“She was good right away at a lot of things that usually take a lot of time,” Zeller said. “Every year she’s gotten better and every year her role has changed.

“She was pretty skilled with the ball at an early age.”

Reyerson stepped into a leading role as a scorer, rebounder and leader-by-example for the West Marshall Trojans as they took the Heart of Iowa Conference title in only their second year as a member of the league with a 22-3 overall record and a 13-1 mark in conference play.

Statistically, Reyerson was near the top of Class 3A in five separate categories. She finished third in scoring average at 19.8 points per game, led 3A in rebounds per game at 11.7, was 13th in assists at 4.3 per game and 13th in steals at 3.5 per game while ranking seventh in blocks at 2.4 per contest. She earned first team All-State honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, second team All-State from the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association and was an honorable mention in the Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa Elite team.

Zeller said Reyerson’s versatility — she spent time as a point guard, as a wing and as a post player last season — is a key part of what makes her such an effective player.

“The thing that comes to mind [first] with Katy is her versatility, especially given the fact she’s a post-type player height-wise,” Zeller said. “I’ve never seen anyone with the kind of stats that she has and the kind of skill set she has.

“She’s just got a lot of moves and skills with the ball, but at the same time she sees the floor and she’s willing to dump the ball off.”

Starting her trajectory as a freshman, Reyerson played a smaller role for the Trojans as they made it to the regional semifinals. She learned from the team’s seniors and was not a first option offensively. It wasn’t until her sophomore season when, after she was thrust into the lead role, that she began to really take a leap in productivity and catch the attention of teams.

Zeller said one of the most important developments from Reyerson over the past two seasons has been her use of her right hand off the dribble. A natural left-hander, she already possessed an inherent advantage as most defenders are inclined to assume an opponent is right-handed. But early in her career, Zeller said she was too one-handed. Now, her ability to finish layups and take the ball to the hoop with the right hand has made it difficult for defenses to gameplan for her other than double-teaming or face-guarding.

This proven path of improvement, along with her gaudy stats, accolades and track record, has caught the attention of some Division I schools, Reyerson said. Some of the schools in contact with the junior include Northern Iowa, Drake, Nebraska and Marquette.

For Reyerson, part of what has helped her improve is the increased familiarity with her teammates and with the style of play. Particularly in regards to communication, Reyerson said.

“Letting each other know, it just makes everyone more comfortable out there and a little more loose,” Reyerson said.

Only three seniors were on the roster in 2021-22 — Lilly Buck, Olivia Gradwell and Adisyn Young — and Reyerson was forced to take a larger role in a leadership sense as the team’s best player.

A quiet person on and off the court, Reyerson said leadership was one area where she continues to try and improve. At present, she sees herself as more of a leader-by-example but is working to find her voice.

That voice is important in West Marshall’s zone defense, which is highly predicated on closing off space in the lane for opponents and relies on the members of the zone knowing where their teammates are.

Reyerson’s ability to alter shots and defensive rebounding helped the Trojans spearhead a run to the regional finals in the postseason, where they matched up with conference opponents Roland-Story for the third time. After defeating the Norsemen on two occasions during the regular season (including in the final game of the regular season, where the Trojans clinched the HOIAC title with a 43-32 victory at home), Roland-Story got its revenge and beat the Trojans 63-35. A combination of poor shooting, the surprise of Roland-Story switching up defenses and a hot night shooting for the Norsemen all contributed to the disappointing defeat.

Reyerson said it’s a motivating factor ahead of the 2022-23 season, when she’ll be a senior and over 90 percent of the scoring production from last year’s team will be returning.

“I think we’ve just got to all work hard and come back strong next year,” Reyerson said. “I think they hit some really good shots, and I think it’s hard to beat a really good team three times.”

Currently playing AAU basketball and participating in track and field (she’s competing in the high jump for the first time since middle school), Reyerson is trying to put herself in the best position to make state next season and play basketball at the collegiate level, and that includes work on her jump shot. In 2021-22, Reyerson hit 33.3 percent of her 3-point attempts.

Zeller said Reyerson has to simply continue putting the work in — which he said won’t be a problem — and her trajectory will continue to trend upward next season.

“She’s worked a lot at ballhandling skills and she’s spent a lot of time in the gym,” Zeller said. “Not just playing AAU ball, but extra time in the gym in the summer.”

2021-2022 Times-Republican All-Area Girls Basketball Teams

Player of the Year — Katy Reyerson, jr., West Marshall

Coach of the Year — Fred Zeller, West Marshall

FIRST TEAM

Wakinyela Bear, sr., Meskwaki

Lily Roberts, sr., Marshalltown

Allison Engle, sr., BCLUW

Bella Borgos, fr., West Marshall

Morgan Neuroth, so., East Marshall

Chloe Walters, sr., BCLUW

SECOND TEAM

Geanna Bear, sr., Meskwaki

Kiki Pfantz, jr., West Marshall

Megan Cooley, jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Katie Clark, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Ellie Hull, sr., East Marshall

Sophie Younkin, sr., Marshalltown

THIRD TEAM

Sia Bear, so., Meskwaki

Adelyn Sienknecht, so., GMG

Jenna Yilek, sr., GMG

Aubree Monat, sr., North Tama

Kailee Meek, sr., South Tama

Kalayna White, so., Meskwaki

Lily Zahnd, fr., West Marshall

Former T-R All-Area Players of the Year

2020-21 — Allison Engle, jr., BCLUW

2019-20 — Olivia Terrones, sr., East Marshall

2018-19 — Jessica Musgrave, sr., South Tama County

2017-18 — Isabelle Gradwell, sr., West Marshall & Hailey Wallis, jr., Grundy Center

2016-17 — Isabelle Gradwell, jr., West Marshall

2015-16 — Katie Lindeman, sr., Grundy Center & Gabby Reyerson, sr., West Marshall

2014-15 — Shayla Dean, sr., Colo-NESCO

2013-14 — Caitlyn Riese, sr., Colo-NESCO

2012-13 — Dia Keahna, sr., Meskwaki Settlement

2011-12 — Madison Baier, sr., South Tama County

2010-11 — Madison Baier, jr., South Tama County

2009-10 — Tara Gray, jr., GMG

2008-09 — Jessica McDowell, sr., AGWSR

2007-08 — Jessica McDowell, jr., AGWSR

2006-07 — Allison Volkens, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

2005-06 — Allison Volkens, jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck

2004-05 — Chelsie Luhring, sr., Grundy Center