Forward Emily Webber was integral to Tooele’s season.
The junior averaged more than 15 points per game and was recently named to the Tooele Transcript Bulletin All-County Team and the All-Region 10 Second-Team. In head coach Randy Goss’ first season with Tooele, Webber was the leading scorer and helped the Buffaloes win seven games and secure the region’s No. 4 seed into the Class 3A state playoffs — both of which were improvements over last season.
Webber was honored last month with the Jackie White-Kimber Award, which is given annually to the Buffalo girls basketball player who displays the best leadership skills and character while still being an integral part of the Tooele basketball team.
“I’m just really thankful. It’s just an honor to be on there, and I’m really excited,” Webber said.
The award is named after former THS basketball player Jackie White-Kimber, who died in 1988 after a battle with cancer. Susan Rydalch, a former coach at Tooele, personally selects each winner.
“The games that I saw her play, for being a junior I thought she really had the composure,” Rydalch said. “She’s a great young lady. I’m proud of her and I think Jackie would be proud.”
Webber received a gold ring designed in part by the award’s second winner, Linda Matekel Kimball.
“Emily is showing up every game,” Goss said. “She comes to play every game, she doesn’t really have an off game.
“She has a winning attitude,” he added. “She goes out, gives it her best every game.”
The list of recipients includes Lisa Tate (1988-89), Kimball (1989-90), Karie Johnson Frederickson (1990-91 and 2002-93), Shannon Lopez (1991-92), Stacie Blackburn (1993-94), Michelle Cooper (1994-95 and 1996-97), Amanda Kidd (1995-96), Lindsey Clegg (1997-98), Leah Roberts (1998-99), Kenzie Briggs Newton (1999-2000), KC Bleazard (2000-01), Lindsay Stahl (2001-02), Alex Ontiveros (2002-03), Staci Patch (2003-04), Elva Banford (2004-05), Meredith Nigh (2005-06), Samantha Thomas (2006-07), Alexis Bird (2007-08), no winner was awarded in 2008-09, Mattie Snow (2009-10), Lizzie Stewart (2010-11 and 2011-12), Kenzie Alvarez (2012-13), Courtney Schiwal (2013-14), Taylor Thomas (2014-15), Paris Stewart (2015-16) and now Emily Webber in 2016-17.