Athlete of the week: Selland's big games lead SC/W to region title game

FORESTBURG/WOONSOCKET — Sophomore Shelby Selland scored 18 points in both District 9B tournament games for Sanborn Central/Woonsocket.

The Blackhawks came out on top in both games and will take on Corsica/Stickney in the Region 5B championship on Friday at the Corn Palace for a trip to the state tournament.

“We’re really excited,” Selland said about Friday’s game. “You can tell that the intensity is that much higher.”

Selland came down with seven rebounds to go with her 18 points in a 59-36 win in the District 9B championship game over James Valley Christian on Saturday. She put up 14 points in the first half alone.

For her efforts, Selland has been named The Daily Republic’s athlete of the week, an award voted on by the newspaper’s sports staff.

“She’s been shooting the ball real well for us all season,” head coach Tim McCain said. “She’s somebody that the kids know we need to get the ball to.”

McCain said the team sees Selland as a leader, even if she is in her sophomore season. Selland started for Mount Vernon as a freshman.

“(Transferring) was really hard at first,” Selland said. “I had a lot of support with it. They’ve welcomed me.”

Selland’s transition was much easier with this being the first year for the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket co-op.

“It was new for everyone, so I wasn’t the lone one out,” Selland said.

Selland has averaged 16.7 points per game in her first season with the Blackhawks. She’s also averaging eight rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field and 58 percent from the free-throw line.

“At the beginning of the year she didn’t start real well from the free-throw line,” McCain said. “She’s gotten a lot better the second half of the year.”

Selland is happy with her numbers on the season.

“I have high expectations for myself,” she said. “(But) I’m just one of five (on the floor). I think we all pull our weight. We all have things that are expected of us.”

McCain is ready to see how Selland will perform on a big stage in the region championship.

“She’s ready to take things on,” he said. “I’m sure she’s ready and she’ll be excited and ready to play ball on Friday.”

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