By BYRON BEERS
Bixby senior basketball standouts Gracy Wernli, Gentry Baldwin, Alyssa Nielsen and Meredith Mayes have been selected to the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association Large East All-State team, and Wernli and Baldwin were both named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association Large East All-State team.
Wernli, a guard, averaged a team-high 18.1 points for the Lady Spartans, who advanced to the Class 6A State Tournament and went 19-9 overall in 2022-23 under head coach Tina Thomas, who is now retired. A member of the National Honor Society, National Charity League and Honor Roll, Wernli added 4.4 rebounds and shot 48 percent overall and 36 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. She was an 83.3 percent free throw shooter and averaged 13.7 points over her career.
“Gracy has impeccable integrity and character,” Thomas said. “Her drive and grit are the best of anyone I’ve coached.”
Baldwin joined Wernli in double figures, averaging 12.4 points per game. She shot 50 percent overall, 39 percent from 3-point range, averaged 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.5 steals. The guard, who will continue her career at Oral Roberts, also competes in soccer, track and softball. Baldwin averaged 9.9 points during her career.
“Genty has been a pillar of our program,” Thomas said. “She has incredible integrity, work ethic and tenacity.”
Nielsen averaged 12 points in her final campaign. She shot 51 percent overall, averaged 8.1 rebounds, just under three assists and 1.5 steals. Nielson, also a four-year letterman in softball and member of the Lady Spartans’ soccer team, averaged 10 points during her career. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, an NHS President and an Academic All-State selection.
“[Alyssa’s] a great young lady on and off the court,” Thomas said.
Mayes was limited to three games in her final season due to injury. She averaged 9.9 points over her career, shot 55 percent overall from the floor, averaged nine rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals. She was on pace to score over 1,000 career points and pull down over 1,000 career rebounds.
