The Snyder News All-Decade series

In this week’s installment of The Snyder News All-Decade Series, we look back at the best Hermleigh and Ira girls’ basketball players since 2010.
First Team
Makia Gonzales
Hermleigh (2018 to 2020)
Very few players in the region accomplished as much as Makia “Kiki” Gonzales did during her three-year Lady Cardinal career.
As a sophomore, Gonzales earned first team all-district honors in her debut season in 2018 and played a large role in the Lady Cardinals’ trip to the state tournament in San Antonio.
She helped lead the Lady Cardinals back in 2019. Along the way, Kiki averaged 20 points per game, was named the district MVP and earned all-region and all-state honors.
As a senior, Kiki teamed up with fellow senior Ryleigh Benitez to lead the Lady Cardinals to their third consecutive district title. Gonzales averaged a double-double her senior season, averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game. The Lady Cardinals finished the season as regional qualifiers for the third consecutive year and while they came up one game short of another state title appearance, left their mark on one of the most successful eras in Lady Cardinal basketball history.
Gonzales will continue her basketball career at Hardin-Simmons University.
Madison Peterson
Ira (2016 to 2019)
A prolific scorer, Peterson propelled the Lady Bulldogs’ offense from 2016 to 2019.
A four-year varsity starter, Peterson got off to a hot start as a freshman when she averaged 9.1 points per game and earned first team all-district honors in 2016.
As a sophomore, she averaged 16 points per game on her way to her first district Offensive Player of the Year award.
Peterson won the award again in 2018.
As a senior in 2019, Peterson put together her best offensive season yet, averaging 18.2 points per game on her way to first team all-district and all-region honors.
Alyssa Goodwin
Ira (2015 to 2018)
Another four-year starter, Goodwin made it clear early  in her career that she was a versatile player. As a freshman, Goodwin averaged 11 points per game with six rebounds and five assists. She was named the district’s Newcomer of the Year.
As a sophomore, she earned first-team all-district honors after averaging 13 points per game.
As a junior, Goodwin averaged 17 points per game and, alongside Madison Peterson, helped the Lady Bulldogs put together a successful season. She was named the district MVP.
Goodwin was named to the all-district first team in 2018, finishing her career being named to four all-district teams and earning two individual awards.
Brishaya Sneed
Hermleigh (2015 to 2018)
The second of the Sneed sisters to play for the Hermleigh program, Brishaya Sneed followed in her older sister Aaliyah’s footsteps.
After earning honorable mention honors in 2015 and second team honors in 2016, Sneed broke out in 2017.
Her 15 points per game led the Lady Cardinals and she became a lockdown defender, earning the district Defensive Player of the Year award.
As a senior, Sneed was the best player on a Lady Cardinal team that included Makia Gonzales and Lillyan Digby. Sneed was named the district MVP and played an important role in the Lady Cardinals’ state tournament appearance.
Skylar Morris
Hermleigh (2010 to 2011)
As a junior, Morris dropped a career-high 40 points in an 80-71 loss to Loraine. As a senior, Morris averaged more 20 points per game and was named the district’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Second Team
Sierra Welch
Ira (2014 to 2017)
Welch was named first team all-district all four years of her high school career. As a junior, she averaged 7.2 points per game and then averaged 8 points per game as a senior.
Shailee Manning
Ira (2015 to 2016)
Manning won back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016. As a senior, she averaged 13.6 points per game with four assists and six rebounds per game.
Aaliyah Sneed
Hermleigh (2014 to 2017)
Aaliyah Sneed was a four-year starter for the Lady Cardinals from 2014 to 2017. During her career, she was a first team all-district selection twice and finished her career with four district accolades.
Honorable Mentions
Lexie Hanshew
Ira (2015 to 2017)
Samantha Bloom
Ira (2013 to 2014)
Sandra Carr
Hermleigh (2018 to 2019)
Lillyan Digby
Hermleigh (2017 to 2019)
Next week, The Snyder News All-Decade series will shift to the diamond and take a look at Snyder High School baseball.