MOUNT VERNON, S.D. (KELO) — Emilee Fox from Mount Vernon/Plankinton is our fifth and final nominee for the KELOLAND Sports Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The senior’s impact on the community stretches beyond her stat line.

Fox wrapped up her career with Mount Vernon/Plankinton as the program’s all-time leading scorer with over 2,200 career points. She also tops the ledger for rebounds, assists, steals and 3-pointers made. But now as she moves on to play college basketball at SDSU, there are many girls in the community aiming to follow in her footsteps.

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KELOLAND Sports Update

“She cemented her legacy here at Mount Vernon/Plankinton with not only the accolades, but she inspired so many young girls to get in the gym and play basketball,” Mount Vernon/Plankinton head coach Preston Kristensen said.

“There’s just so much about Mount Vernon and Plankinton that I’ll always remember,” Fox said. “They’ve always supported me. I know a big reason of where I am today is because of this community.”

Fox began playing on the varsity as a seventh grader and got her first taste of the state tournament that season in a reserve role. The Titans did not make it back to state until this year, with Fox leading the way.

“I’ve had to become more of a leader over the years,” Fox said. “Back in seventh grade, I was kind of the young one, so I was looking out for the older girls. But now I’ve kind of had to take over that role. So I’ve had to learn how to become a leader, be more vocal with my teammates, and I think that’s really showed off the court as well.”

“From year to year, her role changed,” Kristensen said. “Right away, it was more of a facilitator with the basketball, and then she took on more of a scoring role later in her career. Defensively, too, she’s had to adjust. She’s been off ball. She’s been on their best player.”

The Titans claimed a seventh place finish at the state tournament last month. We’ll reveal this year’s Player of the Year on Saturday, April 20.

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