the occasion this season to lead FGR on a historic run that led to her earning Division 2 Michigan Associated Press girls basketball Player of the Year honors.
“I take that to heart,” Rodriguez said. “A bunch of people underestimate me because of my size and that motivates me even more to work harder than the rest of the people on the court.”
Fueled by a desire to prove herself, Rodriguez upped her production as a sophomore to take home Player of the Year recognition one year after earning first team AllState honors as a freshman.
Ortonville Brandon’s Abney averaged 24.3 points, six rebounds, four steals, four assists and 1.4 blocks to earn first-team all-state honors, finishing with 1,612 career points a record (boys or girls), as well as the school’s single-game scoring record (42 points) and an MHSAA record with 21 points in a quarter.
Ferndale freshman Iyanna Davis earned second-team honors after a renaissance season for the Eagles, while fellow frosh Cece Arico of Detroit Country Day was also a second-team honoree.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s coach Brad Crighton was the second-team coach of the year, after leading the Eaglets to an unbeaten regular season, while OLSM freshmen Layla Stewart and Allie Crighton earned honorable mentions.
Rodriguez averaged 13 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists per game to help lead the Fighting Irish to a 28-1 record and a state runner-up finish in 2024.
“It’s obviously a great honor and I’m very proud and grateful to be named Player of the Year,” Rodriguez said. “But I think this season wouldn’t have been what it was without my great teammates and coaches.”
Rodriguez is known for what she can do with the ball in her hands. She’s a prolific shooter and gets to the basket at will, though it was a focus on her defense that allowed her to take a step forward this season.
“I can score at any given time,” Rodriguez said. “I had to improve my defense from last year to this year and I definitely think that’s something that improved.”
Even FGR coach Tim Cain saw a change in Rodriguez’s attention to detail on the defensive end of the floor.
“If you really want to look at the difference, it was her defense,” Cain said. “Every big game, she could be guarding a Division I guard. She would just get inside those players and absolutely frustrate them, which is why she had so many steals. Offensively, she’s dynamic but she’s a better defender.”
Rodriguez didn’t let the limitations of her size hold her back from achieving POY honors this season and Cain believes there will be more accolades in the future for the star guard.
“She’s just going to get better and better,” Cain said. “There’s no ceiling with the way she works. She can keep going and going. I’m just excited I get to coach her for the next two years.”
The rest of the all-state team includes Frankenmuth’s Mia McLaughlin, Chelsea’s Leila Wells, Paw Paw’s AJ Rickli, Freeland’s Karie Keefer, Ortonville Brandon’s Abney, Lansing Catholic’s Anna Richards, Tecumseh’s Alli Zajac, Negaunee’s Ella Mason, and Detroit Edison’s Isis Johnson Musah.
The Coach of the Year is Tecumseh’s Kristy Zajac. THE 2024 MICHIGAN AP DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE
TEAM
Selected by a panel of 15 sports writers:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vanessa Rodriguez, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
FIRST TEAM
Vanessa Rodriguez, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, Soph. Mia McLaughlin, Frankenmuth, Sr.
Leila Wells, Chelsea, Sr. AJ Rickli, Paw Paw, Jr.
Karie Keefer, Freeland, Jr.
Lillie Johnson, Gladstone, Soph. Riley Abney, Ortonville Brandon, Sr.
Anna Richards, Lansing Catholic Central, Sr.
Alli Zajac, Tecumseh, Jr.
Ella Mason, Negaunee, Sr.
Isis Johnson Musah, Detroit Edison, Jr.
COACH OF THE YEAR Kristy Zajac, Tecumseh SECOND TEAM
(nominees receiving at least two votes)
Charlotte Miller, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, Jr.
Cece Arico, Detroit Country Day, Fr.
Kayla Hairston, Goodrich, Soph. Iyanna Davis, Ferndale, Fr. Maddison Diekman, Vicksburg, Sr.
Addi Zajac, Tecumseh, Fr. Katelyn Baney, Paw Paw, Sr. Avery Wolters, Marysville, Sr. Keira Maki, Escanaba, Sr. Isabella Edwards, Croswell-Lexington, Sr.
COACH
Brad Crighton, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
HONORABLE MENTION
(nominees receiving one vote) Sadie Dykstra, Yale, Soph. Ashlyn Upton, Armada, Jr.
Ella Andree, Spring Lake, Sr. Julie Ashbaugh, Grant, Sr.
Layla Stewart, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Fr.
Allie Crighton, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Fr.
Reese Polega, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Sr.
COACHES
Joe Jacobs, Frankenmuth; Tim Cain, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard.