Area girls basketball players excelling at the collegiate level

A number of impressive girls' basketball players have played at high schools in the South Placer area in recent years. Some of those players are now shining at the collegiate level. Del Oro High has multiple graduates who are now playing in college, such as 2020 alumna Madison Parry. Parry averaged more than 15 points per game in her varsity career with the Golden Eagles. She is now helping lead the California State Polytechnic University at Humboldt Lumberjacks with 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 season. "The best part about playing at Humboldt is the friendships I have created," Parry said. "Playing sports has helped me create friendships that will last a lifetime. I still have friends and people come to my away games and it makes me feel so loved and I really appreciate it. I love the Del Oro community because they are always supportive." Parry isn't the only Golden Eagles alumna to compete post-high school as 2022 alumna Madison Butcher plays at California State University at Sacramento. Butcher has started nine games for the Hornets while averaging 4.4 points per game. The Hornets are currently 23-7 as of this writing and are having one of their most successful seasons in program history. Other Golden Eagles alumni currently playing include 2021 alumna Natalie Moulos at William Jessup University, who was third on the team in scoring with nearly nine points per game. Jenna Duley is a 2019 alumna of Del Oro High who helped lead Sierra College to a state title last season. She is currently playing at Dominican University of California where she is averaging more than six points per game. Sarah Reuter graduated from Del Oro High in 2022 and is playing for Sierra College. Sierra College also has other local talent on the roster making an impact, such as 2022 Granite Bay Grizzlies alumna Julianne Cotterill. Cotterill has been one of the top players for the Wolverines as she is averaging more than 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. "Playing basketball for Sierra College has shown me the true potential that I have in many different aspects of my life," Cotterill said. "It's a big commitment to play college sports and everyone has their own role on the team. You must understand what your role is and set goals for yourself in order to best help the team." Cotterill isn't the only 2022 Grizzlies alumna playing in college as Julia Riley is playing at California State University at Bakersfield. Rocklin High 2022 alumna Kiki Scott is competing at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Another Rocklin High alumna playing in college is 2019 graduate Jessie Ruffner. Ruffner averaged 11.5 points per game in high school and played on varsity all four years. She is now a junior at Smith College in Massachusetts where she is averaging 9.8 points per game and has helped lead the Lady Pioneers to the NCAA Division III semifinals which will be played next Saturday. She earned All-Conference First Team this season in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. Woodcreek High 2021 alumna Sophia Covello is averaging nearly three points per game at Idaho State University.